Amtrak to review two national routes in Ohio

COLUMBUS (AP) — Amtrak says it is looking for ways to improve service on two long-distance routes that pass through Ohio.

Amtrak says an upcoming review will include the Cardinal, a train that stops in Cincinnati on its way from Chicago to New York City, and the Capitol Limited, a daily train between Chicago and Washington, D.C., that stops in Toledo, Sandusky, Elyria, Cleveland and Alliance.

The review will examine ways to improve schedules, equipment and reliability.

Amtrak reported 128,174 riders at Ohio train stations in 2009, a 10 percent increase from the previous year.

Matt Dietrich, executive director of the Ohio Rail Development Commission, says improvements to Amtrak’s national routes will help the state as it finishes plans to use $400 million in stimulus money to restore passenger rail service from Cleveland to Cincinnati.