Amtrak Fiscal Year 2023: Ridership Exceeds Expectations as Demand for Passenger Rail Soars

Amtrak continued its strong growth in Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) as the company resumed service on all routes and advanced major infrastructure projects that will support plans to double ridership by 2040.

In FY23, more than 28 million customers rode Amtrak nationwide, fueled in part by significant growth on the Northeast Corridor (NEC), where ridership is booming and consistently exceeding pre-pandemic levels since early summer.

“We’re inspired by the soaring demand for intercity passenger rail and are eager to continue connecting more people and places,” said Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner. 

Multiple State Supported services also drove ridership gains while setting monthly or annual ridership records, including the Amtrak Downeaster and services in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the state of North Carolina.

Amtrak said it is capitalizing on this positive momentum by advancing historic infrastructure investments that will launch new and expanded services, advance safety and reliability, improve accessibility, drive economic development and enhance the customer experience.

Several major projects kicked off in FY23 that will unlock major bottlenecks and improve operations and safety for Amtrak and its commuter partners, officials said.

That includes the Frederick Douglass Tunnel Program in Baltimore and the Hudson Tunnel Project, a critical piece of the Gateway Program, among others.

Preliminary results for FY23 (Oct. 2022 – Sept. 2023) include:

Ridership: Provided 28.6 million customer trips, a 24.6 percent increase over FY22.

FY23 4thQuarter NEC ridership levels were 8 percent above pre-pandemic levels, demonstrating the strong velocity built over the Fiscal Year, officials said.

Service: Resumed service on all routes suspended during the pandemic and added more trains on the Northeast Regional, Piedmont and Amtrak Cascades. Amtrak also added a fourth Piedmont roundtrip between Charlotte and Raleigh, in partnership with the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

Major Infrastructure Investments: Amtrak made its largest annual capital investment ever, investing nearly $3 billion into modern trains, enhanced stations and facilities, new tunnels and bridges, and other critical infrastructure upgrades.

Jobs Created: Welcomed more than 4,800 new hires who are helping to support ridership growth, improve existing service and advance historic infrastructure investments.

Total Operating Revenue: $3.4 billion, an increase of 20 percent over FY22, driven by higher ridership and ticket revenue across all service lines.

Adjusted Operating Earnings: ($752.2 million), an improvement of $130 million over FY22, driven by strong revenue performance and successful cost containment as Amtrak recovers from the significant cost increase experienced during the pandemic and incurs ramp-up costs to support Amtrak’s infrastructure investment program.

OneH2 Expands U.S. Footprint With First SC Operation in York County

OneH2, a leader in sustainable hydrogen solutions, said it is expanding its U.S. footprint by establishing the company’s first South Carolina operation in York County.

The $16 million investment will create 87 new jobs by 2026, according to Gov. Henry McMaster’s office.

Created in 2015 and headquartered in Longview, N.C., OneH2 designs and manufactures innovative products ranging from hydrogen production plants and distribution equipment to vehicle powertrains and fuel systems.

Officials said its products provide the North American industrial vehicles market with cost-effective power solutions.

With a presence in California, Michigan, Ohio and North Carolina, the company aims to establish a nationwide hydrogen infrastructure network that will make transitioning to hydrogen fuel easier and more economical for business owners and industrial operations, the officials said.

OneH2 purchased a 246,091-square-foot building located at 6199 Highway 57 in Clover. The company will use the facility for warehousing and to manufacture hydrogen fuel equipment.

Operations will be online in stages, starting in the first quarter of 2024 with the initial workforce. The final stage will be completed in 2025 with the full workforce.

Those interested in joining OneH2 should go to the company’s careers page.

JTEKT North America Expands Manufacturing Operation in Greenville County

JTEKT North America, a global leader in engineering and manufacturing automotive systems, bearing solutions and high-performance machine tools, said it is expanding its manufacturing operation in Greenville County.

The $48.4 million investment will create 87 new jobs, according to Gov. Henry McMaster’s office.

Part of JTEKT Corporation, JTEKT North America manufactures a range of products under the brands JTEKT Automotive Systems, Koyo Bearings and Toyoda Machine Tools.

In addition to its regional headquarters in Greenville, S.C., the company has 12 manufacturing sites, three technical centers and five distribution centers throughout North America.

By adding seven new machine lines, two new assembly lines and additional processes to machine components internally, JTEKT North America will have the capability to produce front drive shafts at its existing facility located at 1866 Old Grove Road in Piedmont, officials said.

Operations will be online in the third quarter of 2025. Those interested in joining JTEKT North America should go to the company’s careers page.

Novolex Unveils Food Packaging Containers That Are Recyclable and Made with 10 Percent Recycled Plastic

Hartsville, S.C.-based Novolex, a leader in packaging choice, innovation and sustainability, is introducing food packaging containers that are both recyclable and made with a minimum 10 percent post-consumer recycled (PCR) content.

Manufactured by Novolex brand Waddington North America (WNA), the new products include various sizes of dessert cups, tamper-evident containers, cake containers and bakery clamshells.

The newest products made with at least 10 percent PCR include:

Signature dessert cups: Designed to enhance dessert presentations, these transparent cups are available in three sizes and come with a universal lid. All are made with polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a strong, lightweight and recyclable plastic. 

CakePak bases and lids: These clear containers offer the patented EZ Release system that features easy-to-use lift tabs, making the containers simple to open and seal. They offer different bases to fit various cake designs, with customization options available.

BreakAway tamper-evident containers: These clear containers keep food safe and secure with a tamper-evident feature indicating when the top has been removed. They also are stackable and available in various popular sizes and shapes.

Multi-use clamshells: These clear containers provide optimal product visibility and enhance food presentation. They also feature a secure closure that provides a tight seal to keep food fresh. The clamshells come in a variety of custom shapes and sizes, making them ideal for loaf cakes, cookies and more.

With more than 10,000 employee families, Novolex operates 56 manufacturing plants in North America and Europe, including two world-class plastic film recycling facilities.

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