Train ridership is up in Michigan, as ridership and revenue soared on the state's three Amtrak routes during the first quarter of fiscal-year 2011, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation. Overall, the percentage increases were among the best in the nation on Amtrak corridor services, according to MDOT officials.

Some of the increase was due to changes Amtrak made in its service as well as extra rail cars added to the Wolverine and Blue Water routes. "Home for the Holidays," a public relations effort launched for the entire Blue Water route, including the East Lansing area near Michigan State University, also contributed to the ridership growth.

"Amtrak travel offers good value and mobility. It is a transportation option that Michiganders have grown to appreciate," said Michigan Department of Transportation Director and AASHTO Vice President Kirk T. Steudle. "The interest and publicity about high-speed rail has also played a role in the increased growth of train travel in Michigan."

Amtrak operates the Blue Water and Pere Marquette trains under a contract with MDOT. Amtrak does not receive any direct state support for the Wolverine. Michigan is one of 15 states that provide state-supported service.

For the quarter that ended Dec. 31, more than 130,000 passengers rode Amtrak Wolverine service trains on the Pontiac/Detroit-Chicago corridor, an increase of 22.7 percent from the same period a year earlier. Ticket revenue grew by more than 26 percent to $4.9 million.

Ridership on the Blue Water train on the Port Huron/East Lansing-Chicago route jumped 29.5 percent to more than 46,200 and ticket revenue increased 25.7 percent to $1.5 million.

Ridership on the Pere Marquette train on the Grand Rapids-Chicago route rose 7.8 percent to nearly 26,000 and ticket revenue climbed 14.1 percent to more than $801,000.

MDOT's website shows statistics for individual stations and other information. More information about the Michigan Amtrak service is available at www.michigan.gov/mdot.