Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - Rising
gas prices are now forcing people to reconsider when they drive their cars. Gas sales have fallen over the past five weeks but
Amtrak says its services are getting more popular.
Ridership on Amtrak's
Empire Service, which goes from New York City to Niagara Falls, has grown 6.5 percent since last March. On the
Maple Leaf route, which travels between Toronto and New York City, ridership is up nearly 14 percent.
Employees at the Regional Transportation Center in Syracuse say they've definitely seen more traffic here lately as gas prices in Central New York creep ever so close to that dreaded $4 per gallon mark.
For many, the price of gas is just too steep to make their trip by car.
Solomon Robinson travels from Syracuse to Albany and back three times each month. Instead of $7 worth of tolls and $60 worth of gas each way, a $45 train ticket is really a no-brainer. "It's a lot cheaper to take the train," he said. "On the train, you can walk back and forth. You can eat, you can drink."
Additionally, Solomon saves on the train because he's guaranteed not to get a speeding ticket. He says he had to pay an extra $200 for going too fast during his last road trip.
Others riding the train Tuesday were on for a longer ride. Round drip to Boston by car costs Mike Goeppner about $120, but the railroad saves him $40. "In the Northeast, train all the way," he said.
The individual savings for riding Amtrak depends on a variety of factors, including how far in advance a passenger books their ticket and what time their train will leave the station.
There are a limited number of the cheapest seats on each train. To get the best savings, passengers need to book early.
Also, there are occasionally special offers.
Amtrak has one going through May 28 for those traveling throughout the state.
Still, Nancy Morley points out the one drawback to riding the train. "They take a long time to get where you're going," she said.
Of course, she was still riding to Massachusetts Tuesday.
