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Train ridership sets records, as travelers seek to avoid traffic hassle, fill-ups
Many are jumping on the train bandwagon
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Photo by Jason Redmond
Gwen Larson, left, and Lillian Jarrett, both of La Mirada, play cards with Muriel Unruh of Buena Park as they ride Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner to visit their friend in Santa Maria. Amtrak had more than 2.7 million train passengers in July.
Photo by Jason Redmond
The Pacific Surfliner stops at Simi Valley en route to Los Angeles and San Diego. The Pacific Surfliner is sometimes so full that there's standing room only.
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With rising gas prices and the high cost of air travel, more and more people are heeding the call of "all aboard."
In July, Amtrak had more than 2.7 million train passengers, the most in a single month in the company's 37-year history.
Some lines, including the Pacific Surfliner, which runs through Ventura County, are sometimes so full that there's standing room only.
"It wasn't that crowded really," said Karen Lawton, a 22-year-old accountant from Cork, Ireland, who was waiting at the Amtrak station next to the fairgrounds in Ventura with her friend Ciara Connolly, 23. "But it was a Monday when we came up here."
The friends rode the train last week from San Diego to Ventura. A day later they were getting back on and heading to Santa Barbara, with plans to travel on to San Francisco.
The women's biggest complaint was how slow the travel was by train and how few trains ran on each line compared with Ireland.
"It looked like you could get here twice as fast by car," said Connolly.
But for many people, avoiding the hassle of driving is enough to get them onboard.
"This is a lot better way to go," said Mike Remillard, 28, who rode the train to Ventura from San Luis Obispo with his 5-year-old son, Andrew. "I get to talk to him, sit by the window and look at the coast. Maybe we'll go all the way to San Diego next time."
The Pacific Surfliner has been particularly busy over the weekends between Los Angeles and San Diego, according to Amtrak officials. It's one of the few lines that aren't "reserve trains," which means buying a ticket doesn't guarantee a seat, said Vernai Graham, an Amtrak representative in Oakland.
For the past two years, train ridership has increased in double-digit percentages.
The rise in train travel can be directly tied to the rising cost of gas, said Graham.
Ridership for the 2007-08 fiscal year almost hit 24 million. And if current trends continue, it could top 28 million over the next 12 months. More than 300,000 passengers rode on the Pacific Surfliner in July, according to Amtrak. It's one of the busiest routes in the nation.
The Capitol Corridor, between San Francisco and Sacramento, reported the biggest jump in riders — 33 percent — in the nation.
Amtrak can attach more cars to trains, but it cannot easily add trains and is suddenly talking about capacity.
"If we keep seeing these kind of increases, we could have a problem with capacity," said Graham. "It sort of depends on how long this trend continues."
Mary Travis, manager of the Metrolink and Intercity rail program for the Ventura County Transportation Commission, said the increased number of people riding trains is the silver lining to soaring gas prices.
"Once people start riding the train, we find they keep on doing it," Travis said. "Trains can typically match congested freeway times, but you can drive faster by yourself. It's just that hour or two on the train is time you have for yourself when you don't have to drive, and people grow to like that."
Metrolink, the regional commuter rail service for five Southern California counties, also has seen an increase in ridership. Possibly adding to the numbers of riders on Amtrak is a program called Rail 2 Rail, which allows monthly Metrolink pass holders to ride Amtrak trains as well. Because the Metrolink train times are focused on commute times, and Amtrak trains are arriving and departing throughout the day, Rail 2 Rail gives train commuters more options, said Travis.
Transportation officials from both Ventura and Santa Barbara are working with state and train officials to tweak Amtrak's schedule, making the times more amenable to commuters, particularly for workers heading north to Santa Barbara.
But there are many obstacles.
For one, the rail line is owned and operated by Union Pacific, which is focused on transporting freight on the same route. It's also largely a single-track line, which is shared by Amtrak, Metrolink and Union Pacific freight trains. There are very few sidings — particularly between Ventura and Santa Barbara — where one train can move to make way for another train coming in the opposite direction.
Building those sidings, which are located parallel to the existing lines, is expensive. But without them, changing the times of the existing trains could result in major jam-ups and delays.
Posted by VivaVentucky on August 27, 2008 at 6:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What I don't like about Amtrak in CA is all the routes that include changing to bus service. Three hours from VTA to Bakerspatch on a bus? That means a bit of wait time in a station, lugging my bag around, etc. Not attractive! The coast Starlight's schedule is pretty lousy from here to the bay area, and that's the only train that is straight thru. I guess I am spoiled by my use of the great train systems in Thailand and Europe, where trains leave often, all day, with great sleeper-train options and multiple classes.
I LOVE train travel, but looks like I am flying to Oakland next month.
Posted by cassandra2 on August 27, 2008 at 7:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes!
And we need service expanded.
ANd yes, it should be like those efficient places in Europe and Asia. Places where the oil and related industries--tires, cars, etc. have not influenced development toward personal autos.
Posted by jamaro099 on August 27, 2008 at 8:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
When I worked in the valley I would ride the traing once a week or so. It really was relaxing even if it took a little longer to get to work. Most people were friendly.
The only thing that bothered me is that the train station was a little over a mile from my job, but the train tracks crossed my companies property....more than once I contemplated jumping of the train when it passed my work. :-) (ha ha, not really)
Posted by cslaurie on August 27, 2008 at 8:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I take the train regularly to visit my son in Solana Beach. It is a pleasant relaxing ride. Price is comparable to driving and at 4 hours, it is just about the same as driving it in traffic.
Posted by beachgirlovkatz on August 27, 2008 at 8:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Im a UCSB student but live in oxnard, so Amtrak certainly has helped me save a lot of gas money and wear and tear on my car. But I agree, the times for the train do kinda make it hard... but i guess its better then driving
Posted by lthomas on August 27, 2008 at 9:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well if this doesn't just figure. I started riding the train Metro & Amtrack over one year ago. I live in Burbank and often travel to Camarillo on the weekends to visit family. The train ride has offered me less stress, and for the most part I arrive in Camarillo within 1 hour & 10 minutes. It takes me about 55 min to drive, when there is no traffic.
I thought all along I was doing the right thing by taking alternative transporation which our State continues to advocate. What I find unbeliveable, Amtrack is for the most part very expensive, it costs me 32.00 round trip. 18.00 round trip if I take Metrolink, but, Metrolink doesn't run to Ventura County on the Weekends... My point; Our State is in need of a fast, convienient, afforable, rail system. It is crazy to encourge everyone to "Go Green", "Ride Share", etc. etc. when the State of CA doesn't provide adequate services. Our rail system is old and we need a second rail for passanger trains only, so that we don't have to stop and wait for another train to pass. I hope that now that ridership is up, I don't end up paying twice as much for the same antiquated services. I sure would like to know where all our Road Tax money and my hard earned tax money is going? It certainly is not the road, rails, or schools. Whats up with that?
Posted by Prodigy on August 27, 2008 at 10:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How funny, Lance "Motorhead" did a write up on this back in July!
Posted by RedTail on August 27, 2008 at 10:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The thing that's really missing on the trains is WiFi and outlets to plug things in!!!
Posted by Jacksprat on August 27, 2008 at 10:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes Joe head I read where they ran out of gas. But at least they did not crash, if that would have happend and has happened to an air plane they would be picking up bodies.
It is time we wake up and stop all the spending on these big fancy airport and huge metal tubes, and start spending some money on the rail road. there is no reason that there should not be a high speed train all the way up the west coast, and then to places like Vegas, Phoenix, and east. Like other comments all over the world they use high speed train to get place. There is no excuse for a country like our to be so backward that the only way to go is by air. LOng lines getting thrugh secuity, maybe sit and wait to take off. The trains are the way to go, get on relax, read a book, get on your computer, get some thing to eat. Or what ever so let us get on our leaders and bring on the high speed train, we can do it if the countries in Europe can then why can't we.
Posted by lthomas on August 27, 2008 at 10:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Jacksprat.... you got it right. It can be afordable too!
Posted by THX1138 on August 27, 2008 at 11:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope Amtrak is re-investing the increased revenue. More stations and train-cars are needed to encourage more riders.
Unfortunately there are no stations near the residential areas of Ventura.
Posted by missing805 on August 27, 2008 at 1:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I tried going green and taking the bus from Newbury to Ventura, but their stop times are about an hour apart from the time I get out of work. I get out at 6 and if I waited for the bus I would be getting home at 8:10. They need to invest on more buses, trains and such things. Come on terminator.
Posted by rebel123 on August 27, 2008 at 1:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We need dedicated passenger rails. Amtrak doesn't own the rails and shares them with freight trains. Freight has the right of way so that's why you will find passenger trains sidelined, waiting for every freight train to pass. If the state had invested in passenger rail lines, we could have had an excellent network of commuter trains that would be worth riding for commuters. Instead, you have Amtrak. It was five hours late the last time I rode it to San Diego. It took seven hours to get from Ventura to San Diego after it finally got here, five hours late! It is not very reasonably priced, either.
Posted by svwl on August 27, 2008 at 4:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Riding by train is great. It also has its share of problems. The major issue is that it is partially- subsidized by the government. So it is really two bureaucracies working together. That's a lot of red tape. If it was either completely private or (my choice) completely government run, it could have the right of way over the freight trains (cutting down on delays) and it could be better coordinated with other forms of transportation. That is how trains run well in other country's and the fact that it is caught between public and private here is why it is frustrating. Still, if you have patience, it is the best way to travel up and down the coast.
Posted by kelly13 on August 27, 2008 at 7:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think we all agree we need more trains running more often. I took Metrolink to the Burbank airport the last time I went and it was great. Cost $8.00 and stopped at the airport exactly on time. Smooth comfortable ride. I would do it more often if the times were near the time I needed to go. From Camarillo you can only use the train a couple of times in the morning and return a couple of times in the evening.
If we had trains going every hour, I think you would see them full.
Posted by ibeam on August 27, 2008 at 10:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
..
Amtrack might get a few more passengers if there was a smoking car. Offering other things like e-connections would probably bring in more folks too. More options and fewer restrictions will make train rides more attractive and bring more riders.
The trains will remain expensive as long as few people ride them. Few people ride them because they are expensive and don't travel frequently enough nor are reliable enough. The investments to make trains more reliable, frequent and, cheaper won't come because few people ride the trains.
If you buy in to the notion that people taking trains is better than people driving on the roads then, it only follows that freight traffic would also be better on the rails than on the roads. Since the interest of commerce is secondary to having a nice ride for a lot of people but commerce brings in a lot of money to pay for rail service and, if trains are as wonderful as everyone keeps telling me then there will forever be a conflict between passenger and freight traffic on the rails.
The other part of the equation that needs to fall into place is that we will need to live and work in more densely populated environments. Population centers where people live or work sufficiently compact enough so people can get to and from stations easily enough. Currently we live and work in such sprawled arrangements there will always be a significant portion of the population far from a train station. All those vehicles we see on the roads and freeways each day are coming from and going to thousands of different places. Trains can't service that kind of need. Train systems, like those back east, are traditionally set up to serve the feeding of a center. Just where is the center of gravity 'round here anyways?
two cents
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