NEW YORK – Passenger rail service Amtrak this week announced that it will cut fares on Northeast regional trains by up to 25 percent during the summer in an effort to boost sagging ridership.

From June 2 through Sept. 3, Amtrak will offer passengers 25 percent off the lowest published coach fare on Northeast regional trains, including those that run between Washington, D.C., and Boston. Reservations are required and must be made at least 14 days in advance.

Amtrak said the promotion would cut the coast of one-way coach fare between Boston and New York from $62 to $49.

“Whether it’s a day trip to the Big Apple or a weekend visit with family, Amtrak’s new fare is perfect for the value-conscious traveler,” Emmett Fremaux, Amtrak’s vice president of marketing and product management, said in a statement.

After carrying a record 28.7 million passengers in 2007-08, Amtrak’s ridership has fallen this year because of lower gas prices and falling consumer spending. In April, ridership was down 8.9 percent along the Northeast Corridor and 2.3 percent nationwide, according to Bloomberg News.

In addition, Amtrak said it would extend through Sept. 3 a reduced-fare offer introduced in February for its high-speed Acela Express trains. The company said the promotion reduces the lowest price of a one-way Acela trip between Boston and New York to $79.

Amtrak operates approximately 34 Acela Express and Regional trains in Rhode Island each day. In 2007-08, a total of 805,267 passengers boarded or exited Amtrak trains in Rhode Island, according to the company.

Additional information is available at Amtrak.com.