I agree that passenger miles is a better gauge. However, Amtrak is a political captive, and politicians just count passengers, ie., votes.
It seems that Amtrak is putting all its eggs into the basket of doubling ridership ( numer of passengers ) by increasing the number of riders almost exclusively on the NEC? Now IMO doubling ridership means doubling revenue passenger miles not just doubling riders.
Is it the NEC that keeps Amtrak alive? Or is it the rest of the Amtrak system that keeps the NEC alive? Remember, within Amtrak it's known as the "Nothing Else Counts."
Editor Emeritus, This Week at Amtrak
Found this article on The Web . Tge attendant book may have some interest here?
see linked article @ https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-12/how-the-northeast-corridor-became-amtrak-s-essential-rail-line
"An Ode to the Northeast Corridor, the Rail Line That Keeps Amtrak Alive"
"...The new book The Northeast Corridor traces the history of passenger trains from Boston to DC and explains why the current service is so essential — and so frustrating..." By David Zipper
FTA:"After seeing ridership collapse during the Covid pandemic, Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor is now roaring back to life. Passenger counts on the high-end Acela service soared 38% in its last fiscal year (which ended in September), and overall ridership along the coastal line is above pre-pandemic levels. In November, US President Joe Biden announced more than $16 billion in much-needed infrastructure improvements; in the coming months, Amtrak is slated to introduce modernized trains, with plans to add 50% more service on the Northeast Corridor by 2038..."
Further FTA:"...The Acela Lounge’s corporate blue serenity, the chlorine stench of terminal toilets, the cherry almond scent of Amtrak soap, the passive aggression engulfing every Quiet Car, the faux-oak interiors of battered commuter coaches, the platform storm blast of an express train, the coach-seatdaydreaming of what life is like through each passing window, the look of 30th Street Station in winter sunlight, and the smell of Trenton after summer rain..."
Having ridden Amtrak and previous poassenger services; I have pretty mixed emotions as to the current state of AMTRAK.
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