WESTLAND, Mich., Sept. 1, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Adrian & Blissfield Railroad Company, headquartered in Westland, MI, announced significant increases for dinner train and automotive and fertilizer freight service for the 2nd Quarter 2005 ending July 31 over First Quarter 2005, and a slight increase in overall railroad business for the first six months ending over the comparable period for 2004.
With its corporate headquarters in Westland, MI just outside Detroit, the Adrian & Blissfield Rail Road Company consists of the parent company, a freight train operation in Adrian and Blissfield plus The Old Dinner Train in Blissfield (MI), The Old Dinner Train in Charlotte (MI), Charlotte Southern Railroad Company, Detroit Connecting Railroad Company, Lapeer Industrial Railroad Company, Tecumseh Branch Connecting Railroad Company.
Dale Pape, Old Road Dinner Train Blissfield General Manager announced 2nd Quarter 2005 and Six Months dinner train and freight business results which included:
-- Dinner train passenger count increased 40 percent for 2nd
Quarter 2005 over the preceding quarter this year and
33 percent over the previous year. Revenue for Dinner Trains
increased 16 percent over the First Quarter and 29 percent
over the same period for 2004.
-- Automotive freight business for Second Quarter 2005 was up
39 percent over the First Quarter 2005 and up 71 percent over
the same period for 2004.
-- Fertilizer Freight Traffic, for the prime farming months, was
up 119 percent for 2nd Quarter 2005 over First Quarter 2005
and up 128 percent over the comparable period a year ago.
Pape added that total revenue for the 2nd Quarter was up 23 percent over the First Quarter, and represents an increase of two percent over 2004.
"We are seeing growth, especially in our entertainment business, and positive signs with our industrial and agricultural freight business," Pape added.
The Adrian and Blissfield Railroad Company offers freight service in Lenawee County and Metro Detroit and operates the Old Road Dinner Train Blissfield operates each Friday, Saturday and Sunday and offers passengers a five course dinner with a murder mystery comedy performance. Additional information for the Dinner Train is available at 888-GoRail1 or www.murdermystery.com.