The U.S. Department of Transportation has opened applications for $4.7 billion in grants to fund major rail projects along Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor, alongside an additional $2 billion aimed at modernizing passenger and freight rail infrastructure nationwide.
The funding is being distributed through the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail program and the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program. Both initiatives are backed by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which continues to support transportation upgrades despite shifting federal budget priorities.
In parallel with the funding announcement, Amtrak has issued a request for proposals to railcar manufacturers to begin replacing its aging fleet of long-distance trains, many of which are nearly 50 years old.
The first round of grant applications will prioritize high-profile projects along the Northeast Corridor, including upgrades to New York Penn Station and Washington Union Station, as well as other key transit hubs.
“The Northeast Corridor is the busiest and most complex rail line in America,” said David Fink in a statement.
The funding is expected to support a wide range of improvements, including increased train speeds and frequency, expanded service routes and enhanced maintenance infrastructure. Additional CRISI funding will focus on reducing congestion, improving safety at highway-rail crossings and strengthening multimodal connections between rail and intercity bus systems.
“From the suburbs to rural communities, we want to equip our partners with the resources they need to modernize our rail infrastructure,” Fink added.
Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor remains a critical transportation artery, carrying 15.2 million passengers in fiscal year 2025, underscoring the importance of continued investment in its infrastructure.
Beyond infrastructure upgrades, Amtrak is moving forward with plans to modernize its long-distance fleet. The company intends to replace more than 800 railcars across 14 routes, transitioning from aging double-decker cars to standardized single-level vehicles designed to improve accessibility and passenger experience.
“This new approach will deliver a more consistent and accessible customer experience across the Amtrak network while maintaining our commitment to introduce the first new long-distance cars in the early 2030s,” said Roger Harris in a previous statement.
Industry stakeholders have welcomed the funding opportunity, noting strong demand from state and local governments to expand rail service.
“Given the demonstrated demand from local governments looking to expand and upgrade service, we fully expect states to take full advantage of this funding opportunity to advance corridors across the U.S.,” said Sean Jeans-Gail, vice president of policy and government affairs at the Rail Passengers Association.
Initial estimates suggest that the fleet replacement program alone could require at least $7 billion in investment, with funding expected to draw from federal infrastructure programs.
The funding rollout comes amid broader policy discussions, including proposed federal budget cuts that could significantly reduce future support for passenger rail. However, current allocations from previously approved legislation are enabling projects to move forward in the near term.
Originally reported by Dan Zukowski, Senior Reporter in Construction Dive.
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