Amtrak Express Parcels has recorded its busiest period ever with record numbers of parcels being delivered in the run up to Christmas.  Amtrak is benefiting directly from the boom in online sales where orders normally require home delivery; a sector in which Amtrak is a market leader.     

Online spending on Christmas gifts is expected to reach a record 7 billion pounds with 25 million online shoppers spending an average of 4 million pounds an hour according to the Interactive Media in Retail Group (IMRG).  With an estimated 180 million deliveries to homes in the run-up to Christmas, Amtrak is of one the main carriers of goods that retailers prefer not to send by normal mail.

Since Amtrak bought Nightspeed in August 2005, the two businesses have been integrated and volumes have continued to grow.  Compared with last Christmas volumes are expected to be well up on last year and with the extra capacity gained following the Nightspeed acquisition Amtrak is well equipped to cope with the increase.

70% of Amtrak's deliveries are to homes and Amtrak has won a number of major home delivery contracts with online retailers and catalogue companies.  Amtrak offers a range of unique services such as evening deliveries that provide added convenience for customers at home. Amtrak also provides special handling for fragile items such as wine, flowers and electrical equipment.

"Online selling is no longer the domain of specialist Internet retailers as the big high street retailers have also had to respond and this is helping to drive the continued boom in online business.  For the parcel sector that is great news as it means there is a growing demand for home deliveries.  Amtrak is benefiting most from business where delivery reliability, speed and performance are particularly crucial to retailers." Says Amtrak's Chief Executive Jonathan Smith.