Amtrak proposes Northeast Corridor high-speed service

Amtrak officials today unveiled a vision for true high-speed service along the Northeast Corridor, with trains that could travel between Philadelphia and New York in 38 minutes.

The proposed new high-speed service between Washington and Boston, with trains that could travel at 220 miles per hour, would require its own dedicated tracks and a new route north of New York away from the congested seacoast, said Amtrak president Joseph Boardman.

The proposed high-speed system would cost about $117 billion and take up to 30 years to complete, according to Amtrak's proposal. No specific plans were included on how to pay for the high-speed system.

Amtrak officials hope to receive about $4.7 billion a year for 25 years to make their dream a reality.

Gov. Rendell, joining Amtrak and public transit officials at a press conference at 30th Street Station, said, "It sounds almost too good to be true, but it is true."

He cited high-speed rail travel in Europe and Asia, where trains reach speeds of more than 200 miles an hour. "The time has come for it to be done in America," Rendell said.

A link to a PDF copy of the report, and other Amtrak reports, can be found at http://bit.ly/aBRQpl