WASHINGTON, D.C. — Amtrak reported a 5% increase in ridership in March 2026 compared with March 2025. The rail service has experienced record ridership for two years.

The average nationwide price of a gallon of gas rose to $4.30, the highest level since the war in Iran began two months ago. Amtrak spokesperson Beth Toll linked the ridership pattern to fuel costs. "We typically see some shift to rail as fuel prices rise, and we're seeing that pattern here as well," she said. Toll said, "Continued ridership growth underscores the essential role rail plays in connecting communities along the Northeast Corridor and across the nation."

Among the travelers choosing rail over driving was Dorothy English, who took an Amtrak train from New York to North Carolina with a layover in Washington, D.C. She described the cost of a recent road trip as a factor in her decision. "It's really ridiculous," English said. "Let me tell you, I actually spent $140 to fill up, from Florida to New York. I mean, like, every time we went to another state, we were filling it up."

Joshua Newman, 20, was also traveling by train to North Carolina, where he planned to visit friends at a festival. He said the cost of fuel weighed against the convenience of driving. "It usually would be shorter to drive, but the gas prices are high," Newman said. He added, "I would rather take the train, instead of having to actually worry about the other prices that come with driving."