Amtrak Applies for Grants to Improve Northeast Corridor and Long Distance Network

Amtrak has submitted applications for nearly 7.3 billion USD in Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) funding for 14 Northeast Corridor projects, alongside 716 million USD for 16 projects that would improve reliability and travel times on its long-distance network.

It is hoped that this funding will help modernise critical infrastructure, improve stations and expand Amtrak services across the US.

Amtrak Southwest Chief near Fishers Peak, Colorado

© Amtrak

The funding applications for the Northeast Corridor have been submitted through the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program.

If successful, these funds would help advance progress on several key projects, including:

• B&P Tunnel Replacement Program 
• East River Tunnel Rehabilitation Project
• Susquehanna River Rail Bridge Project
• Connecticut River Bridge Replacement Project
• Bush River Bridge Replacement Program
• Gunpowder River Bridge Replacement Program
• Pelham Bay Bridge Replacement Project
• Infrastructure Renewal and Speed Improvement Program
• New Haven to Providence Capacity Planning Study
• Baltimore Penn Station: Master Plan
• New York Penn Station Expansion

Meanwhile, the applications to enhance Amtrak’s long-distance network were submitted through the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program and the Corridor Identification and Development Program.

Examples of long-distance projects include:

• Cardinal and Sunset Limited service improvements, such as increasing service to operate daily and increasing speeds to reduce travel times between Indianapolis and Dyer
• Southwest Chief signal modernisation between Colorado and New Mexico
• Empire Builder rail enhancements in Montana
• I-20 Crescent service extension from Mississippi through Louisiana to Texas
• Construction of new Crystal City station that would add service to Arlington, Va