New York State investments have made possible a high-speed demonstration of a newly refurbished Amtrak turbotrain, which reached a speed of 125 miles per hour on a stretch of track between Albany-Rensselaer and Hudson. This equipment, first in a possible larger refurbishment program, furthers New York State's high-technology investment in rail travel. It also contributes to reducing congestion and air pollution while aiding in economic development.
   The project represents a cooperative venture between the New York State Department of Transportation, Amtrak, the Federal Railroad Administration, and Turbomeca, the prime contractor which had Morrison Knudsen retrofit the turboliner power cars at its plant in Hornell, New York. A $2 million state investment in track infrastructure and safety improvements needed for 125mph operations was combined with a $3 million grant from the Federal Railroad Administration, awarded after a national competition to test and demonstrate high-speed passenger service using new-technology, fossil-fueled high-speed locomotives. Another $2 million in Amtrak funds provided for the upgrade of one of Amtrak's RTL turbine powered trainsets with Turbomeca Makila (TM-1600) engines and other improvements, including a complete refurbishing of three passenger coaches.
   The demonstration was carried out on part of Amtrak's Empire Corridor, one of only two existing high-speed rail corridors in the country. The Empire Corridor runs between Pennsylvania Station in New York City and Niagara Falls, with service continuing to Toronto. Upon completion of safety, performance, emissions, and other testing, the trainset was placed in permanent revenue service on the Empire Corridor where it will provide insights and information for the development of non-electrified high speed corridors in other parts of the country.
   Since 1979, passenger trains have been traveling at speeds of up to 110 mph daily between New York City and Schenectady due to rail improvements developed by the New York State Department of Transportation using funds approved by voter referendums in 1974 and 1979. Each year, approximately 1.5 million trips are carried by Amtrak throughout the