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Last month, Amtrak recorded its busiest-ever November, carrying 2,076,054 passengers — an 11.7 percent increase compared with the same month last year.

During the Thanksgiving travel period — Nov. 25 to Dec. 1 — 595,000 passengers rode Amtrak, making it the busiest week in the national passenger railroad’s history. All 16 Amtrak long distance trains posted double-digit increases, collectively recording a 32 percent ridership increase compared with the same 2002 period.

To meet the increased travel demand, Amtrak added 60,000 seats and 77 trains nationwide.

Amtrak officials attributed the ridership increases to an improving travel market and "back-to-basics" initiatives, which included a new advertising campaign, fare rollbacks and online booking incentives.