Amtrak has set another ridership record, with 28.7 million people taking its trains last year.

That's an 11-percent increase over the 25.8 million passengers that the national passenger railroad carried in fiscal year 2007.

Total ticket revenue for the year that ended September 30 reached $1.7 billion, a 14-percent increase over the $1.5 billion taken in the previous year.

Amtrak, long criticized for its reliance on government subsidies, has been enjoying a resurgence. The railroad has posted six years of ridership and revenue growth and recently has benefited from high gas and airline prices.

Earlier this month, Congress passed a bill authorizing $13 billion in funding for Amtrak over five years. President Bush is expected to sign the legislation.