by KYW's Brad Segall
The economic stimulus package means $1.3 billion for Amtrak, with more than half of that amount set aside for improvements along the northeast corridor, from Washington to Boston.
While specific projects haven’t been identified yet by Amtrak, the passenger rail company say the money is designed to improve speed and capacity along the railroads and create jobs, at least in the short term.
Thousands of Delaware Valley residents ride the rails every day, and elected leaders are hoping that much-needed improvements will get more people out of their cars and onto trains.
Bucks County congressman Patrick Murphy says the bill includes money for an advanced signal system:
"Some of the money that is going here is going to make sure that the switching stations are more technologically advanced -- to stop train-on-train collisions and potential derailments.”
The bill also includes $200 million for SEPTA projects that have been stalled for years because of a lack of funding.
Train stations in Langhorne, Croydon, and Warminster will be rehabbed. And Murphy hopes that safer and more modern stations will attract new riders.
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