1The travel solution for our time
High-Speed Railat
Amtrak
Frank Vacca, Chief EngineerJune 24, 2011
2The travel solution for our time
Rail Resurgence
• Record ridership
• Record revenues
• 19 months of month over month improvement
• Fuel costs climbing
• Favorable transportation and energy policies
• HSR excitement
3The travel solution for our time
HSR Opportunities in America
• Florida – Project Cancelled
• California– 220 mph – 800 mile network
– $3.5B in HSIPR grants – ($45B investment)
• Midwest (Midwest Regional Rail Initiative)– $1.1B grant - St. Louis-Chicago line (110 mph)
• Northeast Corridor (NEC) Operating Today– Next Gen-HSR plan
– Stair-step approach
4The travel solution for our time
• 2nd largest mega-region in the world
• Economic and political capital of the Americas
• Population density =/> Europe and 12 times US average
• 457 route miles 12 states, DC
• 8 commuter operators
• Class 1 and regional freight
• Amtrak high speed, regional, long-distance
• 8 airports
• 12 ports
50 million people
(Northeast megaregion)
Northeast Corridor – Regional Overview
5The travel solution for our time
NEC Master Plan
• NEC Commission sponsored:
• NEC Master Plan ($52 Billion) - Goals– Corridor to state-of-good repair
– 2030 planning horizon
– Maximize capacity and travel times in corridor
– Continued shared-use railway operation (freight, commuter, regular and high-speed)
Existing Master Plan (2030)
2:422:15
3:353:08
NYC - DC
NYC - BOS
• Travel Times
6The travel solution for our time
Northeast Corridor - 2030
16
Amtrak Ridership Growth Under Master Plan
+35%
+33%
+10%+8%
Capacity-Constrained
Growth
• By 2030 Under NEC Master Plan– Capacity exceeded
– Limited ability to:
◦ Increase service
◦Lower travel times
◦Attract New Riders
• NEC intercity travel demand will double by 2050
• Other NEC modes have limited growth potential
• Corridor needs new capacity to compete in worldwide economy
7The travel solution for our time
Amtrak Next Gen HSR Vision
• World-Class High-Speed Network– Dedicated 2-track alignment
– 220 mph equipment
– 40% - 60% travel-time reductions in key markets
– Boston–Washington DC: from 6:30 to 3:20
NYC - DC
NYC - BOS
Existing Master Plan (2030)
2:422:15
3:35
3:08
1:36
1:24
Next-Gen HSR Plan
8The travel solution for our time
Amtrak Next Gen HSR Vision
• Rolling Stock– Similar to Acela but 8 vs. 6 cars
– 400-passenger capacity
– Speeds up to 350 kph
– EMU-style distributed power, bi-level consists also possible
• Infrastructure– Dedicated 2-track system
– Minimum 4 tracks at stations (turns & passing moves)
– Heavy use of tunnels & structures to meet alignment requirements, minimize impacts
9The travel solution for our time
Potential Alignments: NY to BOS
Challenges• Boston to New York
alignment poses difficult challenges
• Capacity limits on New Haven Line
• Curvature, capacity and environmental concerns on Shore Line (New Haven to MA state line)
Analyzed Alignment
• Diverges north of New Rochelle to serve CT and RI
• Converges with NEC alignment at Rt. 128 station in MA
“Analyzed Alignment’ used for costing and analysis purposes, subject to further analysis in next phase
10The travel solution for our time
Challenges• Utilize existing NEC corridor where possible
• Providing service to built-up CBD areas in key cities
Analyzed Alignment
• Substantially parallels NEC
• New stations in Baltimore and Philadelphia more centrally located“Analyzed Alignment’ used for costing and analysis purposes,
subject to further analysis in next phase
Potential Alignments: DC to NY
11The travel solution for our time
• $117 Billion (in $2010)– Equivalent of $4.7 Billion annually
over 25 years of construction
– $275 million/mile for infrastructure, stations, facilities
– 55 train sets @ $51 million each
Capital Investment Costs
• Phasing of Construction– Four phases over the 2015 to 2040
period
– Phases 1-3 (2015–2030): New York to Washington
– Phase 4 (2024–2040): New York to Boston
12The travel solution for our time
40% Increase in Acela Capacity
Acela II Fleet Doubles Capacity
160 mph Service South of NYC
NEC Gateway: Newark to NYC
Next Gen HSR MOS: NYC to PHL
Next Gen HSR South to Wash D.C.
Next Gen HSR North to Hartford
Next Gen HSR to Boston
NEC Stair-Steps to Next-Gen HSR Vision
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13The travel solution for our time
• Initial “Fast-Track” (2022)–“Gateway” Project from NJ into Moynihan Station
–Next-Gen HSR segment Newark to Frankford Junction
–Master Plan improvements Philadelphia to Washington, DC
“Fast-Track” Segment
14The travel solution for our time
Gateway Project
15The travel solution for our time
NEC Gateway: Penn Station & Network Expansion
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NEC Stair-Step Approach
• Additional ACELA cars 40% capacity increase
• Purchase of ACELA II’s
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Other NEC Approved Projects
• Maryland Bridge replacement
• Harold Interlocking – Amtrak bypass track
• Kingston, RI - passing track construction
• B&P Tunnel replacement
18The travel solution for our time
• Safer• Fast, safe and secure rail travel• Fewer highway accidents
• Greener• Reduces energy use, emissions• Supports dense, smart urban
development patterns• Strengthens existing commuter
and transit systems and riders
Healthier • Comfortable, convenient travel
supports affordable, livable & sustainable communities
• Minimize land area needed to meet future travel demand
HSR Advantages
19The travel solution for our time
• NEC HSR System Capacity– Up to 50 million annual
passengers
– Up to 8,000 passengers/hr. in each direction
– 2040 service plan = ~25% of capacity
• Highway Equivalent– 8,000 travelers/hr. = 5,300 cars
– Requires 3 highway lanes in each direction
• Difference– Speed
– Direct downtown-to-downtown connection
– Less energy and emissions
HSR Advantages
20The travel solution for our time
HSR Factors
• Market
• Competition
• Trip Time– Top speed vs Average speed
• Service Frequency
• Incremental vs Greenfield
• Funding
21The travel solution for our time
Amtrak HSR Factors
• Market – One of the most populated corridors in the World
• Competition – Airlines– Presently have 70% NY to DC and 55% NY to Bos
• Trip Time– Very sensitive – NY to DC 2hrs / NY to Bos 3hrs– High top speed necessary to meet trip time
• Frequency – Critical
• Incremental/Greenfield– Mixed
• Funding– Varies
22The travel solution for our time
How Does Speed Influence Cost
• Up to 110 mph– Wood ties– Cab signal systems/PTC– Grade crossing acceptable– Diesel acceptable
• 111 to 186 mph– Concrete ties– Catenary – No grade crossings– ROW fencing– No movable bridges -/fixed high level bridges
• 187 to 220+ mph– Slab Track?– Intrusion systems– Noise mitigation
* Higher the speeds the tighter maintenance tolerances leading to higher maintenance costs
HSR Funding
23The travel solution for our time
Thank You
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