In February, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) concluded a series of six working group meetings on the agency’s Amtrak Daily Long-Distance Service Study.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law mandated the study to evaluate the restoration of daily passenger rail service along discontinued long-distance routes and current long-distance routes that do not operate daily. It also will examine the possibility of new long-distance routes and boosting intercity passenger rail connections.
“The Amtrak Daily Long-Distance Service Study is one part of our broader effort to make passenger rail a more reliable travel option as well as an alternative to congested roads,” FRA Administrator Amit Bose said. “FRA envisions a future where Americans can easily access the passenger services they need, and conducting this study alongside partners who know the transportation needs of their states and localities brings us one step closer to this vision.”
The completed study will include estimated costs and public benefits for regions along relevant routes, as well as federal and non-federal sources of funding. It will also identify preferred options for restored, enhanced, or new long-distance service, and provide information on how routes could link and serve large and small communities as part of a regional rail network.
Long-distance routes served more than 4.8 million passengers between March 2020 and March 2022.