US DOT announces $1.5bn investment in Northeast Corridor rail upgrades

The US Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) has announced an investment of approximately $1.5bn in 19 projects to upgrade the Northeast Corridor (NEC).

This funding, facilitated by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law through the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Programme, aims to enhance the speed and safety of rail services.

This new investment complements over $16.4bn in grants allocated in 2023 for NEC projects, including the Gateway Programme Hudson River Tunnel Project and the Susquehanna River Bridge Replacement Programme.

The NEC grants form part of a $66bn initiative to improve passenger rail across the US, with projects ranging from high-speed rail in the West to expanded services in the Southeast and Midwest.

The current round of funding targets critical infrastructure needs, such as replacing outdated catenary structures and signal systems, and supports expansion plans for Washington Union Station.

US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said: “The Biden-Harris Administration continues to make good on its promise to deliver the long-awaited, much-needed investments to modernise this critical route.