Amtrak increases ticket sales

Amtrak is experiencing a growth in riders, but will it be enough to keep it afloat when federal funding is taken away in October?

Amtrak reports ticket revenue is up 112 percent over the past few years. Since 2007, the train ridership is up 74 percent.

The company still relies heavily on government funding. Amtrak is currently working with the state to come up with a new funding formula.

Amtrak officials say that it is worth the investment.

MoDot Administrator of Railroads Eric Curtit said, “you can work on the train, you can move around, you don’t have to go through security like at airports.”

Currently, the state provides $8 million annually.