By Justin Franz 

Amtrak announced Monday that it was seeking more than $8 billion in federal grants to improve rail service across the country, including 23 projects on the Northeast Corridor between Washington D.C., and Boston, and 16 on the National Network. 

While the bulk of the requests — $7.3 billion to be exact — would fund bridge and tunnel projects in the Northeast, Amtrak also wants to increase service on long-distance routes out west and expand services like the Crescent from Mississippi through Louisiana to Texas. Amtrak is asking for $716 million to improve the long-distance network’s reliability and service. The railroad also provided letters of support for 83 projects outside the Northeast Corridor, including those that would help state-supported routes. 

The applications were submitted to the Federal Railroad Administration through the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Program made available by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. There is $4.5 billion available for projects outside the Northeast Corridor and $8.9 billion for projects on the Northeast Corridor. That lopsided figure shows just how much work needs to be done to bring the busiest passenger railroad on the continent up to modern standards. 

Amtrak also hopes to fund improvements on its National Network, including track enhancements on the Empire Builder route in Montana. Photo by Justin Franz. 

“In order for Amtrak to continue advancing a new era of passenger rail, we must make generational investments that require federal funding,” said Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner. “Securing these grants would help reaffirm our commitment to improving and replacing critical railroad infrastructure, ensuring better service for years to come.” 

Among the projects on the NEC that Amtrak hopes to fund include the B&P Tunnel Replacement in Baltimore and the East River Tunnel Rehabilitation near New York City, just to name a few. On the rest of the network, Amtrak would like to increase service on the Cardinal and Sunset Limited routes from three days a week to seven days a week; modernize signals on the Southwest Chief route in Colorado and New Mexico (putting the iconic Santa Fe signals there at risk); and expand the Crescent from Mississippi to Texas. 

“Amtrak’s Long Distance routes are vital mobility and economic links for communities around the country and we’re continually working to enhance them,” said Amtrak Board Chair Tony Coscia. “These grant applications reiterate our commitment to improving service for all Amtrak customers, from small, rural towns to major metropolitan areas.”