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Just two days before House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.) and Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) were scheduled to unveil a plan to privatize the Northeast Corridor (NEC), Amtrak released results of an international peer review of its proposed next-generation high-speed rail plan.

High-speed rail operators in Europe and Japan, as well as several rail-car equipment suppliers, offered positive reaction to and suggestions for Amtrak’s proposal, which calls for phasing in 220 mph passenger-rail service along the NEC during the next 30 years at a cost of $117 billion.

The national intercity passenger railroad solicited feedback on the proposal from international operators, inviting comments on opportunities to strengthen the business case, improve the operating plan and achieve construction efficiencies. Most respondents focused on the technical analysis report — specifically, the sections on conceptual engineering, operational planning, operating and maintenance costs, travel demand/market analysis, and ridership and revenue forecasts, according to Amtrak.

Respondents said they supported Amtrak’s NEC plans to phase in 220 mph rail service on segments between Washington, D.C., and Boston. The East Japan Railway, for example, said it is “extremely important to build capital from early project phases so that additional profits can be obtained and invested in future phases.”

In addition, Amtrak could generate more ridership, revenue and market share than the railroad outlined in its proposal, depending on connectivity to existing networks, some respondents said.

And, the project could cost less to build than Amtrak estimated. Some respondents said they believe train costs could be lower than anticipated depending on the procurement method used, while others said facilities and structures could be redesigned to reduce their footprint, reducing total land acquisition costs.

“The positive feedback from our experienced colleagues around the world is encouraging and demonstrates that Amtrak’s high-speed rail plan is a proper response to meet the region’s need for increased transportation capacity and is a viable way forward,” said Amtrak Vice President of High-Speed Rail Al Engel.

Amtrak is conducting more detailed studies in specific areas to analyze and verify assumptions made in the vision plan. The railroad will address peer review comments in those studies, as well as future studies that will refine engineering needs, create business and finance plans, and review environmental impacts and project alternatives.

Meanwhile, due to numerous questions from potential project bidders, Amtrak has extended the deadline from June 10 to June 20 for its request for proposals for a business and financial plan for the proposed next-generation high-speed system. The plan will outline how Amtrak can maximize private investment opportunities and address risk, credit, debt, investment phasing and other issues.