Bostonherald.com
Friday, September 28, 2001

Amtrak adds 2 more Acela train runs
by David Weber

With travelers looking for alternatives to airlines in the wake of the
terrorist attacks, Amtrak announced yesterday that it is adding more
high-speed Acela trains to its daily schedule to accommodate increased
passenger demand.

Beginning Monday, there will be eight Acela express trains - an increase of
two - running daily between Boston, New York and Washington.

Former Gov. Michael S. Dukakis, the acting chairman of Amtrak's board of
directors, said a ninth express train will be added to the daily schedule in
December, and the number will increase to 10 in early 2002.

``Amtrak has been working very hard to fill a huge gap in the transportation
needs of this country,'' Dukakis said, noting that Amtrak ticket purchases
in the Northeast Corridor had risen between 40 and 50 percent since Sept.
11.

The former governor said the total additions will result in 10 express
trains and eight regional Acela trains, which make many more stops,
traveling between Boston, New York and Washington each day.

Recognizing travelers' concerns about security, Dukakis said there are armed
Amtrak police officers aboard virtually all trains, and helicopters are
being used to keep an eye on the miles of track through the Northeast
Corridor.

But Amtrak spokeswoman Karen Dunn conceded that security is lax when
compared to airports, even before the tragedies.

When checking a bag with Amtrak, a passenger simply must show photo
identification. Carry-on bags are not scanned for weapons or explosives.

Dukakis said Amtrak has submitted a request to Congress for an
``investment'' of $3.2 billion, half of which would be used to tighten
security, particularly by building a wall along the entire Northeast
Corridor to protect the rails against sabotage.

Dunn said the price of a one-way ticket from Boston to New York on the Acela
train, which makes the trip in about three hours, is $120.

Lack of passengers due to fear of flying has forced Delta Airlines and US
Airways to cut back drastically on the number of daily shuttle flights
between Boston and New York. Massport spokesman Jose Juves said both
airlines have decreased their daily number of shuttle flights from 17 to
four. The cost of a one-way ticket is $202.75 on both airlines.

``I have heard that the load factors (on the shuttle flights) have been very
light,'' Juves said. ``There has been talk of planes going out with only
five or six passengers.''

US Airways spokesman David Castelveter acknowledged that his and other
airlines have been badly hurt by the ridership loss.

``Clearly we have seen a sharp drop in travel since Sept. 11. We are going
through cash at an alarming rate,'' he said. ``But we're starting to see
some of a business and vacation travelers comeback. There seems to be some
restored confidence.''

Dukakis and Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau chief executive
officer Patrick Moscaritolo also announced a program of discounts designed
to boost the sagging tourism industry in the wake of the terrorist attacks.

In an effort to entice visitors from New York, Moscaritolo said a number of
Boston hotels are offering Amtrak travelers who book rooms for two nights a
third night free. And Dukakis said Amtrak will offer a free round trip for
every two round trips taken on the railroad.

Copyright by the Boston Herald and Herald Interactive Advertising Systems,
Inc.
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