Hours after US President Joe Biden unveiled his $2 trillion infrastructure proposal, national railway operator Amtrak announced its hopes for expansion and social media users revelled in the details.
Mr Biden on Wednesday announced the details of his infrastructure plan to strengthen the US economy after the fallout from the pandemic.
As part of the plan, $80 billion will be allocated for Amtrak and freight rail.
With @POTUS's infrastructure plan, Amtrak will create jobs and improve equity across the country, and we are ready to deliver. America needs a rail network that offers frequent, reliable, sustainable and equitable train service. Now is our time, let’s make rail the solution.
— Amtrak (@Amtrak) March 31, 2021
Amtrak is a commercial company that operates most passenger rail services in the US, but it relies on state and federal subsidies and funds.
Mr Biden is a fan of the railway and often rode the train from his home in Wilmington, Delaware, to Washington when he was a senator.
He has been nicknamed "Amtrak Joe".
"The American Jobs Plan will build new rail corridors and transit lines, easing congestion, cutting pollution, slashing commute times and opening up investment in communities that can be connected to the cities, and cities to the outskirts, where a lot of jobs are these days," he said in Pittsburgh on Wednesday.
Congress still needs to approve the plan and it is unclear how it will be received.
Amtrak chief executive Bill Flynn is aware of that pivotal step towards additional funding and support from the federal government.
“President Biden’s infrastructure plan is what this nation has been waiting for," Mr Flynn said.
"Amtrak must rebuild and improve the North-East Corridor and our national network and expand our service to more of America."
The North-East Corridor, which serves the metropolitan areas of Boston, New York and Washington DC, is easily the busiest part of the national rail system.
But it is in need of tunnel and rail upgrades, because some sections are more than a century old.
Amtrak is also looking to expand. It released the "Amtrak Connects US" plan that describes its vision for the future if it receives federal support.
The company says funding could help to add more than 30 routes, expand services to more than 20 lines and reach another 160 communities across the US.
Amtrak's response to the Biden infra plan: https://t.co/b8qRz4LIve
— Yonah Freemark (@yfreemark) March 31, 2021
Proposes:
-30+ new routes
-20+ enhanced existing routes
-20m more annual riders
-Better service to cities like HOU, ATL, Cincy
-New service to unserved cities like Las Vegas, Nashville, Columbus, Phoenix pic.twitter.com/Di9BmnCsfr
Amtrak's vision for expansion by 2035 also discusses the expansion of routes and services in cities such as Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
The plan suggests there should be greater service between Texas cities like Houston, San Antonio, Dallas and Austin, many of which rank among the largest US cities.
The company also said supporting Amtrak would help the US to fend off climate change.
Social media users voiced their support.
excited for amtrak to break down on 30 entirely new routes ☺️
— teresa fardella (@teresafardella) April 1, 2021
that amtrak map has filled my heart with real, genuine hope for America in a way I haven't felt in a long time. Every time I look at it I get excited! Every day could be like this!
— Chesapeake Bae 🌸 (@katemcgowanyay) April 1, 2021
So much excitement about Amtrak & trains on my timeline and I love it.
— Lee Storrow (@leestorrow) March 31, 2021
But Amtrak's plan and Mr Biden's funding proposal did not go without some criticism.
Twitter users made comparisons with rail systems in Asia and the EU, where travellers had quicker, more reliable service.
The company has often expressed interest in expanding its system but faced federal funding cuts and a lack of Republican support.
The people stanning Amtrak rn clearly have forgotten that this isn't Japan or Europe where we get nice things when we throw money at government-subsidized companies
— Andrew Beck (@AndrewBeckUSA) April 1, 2021
Amtrak is extremely not a good yardstick by which to measure modern long distance train travel. Long distance trains in Asia and Europe can be really terrific! As Americans we can be really myopic about what is possible outside our own backyard.
— Arlen Parsa (@arlenparsa) April 1, 2021
Having spent years in Europe and Asia, I have long wished the US invested more in railroad passenger transport. Maybe this is the turning point. @Amtrak https://t.co/KFOGuTeFU9
— Johnny L. Stevens II (@johnnylstevens1) April 1, 2021