Mike Davis

@byMikeDavis

NEWARK - The nation's most-traveled rail corridor could get a boost from high-speed trains and a robust network of stations, according to a lofty plan under review by the federal government.

Amtrak's 476-mile Northeast Corridor rail network is already in need of an upgrade, with about 750,000 passengers using the line each day, at or above capacity in certain areas. By 2040, the Federal Railroad Administration anticipates trains running over capacity by about 6,000 passengers per hour.

Enter the administration's "NEC Future program." At best, it's a decades-long list of improvements. At worst, it's a wish list of pipe dreams from imaginative transit gurus.

Amtrak makes big plans for Northeast Corridor

The FRA lists three "alternatives" to its current plan, each of which is more ambitious than the last. The administration is hosting a public hearing on the NEC Future program at the NJ Transit building in Newark. Riders can state their comments for the record from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., and officials will make two presentations at 4:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. Written public comments can be submitted to comment@necfuture.com until Jan. 30.

What kind of changes could come to the Northeast Corridor? Here are the three biggest takeaways:

1.) High-speed rail between Boston and Washington, up to 220 mph

Currently, the fastest Acela Express trains in Amtrak's fleet can travel at a top speed of 150 mph. As part of the administration's most conservative plan, top speeds would increase to 160 mph on certain parts of the corridor.

Speed of Amtrak train raises technology issue

The most ambitious proposal calls for trains traveling 220 mph on the "second spine" of the corridor, from Stamford, CT, to Washington. A full trip along the Northeast Corridor, from Boston to Washington, would be nearly three hours faster.

That's still only half the speed of maglev "bullet" trains in Japan, which travel at 374 mph.

SOUND OFF: What kind of changes do YOU want to see on trains in the northeast? Let us know in the comments or via Facebook and Twitter!

2.) Train service to smaller airports

Like NJ Transit, Amtrak makes regular stops at the Newark Liberty International Airport, where riders can transfer to the airport's monorail to all terminal and parking areas.

But as many budget-conscious travelers know: The cheapest fares are often at smaller out-of-state airports.

Under two of the NEC Future proposals, Amtrak would begin service to the Philadelphia International Airport, used by 30.7 million passengers in 2014. A traveler from northern New Jersey could ride Amtrak from Secaucus to the Philadelphia Airport without a single transfer.

On the northern part of the corridor, it would also provide service to the T.F. Green Airport in Providence, R.I.

3.) More stops on Amtrak = Less congestion everywhere

In their most ambitious proposal, rail officials envision a robust Amtrak network throughout the northeast. Of the 10 new stops proposed, most would be located in Long Island and Connecticut, including a crossing through the Long Island Sound. Others would include "downtown" stops in Philadelphia and Baltimore.

But the main goal of opening up such a network would be to alleviate congestion on all other modes of transportation. Depending on the proposal followed, about 69 million to 141 million more trips would shift from other modes to passenger rail.

Rail officials hope the smaller stops -- coupled with a new pricing structure -- would attract more commuters that would otherwise drive to work.

Mike Davis: (732) 643-4223; mdavis@gannettnj.com. Click here to subscribe to Mike's weekly "Road Sage" newsletter.