Upgrading the Northeast Corridor, the train tracks that run from Boston to Washington by way of New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore, with spurs to neighboring cities, has been the longtime dream of the region’s leaders and planners at Amtrak,

Prospective Amtrak board of directors nominee Robert Gleason made clear in his opening statement at a U.S. Senate Commerce Committee hearing today (May 13, 2025) that he is committed “to bringing better passenger rail service to small towns across America.

Researchers at New York University propose innovations to turn the Northeast Corridor into a true high-speed rail line, benefiting commuters and intercity riders.

Amtrak released a white paper that same week explicitly pushing back against calls for privatization. Less than two weeks later, CEO Stephen Gardner resigned after more than four years in the role. A Reuters report claimed Gardner was forced out for disagreeing with the incoming administration’s policy priorities.

Amtrak said today that it has eliminated 450 management positions as it looks to cut costs and reach operational profitability by 2028. The cutback equals just over 10% of Amtrak’s management jobs, the railroad said in a memo to employees.