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This month, Amtrak is celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Acela Express, which provides high-speed rail service along the Northeast Corridor. Trains operate at speeds up to 150 mph.

In FY2010, which ended Sept. 30, Acela high-speed trains carried more than 3.2 million passengers and earned $440 million in ticket revenue. On weekdays, an average of 80 percent of the seats are sold on the busiest segments, and trains regularly sell out during peak hours. In all, more than 25 million passengers have traveled on Acela since its first day of operation.

“Acela has shown that high-speed rail does work in America and that prudent public investments in passenger rail can pay huge dividends,” wrote Amtrak Vice President of High Speed Rail Al Engel in a guest commentary published in today’s Philadelphia Enquirer.  

“Advance planning and sustained commitment over a number of years are required to build any major national transportation asset,” he added. “Policymakers in Washington and state capitals must make a firm commitment to the future of high-speed rail.”