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Report: Failure to improve rail network could hurt economy

A failure of the over-burdened and antiquated Northeast Corridor rail network could cost the nation's economy $100 million a day, according to a regional report issued Monday.

Amtrak faces a “crisis of success,” unable to keep up with the growing demand for rail service on the Northeast Corridor, Amtrak president Joseph Boardman said Wednesday.
Amtrak faces a “crisis of success,” unable to keep up with the growing demand for rail service on the Northeast Corridor, Amtrak president Joseph Boardman said Wednesday.Read more
    by By Paul Nussbaum, Inquirer Staff Writer
    Published 

A failure of the over-burdened and antiquated Northeast Corridor rail network could cost the nation's economy $100 million a day, according to a regional report issued Monday.

The report was mandated by Congress to analyze the current role of the Northeast Corridor in supporting economic activity and future prospects for growth.

The report was issued by the NEC Commission, composed of representatives of the eight states and Washington, D.C., that make up the corridor; Amtrak; freight and commuter railroads, and the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Improving the corridor to allow greater passenger and freight travel could add $8.2 billion a year to the regional economy by 2040, the report said.

Failure to do so could cost the economy $1.2 billion a year by 2025, the report said.

pnussbaum@phillynews.com

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