Eric Anderson is reporting for the Times Union ridership increased on the Amtrak routes operating through Albany, the passenger railroad reported November 8. Amtrak Chairman Anthony Coscia and CEO Richard Anderson also told reporters in a conference call the railroad expects to post its first-ever operating profit in 2020. Of the routes serving the Capital Region, the greatest gains were on the Empire Corridor routes west of Albany, including the Maple Leaf to Toronto, and The Lake Shore Limited, which serves Chicago, Boston and New York City. The Empire Corridor south of Albany posted a 5.5 percent gain during the fiscal year that ended October 31. The Adirondack service between New York and Montreal was up 5.5 percent, while the Ethan Allen Express between New York and Rutland increased 1.7 percent. Systemwide, Amtrak transported a record 32.5 million passengers, 2.5 percent more than during the previous year. Read the full story in the Times Union.