Amtrak and FRA announce major funding for U.S. rail modernization

Amtrak and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) have announced significant grant funding to modernize and expand passenger rail services across the United States. Through the FRA’s National Railroad Partnership Program, Amtrak has been awarded approximately $2 billion specifically for fleet modernization, which includes the acquisition of up to 43 new trainsets to replace aging equipment on state-supported routes.

In North Carolina, the NCDOT received nearly $300 million to implement the Piedmont Corridor Safety Program. This initiative aims to improve the Raleigh-to-Charlotte route by closing six at-grade crossings and constructing two new highway bridges in Guilford County, and closing three crossings while building two bridges in Durham County. The project also includes adding nearly six miles of second track in Guilford, Durham, and Wake counties, alongside a new anti-trespassing program to enhance safety and capacity.