Amtrak’s Downeaster ridership up 28 percent

 PORTLAND. Soaring gas prices played a role in a 28 percent gain in ridership for Amtrak’s Downeaster during the latest fiscal year, and operators of the Portland-to-Boston service are looking at options to accommodate future growth, officials said yesterday.

The ridership gain was the biggest of any Amtrak train in the period ending June 30, and revenue for the month of June set an all-time record of more than $590,000, said Patricia Quinn, executive director of the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority.

On average, 947 more passengers rode the Portland-to-Boston train every day, and ticket revenue grew 33 percent for the year, Quinn said.

Gas prices were a primary reason for the increase in passengers, along with a fifth daily run and added capacity on the trains, she added.

“People are viewing public transportation differently than before,” Quinn said. “It’s been phenomenal. All trains are up.”