The railroads in the Northeast are some of the oldest in America. Many, including the Hudson Line which travels from New York City to Albany, were constructed in the mid-19th century.
The tracks of Hudson Line are positioned right along the banks of the Hudson River, and have provided a scenic journey for nearly two centuries. However, with rising sea levels, these low-lying tracks are now at risk and could become submerged during storms without significant engineering intervention.
History of The Hudson River Line
The first section of the Hudson River Railroad, built between New York City and Peekskill, was completed and opened in 1849. The entire line, extending up to East Albany (now Rensselaer, near Albany), was finished by 1851.
After being purchased by Cornelius Vanderbilt, the Hudson Line became part of the New York Central Railroad. Today, it is part of the Metro-North Railroad's Hudson Line, serving commuter trains between New York City and Poughkeepsie, with Amtrak services continuing further north.
Rising Sea Levels
Based on the forecasted sea level rise at Battery Park in New York City, the Hudson River is expected to rise by one to two feet between now and 2050, after already rising 8 inches since the mid-20th century.
The Hudson River's elevation above sea level varies depending on the location along the river. At its southern end, where the Hudson River meets the Atlantic Ocean in New York Harbor, the river is at sea level. Moving north, the river remains at or near sea level until the Federal Dam at Troy, New York, which is about 150 miles north of New York City.
With the rise in sea levels, it's becoming increasingly likely that water will breach sea barriers, and during storms, may push onto land areas, including the Hudson Line's tracks. Below is an excerpt from a report published by NYC on the threats posed by rising sea levels.
"During a storm, winds can push water towards the coast, causing storm surges. Coastal surge flooding is also exacerbated by sea level rise, which is associated with climate change. Since 1900, sea level in New York City has risen by about 12 inches and is projected to continue to increase as much as 5.4 feet by 2100, leading to increased frequency and intensity of coastal flooding"
Impact on Hudson Line
The low elevation of the tracks, especially in areas close to the river, makes them vulnerable to flooding from storm surges and rising sea levels. Metro-North is aware of this issue and has plans in place to build up seawalls and, to the extent possible, reduce the risk of equipment damage during high tides and storms.
Since Metro-North and Amtrak share the rail path in the southern Hudson Valley, these measures will be beneficial. However, solutions will also need to be implemented between Poughkeepsie and Albany, where only Amtrak trains operate.
Source: MTA
Rail Solution For Hudson Line To Mitigate Climate Impact
In addition to implementing measures to mitigate climate-related impacts, it’s important to recognize that the Hudson Line is approaching its 200th anniversary. It would be a beneficial to build a new and elevated higher-speed rail line extending along the Hudson River from New York City to Albany. This new line could then branch off east toward Boston and west toward Chicago, modernizing rail infrastructure and improving connectivity.
Importantly, this would help the U.S. transition from the rail era of Vanderbilt to a new era where high-speed trains are becoming prevalent around the world, particularly in Asia and Europe.
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