Amtrak said yesterday that it cut fares on regional trains in the Northeast 25 percent for the summer travel season as it seeks to rekindle demand eroded by the economic slump.
Amtrak also extended a February price reduction on its high-speed Acela trains, which run on the Boston-Washington route, the rail operator said in a statement. The fares became available for purchase yesterday for travel from June 2 through Sept. 3. Acela travel requires reservations, which must be made 14 days in advance of travel.
The new 25 percent discount is available for travel on Amtrak routes between Boston and Washington - including between Philadelphia and New York, and Philadelphia and Washington. The discount also applies to travel south of Washington to Newport News, Va.
The railroad said the discount may be combined with its half-price fares for children between the ages of 2 and 15.
The discounted fare also requires a reservation that must be made 14 days before travel.
In April, the Washington-based railroad's ridership dropped 8.9 percent on the Northeast Corridor and 2.3 percent nationwide as the recession cut business and leisure travel.
Amtrak marketing vice president Emmett Fremaux said the discounts were aimed at the "value-conscious traveler."
The railroad carried 28.7 million passengers in its latest fiscal year.
Route Current Summer Special
Philadelphia-Washington $44 $33
Philadelphia-New York 45 34
New York-Washington 72 49
Boston-New York 62 49
SOURCE: Amtrak
|
|
|
|
|
|
The rocky economy has had an impact on the size, value and bottom line of many of the top 100 companies in the 10-county Philadelphia region, as well as on the total pay of their CEOs.
PHILLY.COM INDICES WATCH
Philly.com business voices
Philly.com Promotions
