In the News

The USA's government has awarded rail operator Amtrak and its partners nearly $200 million to support four projects in the Northeast Corridor.

The money has been awarded by the Federal Railroad Administration's Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI), and will support four projects in the Northeast Corridor – which travels through eight states and the District of Columbia – and the Gulf Coast states.

The Gulf Coast Corridor Improvement Project will receive up to $178,435,333, with funds from Amtrak, the states of Mississippi and Louisiana, the Alabama Port Authority, CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern Railway providing a 20 percent non-federal match.

This project entails development, final design and construction activities for track and signal-related improvements, upgrades to grade crossings, and station improvements, while maintaining freight service reliability along the Corridor. This will allow Amtrak, working with the Southern Rail Commission, to operate twice-daily services next year between Mobile and New Orleans...

Representative Mike Ezell (R-MS-04) welcomed the news, saying, “As a member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, I have made it a priority to strengthen Mississippi's rail infrastructure. I am excited to welcome Amtrak back to the Gulf Coast, and I look forward to the new jobs and new tourism this project will bring to our coastal communities.”

Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) added, “The Mississippi Gulf Coast is ready for passenger rail service, along with the boost in tourism and economic activity that will come along with it. We look forward to it. These CRISI grant funds, combined with the nonfederal contributions, will do so much to make this long-held, post-Katrina goal a reality.”
Knox Ross, Southern Rail Commission Chair said that the Commission is “excited to see the years of work by Amtrak and our other partners culminate in the CRISI grant award. There are so many federal, state, and local leaders that have played indispensable roles in this announcement. We look forward to starting this Amtrak service very soon and doing our part to keep the Gulf Coast as a premiere vacation and business destination.”

Read the full article: https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2023/09/us-government-gives-amtrak-nearly-200m-for-northeast-corridor-and-gulf-coast-improvements.html