Amtrak plans to add more days of service on a long-distance line that stops at the Wilmington Biden Train Station on its way to Washington, DC and Chicago.
It’s part of a $2.1 billion program to improve existing routes and advance plans to expand Amtrak service across the United States.
“Amtrak ridership is soaring and we’re advancing plans to further enhance and expand our services across the United States with our various partners, thanks to these grants,” said Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner. “We’re eager to bring the benefit of Amtrak’s network and experience to support states and local communities as they work to bring intercity passenger rail to new communities across America.”
Multiple grants announced today will go directly to Amtrak; others will support existing and potential partners, including states that subsidize service.
Under Amtrak-led grants, the Cardinal, which runs to Washington, DC and Chicago, would move to daily service from three times a week.
Amtrak also wants to to add three Northeast regional trains that would run Ronkonkoma, NY, with stops at Jamaica (Queens, NY) and Hicksville, NY. The expansion would require track and other improvements. Northeast Regional trains stop in Wilmington, with fewer stops in Newark, DE.
Amtrak has seen a surge in passenger traffic at a time when commuter rail systems like SEPTA have yet to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Long-distance trains are also slated to get new passenger cars and locomotive, including a model that can quickly convert from overhead electric lines to diesel power
