Amtrak announces repair plans for rails, bridges across Va., DC-Boston corridor

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Amtrak announces repair plans for rails, bridges across Va., DC-Boston corridor

Dan Ronan | [e-mail]
December 31, 2023, 9:12 PM

Amtrak got billions from President Joe Biden’s infrastructure law to improve and expand passenger rail services across the country. In 2024, Amtrak said, much of that money will be used to repair rail lines and aging bridges on the crowded Northeast Corridor between D.C. and Boston.

“Amtrak ridership is soaring and we’re advancing plans to further enhance and expand our services across the United States with our various partners, thanks to these grants,” Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner said in a statement.

The Frederick Douglass Tunnel in Baltimore, Maryland, is slated to get more than $4.5 billion for repairs, with another $2 billion going to replace the Susquehanna River Bridge in Maryland.

Baltimore tunnel, when updated, will allow trains to travel up to 110 miles per hour and cut travel time between D.C. and New York by 30 minutes, making the tracks safer and allowing for more Amtrak and MARC train service on the lines.

{snip}

[patphil]

1. I'm glad to see that this tunnel and bridge will be repaired.

We can't afford to see our rail line infrastructure to waste away.
But these are only 2 items in what is probably a long list of repairs that Amtrak must make to keep this transportation system viable for the future.
I imagine the total bill will be many times that amount.