SERVICE AND TRAFFIC CHARACTERISTICS OF AMTRAK

Nearly all intercity rail passenger service in the United States is now operated by the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, commonly known as Amtrak. An examination is made of the service characteristics of the Amtrak system using timetable information. Results show that whereas the Amtrak network is centered on Chicago, the majority of passenger trains operate in the Northeast Corridor between Boston and Washington. Traffic characteristics are examined using unpublished data supplied by Amtrak. A map prepared from this traffic information shows a strong concentration of rail passenger service in the Northeast but also indicates several east-west transcontinental routes with moderate levels of traffic. Factors determining the traffic characteristics of individual trains are detailed.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Association of American Geographers, Seattle, Washington, April 30, 1974.
• Corporate Authors:

  Richards (Curtis W)

  University of Wisconsin-Parkside
  Kenosha, WI  United States  53140
• Authors:
  • Richards, C W
• Publication Date: 1974

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 7 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Passenger service; Passenger traffic
• Identifier Terms: Amtrak
• Subject Areas: Operations and Traffic Management; Passenger Transportation; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00084717
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Richards (Curtis W)
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 22 1975 12:00AM