More Amtrak Trains, Faster Trips to New York Pitched to Congress

More frequent service and speedier trains for Amtrak along the busy Northeast Corridor are central to a 15-year plan developed by federal rail agencies and state governments.

The Northeast Corridor Commission, created by Congress, released the updated, long-term plan on Thursday proposing increased service for Amtrak by 2037, including 50% more trains between Boston and New York and almost 100% more between New York and Washington, D.C. using federal money. As part of the plan Amtrak pledged to a 2040 goal of two hours and 30 minutes average Acela trip from New York to D.C., and three hours and 15 minutes from Boston to New York.

“Amtrak ridership on the Northeast Corridor is at all-time record levels, and the projects included in this plan will provide the capacity, reliability, and service improvements that our customers need and deserve,” Stephen Gardner, chief executive officer of Amtrak, said in a statement.

The Biden administration recently announced $16.4 billion for rail projects along Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor. The commission said the infrastructure law (Public Law 117-58) funding would help advance projects in the plan, but “continued annual funding appropriated by Congress and guaranteed funding beyond FY26 are needed to realize the full benefits of this plan.”

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The funding push comes as House Republicans have proposed major budget cuts to Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor. The House punted consideration of its Transportation-HUD spending measure (H.R. 4820) this month after facing opposition from Democrats and some Republicans in districts with key rail service.

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Under the proposal Amtrak would increase its daily round trips in the Northeast Corridor to 95 by 2037 from its current 56. NJ Transit would more than double its 171 current round trips to 379 over that same time period.

“The NEC represents infrastructure of national significance, and we look forward to working with Amtrak and state partners to maximize funding in President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and to advance projects that reduce delays, allow for increased speeds, and make trips more reliable and convenient for riders,” Amit Bose, head of the Federal Railroad Administration and co-chair of the NEC Commission, said in a statement.

The plan said new trains would “offer riders modern comfort and amenities on Acela service starting in 2024 and on Regional service starting in 2026,” including “ample leg room, convenient food service, reserved seating, and improved views through larger windows.” But a recent watchdog report found that Amtrak’s forthcoming Acela trains face mounting cost increases, delays and problems, including windows on trainsets that have shattered spontaneously.