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Description
Major cities: New York City, Albany, Buffalo
| Segment |
Mileage |
Top Speed (goal) |
Travel Time (goal) |
| New York, Albany to Buffalo |
439 |
125 mph |
n/a hr |
Accomplishments and Status:
Although only recently officially designated as "high-speed" under TEA-21, New York's Empire Corridor has a heritage of high-speed operation that dates back to the 19th
Century. The State of New York has funded major improvements since the 1980s between New York City and Albany, sustaining operations at 100 mph or more for almost 20 years. Two Rohr RTL Turboliner turbine-powered trainsets, remanufactured in a public/private partnership in which the State, FRA, and Amtrak participated, have entered revenue service to help support the line's noteworthy performance.
The RTL trainsets are capable of daily 125 mph operation.
The FRA and the Federal Highway Administration jointly manage the Section 1103(c) grade crossing hazard elimination program in designated high-speed corridors. $3.244 million has been invested in reducing grade crossing hazards in the Empire Corridor since the program's beginning in 1993. Details on the grade crossing inventory in this corridor can be found HERE
.
Outlook:
New York State and Amtrak together planned to re-equip and incrementally improve the 160-mile New York to Schenectady line for up to 125 mph service, and to upgrade the line west of Schenectady to Buffalo/Niagara Falls. The State and Amtrak developed a $200 million plan ($140 million for plant improvements; $60 million for equipment rebuilding) to attain reduced travel times in the corridor. New York City to Albany would be targeted at two hours; Albany-Buffalo in 6 1/2 hours. However, according to Amtrak, its commitment to the corridor upgrade plan is contingent on adequate federal funding of Amtrak's capital program - which is not being provided - and accordingly all activities to implement the plan are presently deferred.
FRA, New York State, and the Moynihan Station Development Corporation are working to develop improved passenger station facilities in Manhattan and relieve overloading in Penn Station by converting the adjacent James A. Farley Post Office Building into an intercity transportation terminal. Penn Station in New York City is Amtrak's busiest nationwide, serving over 8.5 million passengers yearly. Approximately 125 Amtrak trains daily serve Penn Station including Amtrak's Empire and Northeast Corridor operations.
The new Albany/Rensselaer station opened and handled about 634,000 riders in FY 2003. Station rehabilitation work is now complete in Utica and Rome and additional economic renovations are underway while studies to upgrade the stations in Buffalo and Rochester are ongoing.
New York State is building three grade separations on the Albany to Schenectady line that are expected to cost a total of $18 million and will significantly improve travel times and safety.
A major study of the Hudson Line between New York City and Albany was recently undertaken to determine projected traffic levels and the cost of upgrades. The State is in active discussions with Metro North, CSX and others on this work. CSX has identified possible freight traffic growth on the line that will have to be accommodated along with potential increases in the numbers and the operating speeds of intercity and commuter passenger trains.
Empire Corridor Contacts
|
Organization
|
Personal Contact
|
Topics
|
New York State
Dept of Transportation
1220 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12232-0506
www.dot.state.ny.us/
fedd/passrail.html
|
Anthony Torre, Director
Highway Data Services Bureau
Office of Engineering Design Division
50 Wolf Road, POD 32
Albany, NY 12232
Tel: 518-457-1965
Fax: 518-485-5257
atorre@dot.state.ny.us
|
High speed rail implementation |
Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) contacts for the Empire HSR Corridor
