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Title: RAIL RIDERSHIP, SERVICE, AND MARKETS IN THE KEYSTONE CORRIDOR
Accession Number: 00633354
Record Type: Component
Availability: Find a library where document is available Abstract: During the 1980s ridership on Amtrak's Keystone trains between Philadelphia and Harrisburg declined by 67%. The reasons for the decline and the changing market for rail travel in the corridor are discussed. Whereas service cuts, increased travel times, and higher fares undoubtedly played a role, patronage shifts to an expanding local (Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority) service on the eastern end of the line also had a significant effect. Amtrak's markets were analyzed and segmented by geography and time of day. In 1983, when all local Philadelphia service terminated at Paoli, 48% of Amtrak passengers were traveling only on the eastern portion of the line (Philadelphia to Parkesburg), but by 1990 this share had declined to 16%. During the same period the share of trips between the Philadelphia area and Lancaster or Harrisburg increased from 48% to 78%. Most of the regular Amtrak commuters to Philadelphia are now coming from Lancaster County, which is beyond the reach of local service. These indications are all consistent with the conjecture that a patronage shift has occurred. However, this raises the questions of whether markets on the western end of the line (Lancaster and Harrisburg) are adequately served and what the proper role for Amtrak in the corridor is. One or two new stations would help tap a growing market in eastern Lancaster County. In addition, it may now make sense to restructure the service by transferring operation of the Keystone trains to a state or regional agency.
Supplemental Notes: This paper appears in Transportation Research Record No. 1381, Recent Issues in Rail Research. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
Monograph Title: Monograph Accession #: 01405140
Language: English
Authors: Dawson, John APagination: p. 12-19
Publication Date: 1993
Serial: ISBN: 0309054249
Features: Figures
(6)
; Tables
(3)
TRT Terms: Identifier Terms: Uncontrolled Terms: Old TRIS Terms: Subject Areas: Administration and Management; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Passenger Transportation; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Railroads
Files: TRIS, TRB
Created Date: Jun 30 1993 12:00AM
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