DART First State Hosts RAIL to the FAIR 2005 on Saturday, July 23

WILMINGTON, DE - July 6, 2005

For Release July 11, 2005

NOTICE: There will be a press conference held on the Delaware State Fairgrounds, in the Wilmington Trust Grandstand Patron Brick Plaza, at 10:00 a.m. July 11, 2005. All members of the media are invited to cover this news event. A variety of speakers will discuss the history of the trip and why it's not only a unique way to travel to the Fair, but an event in itself. The one-day round trip train ride is a journey from Philadelphia and various stops throughout Delaware to the Delaware State Fair in Harrington.

Today, DART First State, an operating division of the Delaware Department of Transportation, announced plans for the 13th Rail to the Fair excursion to be held on Saturday, July 23, 2005. The one-day round trip train ride is a journey from Philadelphia and various stops throughout Delaware to the Delaware State Fair in Harrington.

Rail to the Fair has been a successful, fun-filled excursion since its inaugural run in 1992. This trip offers passengers a unique view of Delaware’s ever-changing scenery while allowing them to enjoy a ride on a modern, air-conditioned Amtrak train, complete with the services of a café car. The train will depart Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station at 9:05 a.m. and make stops at Claymont, Wilmington, Churchmans Crossing, Newark, Middletown and Wyoming before arriving at the Delaware State Fairgrounds in Harrington at 12:28 p.m. Those passengers who have chosen the extended excursion to Georgetown will arrive back at the Fairgrounds at 2:45 p.m. The train will depart the Delaware State Fair at 5:30 p.m. for the return trip north.

Rail to the Fair is sponsored by the Delaware Department of Transportation and the Delaware Transit Corporation in cooperation with the Delaware State Fair, Amtrak, Norfolk Southern Railway, the Delmarva Rail Passenger Association and Operation Lifesaver Delaware, an outreach program of Delaware Transit Corp.

Tickets for this year’s excursion are available and may be ordered by calling by calling (800) or (302) 652-DART (3278). All tickets will be held at the passenger’s boarding location. Adult round-trip fares to the State Fair range from $17.50 to $47.50, with the extension trip to Georgetown costing an additional $10. These prices include general admission to the Fairgrounds. Reduced fares for children under 10 years of age are also available. For additional Rail to the Fair information, call (800) or (302) 652-DART.

DART First State is Delaware’s bus, train, and intermodal transportation provider. The Delaware Transit Corporation, a division of the Delaware Department of Transportation under the direction of Secretary Nathan Hayward III, operates DART First State. DART First State services include commuter rail, intercounty bus, fixed route bus, paratransit, seasonal resort bus, commuter assistance, Operation Lifesaver rail crossing safety, and the RideShare Delaware ride matching program. DART First State provides more than 8,900,000 passenger trips annually replacing more than 2,490,000 annual single occupant vehicle trips. For more information about DART First State services in New Castle and Kent Counties call 1-800-652-DART or 1-302-652-DART; for information on Sussex County service and statewide paratransit service call 1-800-553-DART; or visit our website at www.DartFirstState.com.###

Note: Rail to the Fair is sponsored by DelDOT and the Delaware Transit Corporation in cooperation with the Delaware State Fair, Amtrak, Norfolk Southern Railway, the Delmarva Rail Passenger Association and Operation Lifesaver Delaware, an outreach program of Delaware Transit Corp.