Amtrak plans 37-minute train from New York to Philadelphia by 2040

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Amtrak plans 37-minute train from New York to Philadelphia by 2040

By Dave Warner
PHILADELPHIA | Mon Jul 9, 2012 8:22pm EDT

(Reuters) - Amtrak announced a $151 billion improvement plan on Monday that includes 37-minute trips from New York to Philadelphia at speeds approaching 220 miles per hour (354 km per hour).

However, the U.S. passenger railroad will need substantial financial support from both state and federal governments to make its ambitious plan to transform rail travel in the Northeast a reality.

The railroad predicted that super-fast train trips along the East Coast could be a reality by 2040. Travel times from New York to either Washington or Boston - both about 200 miles in distance - would also be slashed, to 94 minutes, the report said.

Current travel times from New York to Philadelphia on Amtrak's sleek Acela trains are 1 hour, 15 minutes. Travel between New York and Washington currently takes 2 hours, 45 minutes and New York to Boston takes 3 hours, 41 minutes, according to Amtrak's website.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/10/us-usa-newyork-amtrak-idUSBRE8681D920120710

[agent46]

1. Thirty Years?

The Chinese could do it in five and 220mph isn't that fast - an antique by 2030. I doubt we'll see this get done.

America! Yesterday's solutions for tomorrow's problems!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

2. Japan achieved 120mph in 1964

Color me unimpressed.

[mwooldri]

5. Britain and Germany did 120mph in the 1930s.. With steam power.

IIRC so did we - albeit unofficially. And we had the fastest scheduled passenger steam train service in the world - officially.

America needs to love its trains again, because somewhere along the way, that love got lost.

[swayne]

3. It MIGHT be news if the date was 2020...

2040 makes me wonder why this is even being discussed at all.

[SoCalMusicLover]

4. American Progress

The Japanese will have a train from Tokyo to Los Angeles by 2040.

Keep in mind, the 2040 goal is only good if funding does not get cut between now and then.

American Loud. American Proud!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

6. They do have some pretty long bridges and underwater tunnels, but

Tokyo to Los Angeles might be a bit ambitious even for them.

[blkmusclmachine]

7. Is it going to be by submarine?

NYC will probably be underwater by 2040.

[harun]

8. 2040 ? Will the Earth even be habitable then?