More people expected to travel this Thanksgiving than last year
| Friday, Nov 20 2009 06:22 PM
Last Updated Friday, Nov 20 2009 06:22 PM
This year, more Thanksgiving travelers will hit the road and ride the rails compared to last year, when their numbers dropped significantly.
Despite the fact gas prices are 30 percent higher this year, the Automobile Club of Southern California expects 2.19 million people to travel by car this Thanksgiving. That's up 8 percent from last year's holiday, but still well below the 3.9 million Southern California residents who traveled in 2007.
Cheryl Watkins, branch supervisor at AAA of Bakersfield, said there are a few explanations for the increase in people driving or taking the train.
One reason is airlines are adding surcharges for extra luggage and food on the airplane. This makes flying more expensive than usual.
Another reason for the increase is people are simply tired of staying at home.
"They're ready to go out," Watkins said.
Many AAA customers have expressed their desire to travel after staying home for so long because they could not afford to go anywhere, Watkins said.
Amtrak is also seeing similar increases in travelers this year.
The Wednesday before Thanksgiving is Amtrak's single heaviest travel day of the year, said Amtrak spokeswoman Vernae Graham.
On that day, 125,000 people in California are expected to travel on Amtrak. That is 70 percent more people than a typical Wednesday.
In anticipation of more passengers, cars will be added to the San Joaquin, Pacific Surfliner and Capitol Corridor routes.
The San Joaquin route, which services Bakersfield, Oakland and Sacramento, will add cars Wednesday through Sunday of the holiday weekend, which will add 580 more seats per train.
In addition to more cars, Amtrak will also increase the number of reserved Thruway buses on its busiest routes.
