Future Amtrak Acela Service to Reach Speeds of 186 mph

Washington, DC -- Congressman Eliot Engel announced that the U.S.Department of Transportation will be spending nearly $745 million to upgrade some of the Northeast Corridor’s most heavily-used sections.  Improvements between New York City and Trenton will improve on-time performance and reliability, and an initial increase in top operating speeds up to 160 mph and future maximum speeds of 186 mph. The work is expected to create approximately 12,000 jobs.

Some $294.78 million of the money will ease major delays for trains coming in and out of Manhattan, with new routes allowing Amtrak trains to bypass the busiest passenger rail junction in the nation.

Rep. Engel said, “This grant money will not only help our economy but is a big win for commuters along the Northeast Corridor. These jobs will go to Americans, using American made material, while improving transportation across a region where 50 million Americans live and work.”

The money is part of the Obama Administration’s unprecedented capital investment in the Northeast Corridor, and the improvements will allow for the fastest passenger train speeds attained in North America to date. Thanks to these investments, Acela Express trains will soon reach up to 160 mph (up from 135 mph today) along a 24-mile segment of the corridor between Trenton and New Brunswick, NJ.  As Amtrak purchases next generation high-speed trains, passengers will travel at world-class speeds of 186 mph along the improved track.

Rep. Engel said, “Gas prices seem eternally rising so this will be a boon as more Americans are choosing to travel by train. Our country’s population is expected to grow by 100 million by 2050, so this investment in high-speed rail reduces congestion and improves the efficiency and reliability of travel. Increasing speeds and improving service on the Northeast Corridor, which is the most heavily-traveled passenger rail corridor in the nation, is a crucial part of our effort.”

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