Follow up to previous postings on high speed rail in the United States, this news release: “Amtrak announced it is reorganizing and establishing a new department to pursue opportunities to develop new intercity high-speed rail service in select corridors around the country and to plan for major improvements on the Northeast Corridor,
including determining the feasibility of increasing top speeds up to 220 mph (354 kph)…The new department will focus on the Amtrak-owned Northeast Corridor and conduct the necessary planning activities required to provide: a major reduction in trip-times between Washington and New York and New York and Boston; a significant increase in the number of train frequencies…In addition, it will pursue partnerships with states and others in the passenger rail industry to develop federally designated high-speed rail corridors such as the new projects moving forward in California and Florida.”