The grants will cover a range of projects, including new bridges and
tunnels and expanding services across the US.
Amtrak has revealed applications for almost $8bn of federal funding
to work on modernising projects along the Northeast Corridor in the US,
expanding its services and improving long-distance reliability.
The vast majority of the grant funding from the Federal Railroad
Administration ($7.3bn) would go towards 14 projects on the Northeast Corridor.
These include a number of replacement tunnels and bridges, such as
the Connecticut RiverBridge, the new Gunpower River Bridge and the
Pelham Bay Bridge.
CEO Stephen Gardner explained that the “generational investments”
were part of introducing a new era of passenger rail. Gardner said: “Securing
these grants would help reaffirm our commitment to improving and replacing
critical railroad infrastructure, ensuring better service for years to come.”
The other $716m in funding applications will cover 16 projects
around the US focused on improving long-distance reliability such as rail
enhancements on the Empire Builder line in Montana and daily services on the
company’s Cardinal and Sunset Limited lines, up from three times a week.
Amtrak board chair Tony Coscia said: “Amtrak’s long-distance routes
are vital mobility and economic links for communities around the country and
we’re continually working to enhance them.
“These grant applications reiterate our commitment to improving
service for all Amtrak customers, from small rural towns to major metropolitan
areas.”
Alongside modernising and replacing infrastructure, the recent
applications will also include work on a few stations including the Baltimore Penn station project and work to expand the New
York Penn station.
New York senator and majority senate leader Chuck Schumer said: “I
applaud Amtrak for their foresight in applying for this funding through the
Federal Railroad Administration’s Federal-State Partnership for Intercity
Passenger Rail Program.
“I strongly support these projects which will keep New Yorkers
moving, helping them live, work and thrive.”
Some of the funding will also go towards projects which have already
begun under Amtrak, such as the new Frederick Douglass tunnel in
Baltimore, which will replace the Baltimore-Potomac tunnel, the oldest on the
Northeast Corridor network at almost 150 years old.
The organisation’s most recent applications came shortly after similar requests for federal funds to carry out a study with the Southern
Rail Commission alongside an interstate between New York City,
Atlanta and Dallas.