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The Alaska Railroad Corp. (ARRC) recently released its 2003 Annual Report, which outlines the railroad’s ridership, revenue and safety success stories.

Average ridership increased 7 percent, with day trips to Seward posting the highest gain at 17 percent. Internet bookings, upgraded food service and increased training programs helped boost ridership, ARRC officials believe.

In 2003, the railroad earned $14.5 million in net income and posted total revenue of more than $127 million due to increased employee productivity and a strong Alaskan economy, according to a prepared statement.

Improved training programs and new maintenance equipment helped ARRC post its safest year ever — train incidents and injuries dropped, and the railroad met its goal of reducing train derailments 20 percent.