Amtrak On-time Performance: CRA International Performs Key Economic Analyses Behind...

Amtrak On-time Performance: CRA International Performs Key Economic Analyses Behind US Department Of Transportation Report to Congress

BOSTON--(Business Wire)--
CRA International, Inc. (Nasdaq: CRAI), a worldwide leader in
providing management, economic, and financial consulting services,
today announced its role in providing key economic analyses in a
report to Congress published March 28, 2008 by the US Department of
Transportation Office of Inspector General (DoTOIG). The report found
that Amtrak's poor on-time performance significantly undermines the
viability of intercity passenger rail as an option for travelers and
also weakens Amtrak's financial position by reducing its revenues and
increasing its operating costs. Under its contract with DoTOIG, CRA
developed econometric models and analytic methodologies to estimate
the revenues lost to Amtrak as a result of trains not staying on
schedule. This work was performed by a team of transportation business
consultants and competition economists in CRA's Boston office.

CRA's analysis focused on Amtrak's long- and medium-distance
routes outside the Northeast Corridor. Amtrak considers a train to be
on-time if it arrives at its destination less than a prescribed number
of minutes after its scheduled arrival (the specific thresholds vary
depending on the end-to-end route length). In fiscal year 2006,
average on-time performance across Amtrak's long-distance and
medium-distance routes (excluding the Northeast Corridor) was 30% and
67%, respectively. For these routes, CRA found that significant
improvements in on-time performance could lead to substantial
increases in ridership and revenue. For example, if Amtrak had
attained on-time performance values of 75%, 85%, or 100% in fiscal
2006, it could have increased its actual annual revenues by $91
million (15.4%), $111 million (18.9%), or $143 million (24.3%),
respectively.

"This is a good example of how applied economics can make
essential contributions to complex business and public policy
questions," said James C. Burrows, CRA's President and Chief Executive
Officer. "The transportation sector is rife with questions like the
ones addressed in our work on Amtrak's on-time performance. It
perfectly illustrates the strengths of CRA's capabilities in
transportation consulting, operations analysis, and econometrics."

The CRA team that performed the work was led by Daniel Brand,
Senior Consultant; Peter Boberg, Vice President; Masroor Hasan,
Associate Principal; and Lucile Guillaud, Consulting Associate. The
team also included: Jon Bottom, Mark Kiefer, and Andrew Desautels.

About CRA International's Transportation Practice

CRA has long been a leader and innovator in the application of
economic tools and concepts to the solution of complex transportation
problems. In the area of transportation, CRA helps clients: forecast
revenue and estimate market potential; understand the economic impacts
of their business; develop strategies for pricing and service design;
create value through strategic acquisitions; protect and maximize the
value of their intellectual property; and develop intercompany pricing
strategies to maximize profitability. CRA has helped shape national
and international debates around transportation policy and competition
and environmental policies affecting transportation-related
industries. CRA is known as a leader in forecasting the market
potential of proposed new transportation technologies and the revenue
impacts of changes in existing transportation infrastructure.

About CRA International

Founded in 1965, CRA International is a leading provider of
management consulting services and economic and financial expertise.
Working with businesses, law firms, accounting firms, and governments,
CRA is a preferred consulting firm for complex assignments with
pivotal and high-stakes outcomes. The firm is distinguished by a
unique combination of credentials: deep vertical experience in a
variety of industries; broad horizontal expertise in a range of
functional disciplines; and rigorous economic, financial, and market
analysis. CRA offers a proven track record of thousands of successful
engagements in regulatory and litigation support, business strategy
and planning, market and demand forecasting, policy analysis, and
engineering and technology management. Headquartered in Boston, the
firm has sixteen offices within the United States, and seven offices
in Canada, Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia Pacific region.
Detailed information about CRA is available at www.crai.com.

Statements in this press release concerning the expected use of
CRA's expertise, the future business, operating results, and financial
condition of the Company and statements using the terms "anticipates,"
"believes," "expects," "should," or similar expressions, are
"forward-looking" statements as defined in the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based upon
management's current expectations and are subject to a number of
factors and uncertainties. Information contained in these
forward-looking statements is inherently uncertain and actual
performance and results may differ materially due to many important
factors. Such factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from any forward-looking statements made by the Company
include, among others, the Company's restructuring costs and
attributable annual cost savings, changes in the Company's effective
tax rate, share dilution from the Company's convertible debt offering
and stock options, dependence on key personnel, attracting and
retaining qualified consultants, dependence on outside experts,
utilization rates, factors related to its recent acquisitions,
including integration of personnel, clients, offices, and
unanticipated expenses and liabilities, risks associated with
acquisitions it may make in the future, risks inherent in
international operations, the performance of NeuCo, changes in
accounting standards, rules and regulations, changes in the law that
affect its practice areas, management of new offices, the potential
loss of clients, dependence on growth of the Company's business
consulting practice, the unpredictable nature of litigation-related
projects, the ability of the Company to integrate successfully new
consultants into its practice, intense competition, risks inherent in
litigation, and professional liability. Further information on these
and other potential factors that could affect the Company's financial
results is included in the Company's filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. The Company cannot guarantee any future results,
levels of activity, performance or achievement. The Company undertakes
no obligation to update any of its forward-looking statements after
the date of this press release.

CRA International, Inc.
James C. Burrows, 617-425-3700
President and CEO
or
Sharon Merrill Associates
Jim Buckley, 617-542-5300
Executive Vice President

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