HUTCHINSON— It certainly wasn't unexpected as Amtrak released its 2020 ridership numbers, which plummeted under the weight of the pandemic.

Ridership for the passenger rail carrier fell nearly 48% to just 16.8 million passengers. That compares with a record 32 million in 2019. Long-distance ridership fell by 39% and commuter ridership fell by 50%.

The Southwest Chief, which serves Kansas with seven stops had total ridership in 2020 of 186,470, a drop of 43%. It was the largest decline in the long-distance network. The Chief saw 327,276 passengers in 2019.

Amtrak says that, at best, it will see ridership and revenue improve to about 37% of pre-COVID levels by the end of 2021.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1609263248923.png" alt="Amtrak stops in Kansas include Kansas City, Lawrence, Topeka, Newton, Hutchinson, Dodge City and Garden City. -image courtesy Amtrak" />
 <figcaption>Amtrak stops in Kansas include Kansas City, Lawrence, Topeka, Newton, Hutchinson, Dodge City and Garden City. -image courtesy Amtrak</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON— It certainly wasn't unexpected as Amtrak released its 2020 ridership numbers, which plummeted under the weight of the pandemic.Ridership for the passenger rail carrier fell nearly 48% to just 16.8 million passengers. That compares with a record 32 million in 2019. Long-distance ridership fell by 39% and commuter ridership fell by 50%.The Southwest Chief, which serves Kansas with seven stops had total ridership in 2020 of 186,470, a drop of 43%. It was the largest decline in the long-distance network. The Chief saw 327,276 passengers in 2019.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1609258167047.png" alt="photo courtesy Amtrak" />
 <figcaption>photo courtesy Amtrak</figcaption>
 </figure>Amtrak says that, at best, it will see ridership and revenue improve to about 37% of pre-COVID levels by the end of 2021.

Amtrak sees dramatic drop in passengers on SW Chief