WASHINGTON, DC - Amtrak has released a five-year strategic plan that includes improved customer service, new trains and aggressive passenger growth and revenue goals.

It is also working with individual states as they apply for federal grants to develop high-speed rail corridors.

Amtrak has set a goal to increase ridership by 15 percent in the next five years, from 27.2 million in fiscal 2009 to 31.4 million by the end of 2014. It also hopes to grow revenue by 20 percent, topping $2 billion by 2014.

In order to do that, it will have to attract more passengers by improving customer service.

Amtrak will move forward with plans to add Wi-Fi service, initially on Acela trains and eventually on other service. It will upgrade its reservations systems, including e-ticket options that will let passengers retrieve tickets on mobile devices. And it says it will improve food and drink choices on its trains.

It will also replace aging locomotives and coaches, modernize car interiors and make stations, platforms and trains more handicapped accessible.

Amtrak also says passengers can expect to see more security, “with greater emphasis on random and unpredictable patrols, baggage screenings and other activities” in stations and on trains. It will also expand its K-9 explosives detection teams, it says.

Copyright 2009 American City Business Journals, Inc. All rights reserved. From http://www.bizjournals.com. By Jeff Clabaugh.
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