Amtrak reports record ridership of 28.7 million

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Amtrak set a ridership record for the year ended September 30 with 28.7 million passengers, and also reported on Friday that revenue on its flagship line rose more than 14 percent.

"Highway and airway congestion, volatile fuel prices and increasing environmental awareness all contributed to Amtrak's successful year," Alex Kummant, Amtrak's president and chief executive said.

Trips on the rail service's high-speed line, the Acela Express between Boston, New York and Washington, were up 6.5 percent.

Overall revenue growth was strongest in the Northeast, Amtrak's busiest region, rising 14.6 percent over last year to $863.4 million. Total revenue at Amtrak was $1.7 billion, up 14 percent over 2007.

Ridership was also up at the railroad's Chicago hub and on its West Coast routes.

(Reporting by John Crawley; Editing by Gary Hill)