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Here are some salient points mentioned by Drew Galloway Amtrak Assistant VP for Northeast Corridor (based on meeting notes put together by Les Wolfe):
1. Amtrak now has 73% of the air-rail market for NYP - WAS and 93% for PHHL - WAS.
2. By 2040 Amtrak and Commuter agencies estimate they will require 37% more train miles and expect 60% more passengers in the BOS - WAS segment of NEC.
3. Amtrak is carrying on with the planning for 200 - 220 mph HSR for NEC with target running time of 1.5 hours for both NYP - WAS and NYP - BOS. The first segment of new alignment is targeted for 2023 with completion of the new alignment by 2040. Estimated infrastructure and fleet cost between 2016 and 2040 is $116 billion for the HSR elements and $40 billion for the Master Plan elements. HSR is projected to have an operating surplus above the rails of $1.3 billion per year.
4. Initial steps will be to double Acela service using 160mph capable new equipment between NYP and WAS by 2020. An updated master plan will be published by the end of this year.
5. It is anticipated that FRA is going to publish a Tier III standard for very high speed (speeds above 160 and upto 220 mph). This standard apparently be based on Tier I buff strength, and hence when these trains operate in mixed operation they will be restricted to Tier I speeds (i.e. 125mph) but on dedicated RoW will be allowed to travel at upto 220mph. Tier II trains will be allowed to operate at upto 160mph. This make it necessary to get separate RoW on the NEC to get speeds above 160mph. That is in any case inevitable since the current RoW will also not be able to accommodate the larger track center distances necessary for speeds above 160mph.
6. The currently funded work on New Brunswick to Trenton is going on schedule. Two new substations will be built at Metuchen and Hamilton. All tracks in the entire section will get constant tension catenary. This will be the first 160mph section in the US.
7. The UIC will hold its 8th Worldwide Congress in Philadelphia from July 10 to 13, 2012.
1. Amtrak now has 73% of the air-rail market for NYP - WAS and 93% for PHHL - WAS.
2. By 2040 Amtrak and Commuter agencies estimate they will require 37% more train miles and expect 60% more passengers in the BOS - WAS segment of NEC.
3. Amtrak is carrying on with the planning for 200 - 220 mph HSR for NEC with target running time of 1.5 hours for both NYP - WAS and NYP - BOS. The first segment of new alignment is targeted for 2023 with completion of the new alignment by 2040. Estimated infrastructure and fleet cost between 2016 and 2040 is $116 billion for the HSR elements and $40 billion for the Master Plan elements. HSR is projected to have an operating surplus above the rails of $1.3 billion per year.
4. Initial steps will be to double Acela service using 160mph capable new equipment between NYP and WAS by 2020. An updated master plan will be published by the end of this year.
5. It is anticipated that FRA is going to publish a Tier III standard for very high speed (speeds above 160 and upto 220 mph). This standard apparently be based on Tier I buff strength, and hence when these trains operate in mixed operation they will be restricted to Tier I speeds (i.e. 125mph) but on dedicated RoW will be allowed to travel at upto 220mph. Tier II trains will be allowed to operate at upto 160mph. This make it necessary to get separate RoW on the NEC to get speeds above 160mph. That is in any case inevitable since the current RoW will also not be able to accommodate the larger track center distances necessary for speeds above 160mph.
6. The currently funded work on New Brunswick to Trenton is going on schedule. Two new substations will be built at Metuchen and Hamilton. All tracks in the entire section will get constant tension catenary. This will be the first 160mph section in the US.
7. The UIC will hold its 8th Worldwide Congress in Philadelphia from July 10 to 13, 2012.
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