Iowans helped Amtrak set a ridership record this year, spurring optimism about a possible expansion of passenger railroad service in the state.

But the nation’s sharp economic downturn could temper that enthusiasm and limit how much state tax money is available to subsidize new Amtrak routes in Iowa, state officials said.

A total of 64,260 passengers got on and off Amtrak trains at six Iowa stations during the 12 months ending Sept. 30. That was an increase of 3 percent from a year earlier.

The total Iowa passengers was the highest since Amtrak was established in 1971.

Nationwide, 28.7 million people rode the trains, the sixth straight year of record ridership, the railroad said.

“Certainly over the past year we saw strong growth nationally, and higher gasoline prices through most of this year are the single largest reason for the increase,” said Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari in Chicago.

Iowa’s ridership mark was set despite severe flooding that shut down southern Iowa train stations for about three weeks during the peak summer travel season.

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