The importance of the Northeast corridor : field hearing before the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of Representatives, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, first session, June 7, 2013 (New York, New York).

The Northeast Corridor between Boston and Washington is perhaps the single most significant stretch of railroad in the country, connecting dozens of cities like Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York City. The line carries thousands of passengers daily on a mix of long-distance, regional, and commuter trains. Before it emerged as a vital stretch of railway, some of the earliest railroads in America created a foundation for the future corridor. They constructed a patchwork of lines that laid the groundwork for the Northeast Corridor of today, which later formed integral portions of the Pennsylvania Railroad and the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad. The impact of this line is still felt in the many communities that developed along the tracks. While the Northeast Corridor continues to evolve, it remains as relevant as it was when the original developers conceived the rail link nearly two centuries ago.

"David Alff's stylish cultural history of the Northeast Corridor not only illuminates the history and geography of that heavily traveled stretch of railroad between Union Station in Washington, DC, and South Station in Boston-it provides a springboard to contemporary subjects like regional identity, the politics and perils of infrastructure, and the intense diversity of American populations. Paying as much attention to Aberdeen, Trenton, New Rochelle, and Providence as to America's earliest power centers and its current federal and cultural capitals, Alff tells a story of where America has been and where it might-if the rails remain intact-be going"--

This assessment by Amtrak presents an initial look at how Next-Generation High-Speed Rail service could be successfully developed in the Northeast with sustained maximum speeds of 220 mph (354 kph), three-hour trip times between Washington and Boston, and an increase in the number of train frequencies to get passengers where they need to be, when they need to be there fast, safely and efficiently. It is a vision of a realistic and attainable future that can revolutionize transportation, travel patterns and economic development in the Northeast. As America's intercity passenger rail service provider and only high-speed rail operator, Amtrak has a vital, leading and necessary role to play in expanding and operating high-speed rail service across the country. In this role, it is incumbent upon Amtrak to put forward a vision for a next-generation, financially viable network along the Northeast Corridor (NEC). It would provide tremendous mobility benefits to the traveling public and support the growth and competitive position of the region by investing in a vital transportation necessity whose time has come. Just as leading countries throughout Europe and Asia are expanding existing High-Speed Rail networks and developing new systems, Next-Gen High-Speed Rail must play a role in the future of major travel corridors across the U.S. The NEC has the population and economic densities and growing demand for passenger rail service that makes it a perfect market for this type of premium rail service. More detailed work will clearly be required, and the high-speed rail system and services envisioned in this report will evolve and be refined as a result of future studies. Nonetheless, the results show that the concept must be part of the national discussion on how true high-speed rail is advanced in America.