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Amtrak: Difference between revisions
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Amtrak is required by law to operate a national route system.<ref>''Amtrak Reform and Accountability Act of 1997.'' 105th Cong., Senate Report 105-85 (September 24, 1997).</ref> Amtrak has presence in 46 of the 48 contiguous states, as well as the District of Columbia (with only thruway connecting services in [[Wyoming]] and no services in [[South Dakota]]). Amtrak services fall into three groups: short-haul service on the Northeast Corridor, state-supported short-haul service outside the Northeast Corridor, and medium- and long-haul service known within Amtrak as the National Network. Amtrak receives federal funding for the vast majority of its operations including the central spine of the Northeast Corridor as well as for its National Network routes. In addition to the federally funded routes, Amtrak partners with transportation agencies in 18 states to operate other short and medium-haul routes outside of the Northeast Corridor, some of which connect to it or are extensions from it. In addition to its inter-city services, Amtrak also operates commuter services under contract for three public agencies: the [[MARC Train|MARC]] [[Penn Line]] in Maryland, [[Shore Line East]] in Connecticut,<ref>{{cite web |title=Shore Line East |url=https://portal.ct.gov/DOT/Traveler/Rail/SLE |access-date=June 19, 2022 |website=CT.gov - Connecticut's Official State Website |language=en}}</ref> and [[Metrolink (California)|Metrolink]] in Southern California. | Amtrak is required by law to operate a national route system.<ref>''Amtrak Reform and Accountability Act of 1997.'' 105th Cong., Senate Report 105-85 (September 24, 1997).</ref> Amtrak has presence in 46 of the 48 contiguous states, as well as the District of Columbia (with only thruway connecting services in [[Wyoming]] and no services in [[South Dakota]]). Amtrak services fall into three groups: short-haul service on the Northeast Corridor, state-supported short-haul service outside the Northeast Corridor, and medium- and long-haul service known within Amtrak as the National Network. Amtrak receives federal funding for the vast majority of its operations including the central spine of the Northeast Corridor as well as for its National Network routes. In addition to the federally funded routes, Amtrak partners with transportation agencies in 18 states to operate other short and medium-haul routes outside of the Northeast Corridor, some of which connect to it or are extensions from it. In addition to its inter-city services, Amtrak also operates commuter services under contract for three public agencies: the [[MARC Train|MARC]] [[Penn Line]] in Maryland, [[Shore Line East]] in Connecticut,<ref>{{cite web |title=Shore Line East |url=https://portal.ct.gov/DOT/Traveler/Rail/SLE |access-date=June 19, 2022 |website=CT.gov - Connecticut's Official State Website |language=en}}</ref> and [[Metrolink (California)|Metrolink]] in Southern California. | ||
Service on the Northeast Corridor (NEC), between | Service on the Northeast Corridor (NEC), between Boston, and [[Washington, D.C.]], as well as between [[Philadelphia]] and [[Harrisburg, Pennsylvania|Harrisburg]], is powered by [[overhead line]]s; for the rest of the system, diesel-fueled locomotives are used. Routes vary widely in the frequency of service, from three-days-a-week trains on the ''[[Sunset Limited]]'' to several times per hour on the Northeast Corridor.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.amtrak.com/train-schedules-timetables |title=Amtrak Train Schedules, Timetables |website=Amtrak.com |access-date=November 23, 2012 |archive-date=November 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121123035314/http://www.amtrak.com/train-schedules-timetables |url-status=live}}</ref> For areas not served by trains, [[Amtrak Thruway]] routes provide guaranteed connections to trains via buses, vans, ferries and other modes.<ref name=":3">{{cite web |title=Amtrak Thruway Connecting Services Multiply Your Travel Destinations |url=https://www.amtrak.com/thruway-connecting-services-multiply-your-travel-destinations |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180404220008/http://www.amtrak.com/thruway-connecting-services-multiply-your-travel-destinations |archive-date=April 4, 2018 |access-date=October 2, 2021 |website=Amtrak |language=en}}</ref> | ||
The most popular and heavily used services are those running on the NEC, including the ''Acela'' and ''[[Northeast Regional]]''. The NEC runs between Boston and Washington, D.C. via New York City and Philadelphia. Some services continue into [[Virginia]]. The NEC services accounted for 4.4 million of Amtrak's 12.2 million passengers in [[fiscal year]] 2021.<ref name=":0" /> Outside the NEC the most popular services are the short-haul corridors in California, the ''[[Pacific Surfliner]]'', ''[[Capitol Corridor]]'', and ''[[San Joaquin (train)|San Joaquins]]'', which are supplemented by an extensive network of connecting buses. Together the California corridor trains accounted for a combined 2.35 million passengers in fiscal year 2021.<ref name=":0" /> Other popular routes include the ''[[Empire Service]]'' between New York City and [[Niagara Falls, New York|Niagara Falls]], via [[Albany, New York|Albany]] and [[Buffalo, New York|Buffalo]], which carried 613.2 thousand passengers in fiscal year 2021, and the ''[[Keystone Service]]'' between New York City and Harrisburg via Philadelphia that carried 394.3 thousand passengers that same year.<ref name=":0" /> | The most popular and heavily used services are those running on the NEC, including the ''Acela'' and ''[[Northeast Regional]]''. The NEC runs between Boston and Washington, D.C. via New York City and Philadelphia. Some services continue into [[Virginia]]. The NEC services accounted for 4.4 million of Amtrak's 12.2 million passengers in [[fiscal year]] 2021.<ref name=":0" /> Outside the NEC the most popular services are the short-haul corridors in California, the ''[[Pacific Surfliner]]'', ''[[Capitol Corridor]]'', and ''[[San Joaquin (train)|San Joaquins]]'', which are supplemented by an extensive network of connecting buses. Together the California corridor trains accounted for a combined 2.35 million passengers in fiscal year 2021.<ref name=":0" /> Other popular routes include the ''[[Empire Service]]'' between New York City and [[Niagara Falls, New York|Niagara Falls]], via [[Albany, New York|Albany]] and [[Buffalo, New York|Buffalo]], which carried 613.2 thousand passengers in fiscal year 2021, and the ''[[Keystone Service]]'' between New York City and Harrisburg via Philadelphia that carried 394.3 thousand passengers that same year.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
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Along the NEC and in several other areas, Amtrak owns {{convert|730|mi}} including 17 tunnels consisting of {{convert|29.7|mi|km|sigfig=3}} of track, and 1,186 bridges (including the famous [[Hell Gate Bridge]]) consisting of {{convert|42.5|mi|km|sigfig=3}} of track. In several places, primarily in New England, Amtrak leases tracks, providing track maintenance and controlling train movements. Most often, these tracks are leased from state, regional, or local governments. The lines are further divided into services. Amtrak owns and operates the following lines:<ref>{{cite web|title=Amtrak's Track |website=Trains.com |url=http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=44882 |access-date=November 23, 2005}}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> | Along the NEC and in several other areas, Amtrak owns {{convert|730|mi}} including 17 tunnels consisting of {{convert|29.7|mi|km|sigfig=3}} of track, and 1,186 bridges (including the famous [[Hell Gate Bridge]]) consisting of {{convert|42.5|mi|km|sigfig=3}} of track. In several places, primarily in New England, Amtrak leases tracks, providing track maintenance and controlling train movements. Most often, these tracks are leased from state, regional, or local governments. The lines are further divided into services. Amtrak owns and operates the following lines:<ref>{{cite web|title=Amtrak's Track |website=Trains.com |url=http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=44882 |access-date=November 23, 2005}}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> | ||
* [[Northeast Corridor]]: the Northeast Corridor between Washington, D.C., and | * [[Northeast Corridor]]: the Northeast Corridor between Washington, D.C., and Boston via [[Baltimore]], Philadelphia, [[Newark, New Jersey|Newark]], [[New York City|New York]] and [[Providence, Rhode Island|Providence]] is largely owned by Amtrak (363 of 457 miles),<ref name="FY18 profile" /> working cooperatively with several state and regional commuter agencies.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Amtrak Vision for the Northeast Corridor: 2012 Update Report |url=http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/453/325/Amtrak-Vision-for-the-Northeast-Corridor.pdf |website=Amtrak |date=July 17, 2012 |access-date=October 16, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151230065625/https://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/453/325/Amtrak-Vision-for-the-Northeast-Corridor.pdf |archive-date=December 30, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Nussbaum|first=Paul|title=Amtrak's high-speed Northeast Corridor plan at $151 billion|url=http://articles.philly.com/2012-07-10/news/32602302_1_amtrak-president-joseph-boardman-acela-express-northeast-corridor|access-date=July 23, 2013|newspaper=The Inquirer|date=July 10, 2012|archive-date=March 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160323014313/http://articles.philly.com/2012-07-10/news/32602302_1_amtrak-president-joseph-boardman-acela-express-northeast-corridor|url-status=dead}}</ref> Between New Haven, Connecticut, and New Rochelle, New York, Northeast Corridor trains travel on the [[Metro-North Railroad]]'s [[New Haven Line]], which is owned and operated by the [[Connecticut Department of Transportation]] and the [[Metropolitan Transportation Authority]]. | ||
* [[Philadelphia to Harrisburg Main Line|Keystone Corridor]]: Amtrak owns the 104.2-mile line from Philadelphia to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.<ref name="FY18 profile" /> As a result of an investment partnership with the [[Pennsylvania|Commonwealth of Pennsylvania]], signal and track improvements were completed in October 2006 that allow all-electric service with a top speed of {{convert|110|mph|km/h}} to run along the corridor. | * [[Philadelphia to Harrisburg Main Line|Keystone Corridor]]: Amtrak owns the 104.2-mile line from Philadelphia to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.<ref name="FY18 profile" /> As a result of an investment partnership with the [[Pennsylvania|Commonwealth of Pennsylvania]], signal and track improvements were completed in October 2006 that allow all-electric service with a top speed of {{convert|110|mph|km/h}} to run along the corridor. | ||
* [[Empire Connection|Empire Corridor]]: Amtrak owns the {{convert|11|mi|km|sigfig=2}} between New York Penn Station and [[Spuyten Duyvil, Bronx|Spuyten Duyvil, New York]]. In 2012, Amtrak leased the {{convert|94|mi|km|sigfig=3}} between [[Poughkeepsie, New York]], and [[Schenectady, New York]], from owner [[CSX Transportation|CSX]].<ref>{{cite press release|title=Governor Cuomo Announces Hudson Rail Lease – Amtrak/CSX Deal Will Improve Passenger Service, Move Projects Forward|date=December 4, 2012|publisher=Amtrak|location=[[Albany, New York]]|url=http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/13/26/Amtrak-CSX-Hudson-Line-Release-ATK-12-126.pdf|access-date=December 5, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130330181753/http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/13/26/Amtrak-CSX-Hudson-Line-Release-ATK-12-126.pdf|archive-date=March 30, 2013}}</ref> In addition, Amtrak owns the tracks across the [[Whirlpool Rapids Bridge]] and short approach sections near it.<ref>{{citation |title=STB Decision Docket No. AB 279 (Sub-No.6X) |url=http://www.stb.dot.gov/decisions/readingroom.nsf/fc695db5bc7ebe2c852572b80040c45f/9ad840a5d32369e285257a4f004b7211?OpenDocument |format=PDF |access-date=September 10, 2013 |archive-date=November 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111031221/http://www.stb.dot.gov/decisions/readingroom.nsf/fc695db5bc7ebe2c852572b80040c45f/9ad840a5d32369e285257a4f004b7211?OpenDocument |url-status=dead}}</ref> | * [[Empire Connection|Empire Corridor]]: Amtrak owns the {{convert|11|mi|km|sigfig=2}} between New York Penn Station and [[Spuyten Duyvil, Bronx|Spuyten Duyvil, New York]]. In 2012, Amtrak leased the {{convert|94|mi|km|sigfig=3}} between [[Poughkeepsie, New York]], and [[Schenectady, New York]], from owner [[CSX Transportation|CSX]].<ref>{{cite press release|title=Governor Cuomo Announces Hudson Rail Lease – Amtrak/CSX Deal Will Improve Passenger Service, Move Projects Forward|date=December 4, 2012|publisher=Amtrak|location=[[Albany, New York]]|url=http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/13/26/Amtrak-CSX-Hudson-Line-Release-ATK-12-126.pdf|access-date=December 5, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130330181753/http://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/13/26/Amtrak-CSX-Hudson-Line-Release-ATK-12-126.pdf|archive-date=March 30, 2013}}</ref> In addition, Amtrak owns the tracks across the [[Whirlpool Rapids Bridge]] and short approach sections near it.<ref>{{citation |title=STB Decision Docket No. AB 279 (Sub-No.6X) |url=http://www.stb.dot.gov/decisions/readingroom.nsf/fc695db5bc7ebe2c852572b80040c45f/9ad840a5d32369e285257a4f004b7211?OpenDocument |format=PDF |access-date=September 10, 2013 |archive-date=November 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111031221/http://www.stb.dot.gov/decisions/readingroom.nsf/fc695db5bc7ebe2c852572b80040c45f/9ad840a5d32369e285257a4f004b7211?OpenDocument |url-status=dead}}</ref> | ||