advertisement

---

Last year, all three of Amtrak’s California trains posted ridership gains. Collectively, the trains carryied a record 4.6 million passengers, a 4.9 percent increase compared with 2004.

The San Diego-to-Los Angeles Pacific Surfliner, which offers some connections to Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo, registered 2.5 million passengers, a 4.6 percent increase compared with 2004. More than 312,000 passengers rode the L.A.-to-San Diego leg, a 6 percent rise.

More than 771,000 passengers rode Bakersfield-to-Oakland San Joaquin trains, which also make some stops in Sacramento. Ridership between Bakersfield and Fresno totaled 82,064 passengers, up 17.6 percent compared with 2004.

The Sacramento-to-Bay Area Capitol Corridor train carried 1.3 million passengers, a 6.5 percent increase compared with 2004. More than 110,000 riders traveled between Richmond and Sacramento, up 9.4 percent

Amtrak attributes the increase to a strong economy, rising gasoline prices and continued population growth in the San Joaquin valley.