Amtrak: FRA's Northeast Corridor report affirms railroad's plans

The Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) recently released Tier 1 final environmental impact statement (FEIS) for Northeast Corridor (NEC) rail-line improvements affirms Amtrak's long-held view that rebuilding and expanding the corridor is essential for the region's future, Amtrak officials said this week.

The FRA's recommendations support advancing all of Amtrak's current major projects slated for the corridor, including the Gateway program and the expansion of Washington Union Station, Amtrak officials said in a press release.

"When fully completed, this landmark report will be the crucial first step to improving this national asset and speeding up high-speed rail in the NEC," said Stephen Gardner, Amtrak executive vice president of infrastructure and investment development. "The hard work of prioritizing, phasing and funding these improvements comes next and Amtrak will continue to seek opportunities to develop world-class high-speed service across the corridor."

The Tier 1 FEIS recommends a preferred alternative for the NEC's future, and includes responses to comments received on the Tier 1 draft EIS.

To learn more about Amtrak's future, read this month's cover story in Progressive Railroading.