Metro-North Railroad is reporting that ridership on its New Haven Line increased by 2.7 percent in 2011 compared to the year before, according to the Stamford Advocate.

A record 38.2 million customers rode trains on the New Haven line last year, up from 37.2 million rides in 2010 and the previous record of 37.8 million rides in 2008. And for the second year in a row, ridership to and from stations on the outer New Haven line (from Stamford to New Haven) experienced the fastest rate of growth. In 2011, those stations saw a 3.5 percent increase to 15.1 million rides.

Despite last year's heavy snowfall and Tropical Storm Irene, which had a large effect on Metro-North's operation, Metro-North President Howard Permut told the Advocate that the growth in ridership is a testament to the railroad's overall service and performance.

Metro-North spokeswoman Marjorie Anders also stated that new services, including as extra trains during Yankee games, have also contributed to growth in new ridership.