Amtrak's Ambitious Plan to Boost Ridership
Amtrak aims to double its ridership within 20 years and plans to use $22 billion from the infrastructure bill to achieve this goal. The company will focus on improving its busiest hubs, including Philadelphia's 30th Street Station, New York's Penn Station, Chicago's Union Station, and Baltimore's Penn Station. These upgrades will involve track improvements, increased accessibility, and the renovation of stations to enhance retail potential. Amtrak's spending will significantly increase, with annual capital investment projected to reach over $6.5 billion by 2025. However, delays may occur as the release of next-gen Acela train sets could be postponed due to defects found in a performance audit.