Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor (Boston-New Haven-New York City-Philadelphia-Washington, D.C.) is slated for modern trains built by French train manufacturer Alstom. Up to 28 new trainsets will be delivered by 2022 to replace the existing Acela fleet. Top speed for Acela trains today is 135 mph, but Amtrak hopes to speed that up to 160 mph on certain sections to give faster service and increase overall passenger capacity by 40%. The total pricetag for the deal will top $2.45 billion.

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Stephen is a professional urban planner in Puget Sound with a passion for sustainable, livable, and diverse cities. He is especially interested in how policies, regulations, and programs can promote positive outcomes for communities. With stints in great cities like Bellingham and Cork, Stephen currently lives in Seattle. He primarily covers land use and transportation issues and has been with The Urbanist since 2014.