OT - Amtrak

Amtrak had a *slight* increase passengerwise.

Fill story:
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/...idership_x.htm

Clip:
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Tighter airport security and higher gas prices appear to be boosting
Amtrak ridership in the Northeast, the South and Midwest.

Trains in North Carolina, Pennsylvania and New England saw double-digit
jumps in ridership. Routes in the West saw the smallest increases, and
trains in the Louisiana area had drops because of Hurricane Katrina.

Amtrak, which serves a daily average of 69,000 riders on 300 trains,
saw total ridership increase just over 1% in fiscal year 2006, which
ended Sept. 30.
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The only time I even checked Amtrak was for a "Perch Express" run, and
figured it was more convienent to fly. Never have made it to N.D.
(yet).

I have started using Amtrak alot for the short haul Chicago-St.Louis
routes. High gas prices , stress from driving and high parking costs
in downtown chicago are my reasons for preferring the train. Most
trains have electric outlets so i can plug in my laptop/i-pod/cell
phone. I get internet through my cell phone plugged into the laptop.

I have even take it for the long haul trip from Chicago to Washington
DC. A coach seat was a little more expensive than my one-way return
airfare. But i see it as an adventure and the scenery past Pittsburgh
is great.