Amtrak Crescent in for an upgrade

WASHINGTON - Amtrak is planning a major marketing push for the Crescent, which stops in Gainesville, Toccoa and Atlanta twice a day.

The New York-to-New Orleans route will be one of eight included in Amtrak's 2009 Route Performance Improvement Program, which generally includes initiatives such as improved food service, customer service enhancements and increased cleanliness.

At some point during the year, the Crescent will be the focus of Amtrak's "Train of the Month" Program, an internal initiative that will educate reservations agents and other Amtrak employees about the Crescent's amenities.

The goal, of course, is to increase ridership and revenues.

The Crescent has already been making gains in those areas, even without being included in the program. In July, for instance, ridership was up 10.8 percent over last year, and revenue was up 14.1 percent.

According to the Georgia Association of Railroad Passengers, the six trains included in this year's Route Performance Improvement Program enjoyed a collective 22 percent ridership gain in July, and a 27 percent increase in revenue.