Around the Region
Amtrak is betting much of its future - and that of high-speed
rail in the U.S. - on its new 150-mph trains, named "Acela,"
on the Boston-NY-DC Northeast Corridor. The trains will chop 90 minutes
off its 4 1/2-hour Boston-to-NY service and 30 minutes off its three-hour
DC-to-NY ride. Amtrak views the Northeast Corridor as a model for other
high-speed rail proposals in the Great Lakes, Southeast, Gulf Coast, California,
and Pacific Northwest. It also hopes that America will follow Europe's
lead toward a transportation system that offers alternatives to congested
highways and crowded airport terminals. Associated Press
