Can America's COVID-Battered Commuter Rail Make a Comeback?

Aug. 24—Commuter service railroads are looking to various approaches and partnerships to attract new riders and better serve the changing transportation habits in a post-pandemic world.

Of all the public transit services impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, commuter rail lines — which have often largely served white-collar office types traveling into and out of city centers — were the most impacted, seeing their ridership drop upward of 90 percent.

Since then, operators have reduced fares, adjusted train schedules and taken other steps to if not regain former riders, entice new ones.

"The recovery is going to have to be a much broader conversation, involving supporting partners to sustain, and eventually rebuild, ridership," said James M. Derwinski, CEO of Metra commuter rail in Chicago, during a recent listening session with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). .............(more)

https://www.masstransitmag.com/rail/news/21235841/us-can-americas-covidbattered-commuter-rail-make-a-comeback