NEW YORK, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- Amtrak, the financially ailing U.S. government passenger rail service, is about to raise ticket prices by as much as 50 percent.
Though Amtrak has declined to confirm or deny the widespread reports, it is understood it will drop or radically cut discounts on monthly passes, used by as many as 18,000 people who commute along the Boston-Washington corridor, the New York Times reported Friday.
News of the imminent rate hikes infuriated many of those commuters.
Rep. Robert E. Andrews, D-N.J., slammed the White House for the prospect of higher costs.
"This is a consequence of the starvation of Amtrak," Andrews said. "What's foolish about it is it will further reduce revenue. You're taking one of the most effective ways people can conserve petroleum, which is to ride the train, and making it more expensive. That's enough to put someone back in their car even if gas prices are sky high."
