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http://www.utu.org/worksite/detail_news.cfm?ArticleID=32039
Amtrak boots the buses It was the railroad's version of turning a carriage into a pumpkin, according to this report by Brad Cooper published by The Kansas City Star.
Since last spring, Amtrak has replaced trains with tour buses on part of its route to skirt track construction between Kansas City and St. Louis.
The buses scared away thousands of passengers in what otherwise was a successful year for Amtrak nationwide. The Missouri route saw the biggest percentage decline in ridership in fiscal 2006 of any short-distance route in the country.
But now, Kansas City passengers can again board Amtrak trains bound for St. Louis knowing their trip won't be spoiled.
And as state officials prepare to lobby for a route that would connect Springfield to St. Louis, the railroad is offering discounts to get back the passengers it lost.
Amtrak is resuming full rail service while Union Pacific, which shares its rail line with passenger trains, wraps up $32 million in track upgrades intended to enhance safety and improve train speeds.
However, a Union Pacific spokesman said more major track work is in store for the route in March and April. He said Union Pacific would work with Amtrak to make "necessary adjustments" to accommodate passenger traffic.
Interrupting rail service with buses chases riders away.
"There's a substantial number of people out there that once they're told it's going to be on a bus instead of a train, they're just like, 'Well, I'll just take some other mode of transportation,'_" said Rod Massman of the state Transportation Department.
Nationwide, Amtrak's ridership was up 1.1 percent in the year ending Sept. 30, and the railway rolled up a record $1.4 billion in ticket revenue.
But ridership between Kansas City and St. Louis was down 12.8 percent, while similar short-distance routes nationwide were up 4.5 percent.
Amtrak patronage in Missouri fell partly because buses carry only 40 to 50 passengers, compared with about 150 people on a train, said Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari.
"We held down capacity," Magliari said. Amtrak hopes the discounts will reverse the trend. Today the railway will begin offering a 50 percent discount on second adult fares for each adult ticket purchased. The discounts will last until April 1.