1. The Northeast Rail Network
Improving Today, Planning Tomorrow
Federal Railroad Administration
The Northeast Regional Rail Workshop
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
June 2, 2009
The Northeast: A Network of Corridors

2. Northeast Designated High Speed Rail Corridors
Source: FRA, October 2005

3. Northeast Intercity Passenger Rail Network

4. The Northeast Regional Rail Network
A Network of Corridors Serving 12 State Region and Beyond
 Northeast Corridor (NEC) Spine: Boston – Washington, D.C
 Nation’s Most Complex, Heavily Used Passenger Rail Corridor
 Four Public Owners: Amtrak, NY/MTA, CTDOT, MA/MBTA
 Intense, Mixed Use Traffic: Amtrak, 8 Commuter Railroads, 7 Freight Railroads
 Connectors to the NEC Spine
 Northeastern New England Corridors: Downeaster, Boston-Montreal, Knowledge Corridor,
 Vermont Western Corridor Burlington to NYC
 Empire Corridor: NYC-Albany-Niagara Falls, NYC-Albany-Montreal
 Keystone Corridor - Harrisburg-Philadelphia
 NEC Extension – Virginia
 Public and Private Ownership: Amtrak, States, Class I, Regional and Short Lines
 Mixed Use Traffic
 Serves Over 50 Million People
 Links Major Metropolitan Areas and Rural/Small Urban Communities
 Connects Northeast - Canada & States South and West
The Northeast: A Network of Corridors

5. Established System – Expanding Demand for Service
Today:
 2,500 Trains Daily: High Speed, Regional, Long-distance Intercity Service,
Commuter, Freight
 High Speed Service: NEC, Empire (South), Keystone Corridors
 260 Million Riders Annually
 14 Million Intercity Passengers
 NEC Spine: 10.8 Million
 NEC Connectors: 3.5 Million
 Many NEC Spine Segments – Near or At Capacity
 Reliability Challenged by Infrastructure Condition and Growth in
Ridership
The Northeast: A Network of Corridors

6. CONEG Governors’ Vision And Goals
2008
Strengthen Rail as an Integral Component of the Northeast’s Transportation System
Objective: Strategically Expand Passenger Rail Service
 Increased Ridership by 2030: Double Intercity & Commuter Ridership 2030
Projections/Current Plans
 Intercity >26 Million
 Total > 415 Million
 Trains >3500
 Quality Service: Safe, Reliable, Frequent, Higher Speed, Time-Price Competitive
 Higher Speed Regional And Premium Service
 Expanded Service in Existing and New Markets
 Reduced Travel Times. More Frequent Service. Reliable Performance
 Greater System Efficiency
 Enhanced Intermodal Connectivity
 Comprehensive Coordinated Planning of Infrastructure-Operational Improvements
The Northeast: A Network of Corridors

7. Needs For The Corridor Network
Reliability, Speed, Growth
 Reliable Infrastructure
 State of Good Repair, Backlog of Deferred Investments
 Capacity for Growth
 Intercity, Commuter, Freight
 New Services – New Communities Served
 Improved Connectivity
 Enhanced Competiveness of Goods Movement
Infrastructure & Equipment Improvements
 Tracks, Bridges, Alignments, Interlockings, Stations, Catenary & Signals
 New and More Equipment
The Northeast: A Network of Corridors

8. Plans For The Corridor Network
System-Wide
 Expanded State Corridors
 Improved Trip Times
 More Frequent & Reliable Service
 Freight Route Protection & Improved Port Access
The Northeast: A Network of Corridors

9. Plans For The Corridor Network
 Downeaster Extension and Expansion
 Portland-Brunswick Extension
 Portland-Boston Enhancements
 Boston-New Hampshire Service
 New Haven-Hartford-Springfield-Vermont Corridor
 Knowledge Corridor Track Relocation
 Vermont-Albany-NYC
 Track & Bridge Improvements
The Northeast: A Network of Corridors

10. Plans For The Corridor Network
Empire Corridor
 Empire South: NYC-Albany
 Station/Track Improvements
 Bridge Rehabilitation
 Empire West: Albany-Niagara Falls
 3rd Track Initiative – Passenger Service
 Empire North: Albany-Montreal
 Track Improvements
 Border Crossing Enhancements
The Northeast: A Network of Corridors

11. Plans For The Corridor Network
 Keystone Improvements
The Northeast: A Network of Corridors

12. Plans For The Corridor Network
 NEC Spine
 Bridges: CT, NJ, MD
 Station Enhancements
 Moynihan Station-NYC
 BWI Airport Rail Station
 Washington Union Station
 Enhanced Service: Boston-Providence-New Haven
 NEC Service Extension South
 DC-Richmond
The Northeast: A Network of Corridors

13. Linked Corridors = Regional Partnerships
The Northeast Experience: States, Amtrak, Freight and Communities
Working Together to Improve Intercity Passenger Rail Service.
 CONEG Governors: Regional Cooperation on ARRA Rail Initiatives
 Institutional Collaboration: Northeast Corridor Infrastructure and Operations
Advisory Commission
 CONEG Governors Vision for the Northeast Corridor Network
 Northeast Corridor Infrastructure Master Plan
 State Investments in Support of Intercity Infrastructure
 Joint Benefit Agreements
 Over $4 Billion
 CONEG Governors High Speed Rail Task Force: Catalyst for High Speed Acela
The Northeast: A Network of Corridors

14. Why Rail Networks are a Priority for Governors
Mobility Economic Growth
Livable Communities Sustainable Environment
 Urban Highways & Airports At Capacity
 Rail – Only Cost-Effective Option To Simultaneously Expand
Mobility, Reduce Congestion and Improve the Environment
 NEC Electric – Lowest Per Passenger Emissions of Any Major
Transportation Mode
 Improved Intermodal Linkages – Rail Hub Improves Efficiency of
Broader Transportation Network
 NEC – Provides Essential Capacity For Goods Movements
To/From East Coast Ports and Industries
The Northeast: A Network of Corridors

15. Thank You!
Presentation Contributors
Don Hannon
Anne Stubbs
Director, Office of
Executive Director
Program Development & Management
CONEG Policy Research Center, Inc.
New York State Department of
Transportation
Drew Galloway
Assistant Vice President, H. Craig Lewis
Strategic Partnerships, East Vice President, Corporate Affairs
National Railroad Passenger Corporation Norfolk Southern
Jeffrey Parker Richard Sarles
Deputy Commissioner Executive Director
Connecticut Department of Transportation New Jersey Transit
Patricia Quinn
Executive Director
Northern New England Passenger Rail
Authority
The Northeast: A Network of Corridors