And unlike many states (for instance, Pennsylvania) NY gives *NO* property tax breaks to railroads. It’s very much in CSX’s interest to have an easement on the rails rather than owning them — if they can tolerate the lack of control.

There’s also a separate issue of priorities. It’s arguably better to spend the money on just electrifying the existing line, and install full HSR tracks in stages. That way, an electric train would run at high speeds on the new lines, and at medium speed on the old lines. This is more flexible because each time money becomes available, it can just be used to upgrade more track sections to high speed.

Any system that is designed to fit a particular niche well will, necessarily, “not be” something else.

As a Rapid Rail system, its certainly justifiable.

With respect to electrification, the Dept. of Transportation should insist that all new works include sufficient clearance to be compatible with later overhead electrification. Given that, electrification of the line is a much lower hurdle to cross than getting the line established in the first place.

Indeed, given that HSR … “real” Rapid Rail as well as “real” bullet trains … between metro areas of that size with those prospective trip times ought to be able to cover its operating cost and yield a surplus, unlike other rail systems, this is a case where electrification can be directly self-funding.

Provided, of course, that an effective 110mph service gets up and running.

For how many years did we study highways before building hundreds of them?

The 20 or so miles west of Albany is single track and owned by Amtrak. NY State is working with Amtrak to build a second track there and build the missing 4th station track in Albany. Both projects will greatly improve on-time performance in the Empire Corridor.