DELAWARE-- The Federal Railroad Administration's FY22 Corridor Identification and Development Program Selections have unveiled plans for a new rail connection on the Delmarva Peninsula – the Diamond State Line.
This proposed corridor is set to link points on the Northeast Corridor in northern Delaware, specifically Newark or Wilmington, to key spots on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, including Salisbury or Berlin. The route will traverse central Delaware, stopping in Dover before reaching its final destinations.
Funded up to $500,000, the project is spearheaded by the Delaware Transit Corporation and envisions the establishment of new rail services on an existing alignment. The document does not state who would operate this train service, though Amtrak currently stops in northern Delaware.
According to the Federal Railroad Administration, the $500,000 would be used to develop a scope, schedule, and cost estimate for preparing, completing, or documenting its service development plan.