The $321 million, three-year project will electrify 157 miles of track from New Haven, Conn., to Boston and join them with already-electrified lines between New Haven and Washington, D.C.
Amtrak also is purchasing 18 state-of-the-art American Flyer electric trains, capable of speeds of up to 150 mph.
The ceremony at the Providence train station attracted federal, state and local officials. U.S. Transportation Secretary Federico Pena noted that he arrived late because of a 90-minute delay in his 55-minute flight from New York.
``Which reminds me once again why we need high-speed rail service in the Northeast corridor,'' Pena said. ``The American Flyer would not have been delayed.''
Amtrak now offers electric train service on its Metroliner from Washington to New York City, but passengers traveling on to New England must endure a lengthy stop in New Haven, where diesel-powered locomotives are switched with electric locomotives.
Amtrak officials believe eliminating one-third of the travel time from New York to Boston will encourage travelers to ride the rails. On a good day, the typical car trip between New York and Boston takes about 5 hours.
Thomas Downs, Amtrak's chairman and chief executive officer, said the project is historic.
``Nothing this monumental has occurred in this corridor since the completion of I-95,'' he said, referring to the often-congested highway that runs from Maine to Florida.
A roundtrip Amtrak ticket from Boston to New York now costs between $86 and $128. That likely will double to help pay for the new trains and other improvements to the rail system, but still will be less than most airplane tickets, Amtrak spokesman Rick Remington said. AP-WS-07-03-96 2235EDT ... Associated Press, Tel# 415-621-7432 Fax:415-552-9430 1390 Market, Suite 318 Fox Plaza, SF, CA 94012 USA Contact: Steve Elliot for Email Web access for AP.