Commuters turn to trains in California as gas prices bite

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Record numbers of Californians are turning to public transport as soaring gasoline prices force people to drive less, officials said Thursday.

California transport officials said traffic in the state had dropped by 1.5 percent or a billion fewer miles (1.6 billion kilometers) traveled while commuter rail figures reached record levels.

In Southern California the Metrolink rail service saw a record 50,000 people board its trains on Tuesday, a 15.6 increase over the same day last year, officials said.

A spokesman for Metro Rail meanwhile said the number of people using the companies trains had increased by six percent in May year-on-year.

"There is no question that this is a result of gasoline prices," Metro spokesman Dave Sotero...