HUTCHINSON, Kan. — After losing some ground in April, ridership for Amtrak’s Southwest Chief rebounded in May. The Chief totaled 19,200 passengers in May, compared to 14,300 passengers in March.
Amtrak is still struggling to get enough train service personnel rehired to restore all of the carrier’s long-distance routes. That was further hampered by the derailment of the Chief last month that left the rail passenger carrier short on equipment. Amtrak is also suffering from the summer track work season and more, longer freight trains that are making passenger trains late by as much as six hours across most of the long-distance routes.
About 6,000 passengers use Amtrak from the Hutchinson train station each year.
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