NEWARK, N.J. - New Jersey announced today it will seek $885 million in federal funds to upgrade bridges, power supply, and signals on the Northeast Corridor between Trenton, N.J., and New York. The list includes replacing Amtrak's double-track Portal drawbridge with a triple-track fixed structure over the Hackensack River.

The state applied for the money on behalf of New Jersey Transit, with Amtrak's support. Planners say the funds could speed commuter and intercity passenger trains over the most heavily traveled section of the Boston-Washington corridor, reducing passenger delays.

Money would come from the Fiscal Year 2010 High Speed Intercity Passenger Rail program.

Opened in 1910, the Portal drawbridge sees nearly 330 NJ Transit trains on weekdays moving to and from New York Penn Station, plus 100 Amtrak trains.

In early 2010, Amtrak was awarded high speed rail stimulus money to begin engineering work on the bridge project

NEW YORK - Metro-North is considering buying bi-level cars as part of its next car order, currently scheduled for 2015, the New York Times has reported. The agency believes it can get a builder to construct cars that will fit into the tight clearances at Grand Central Station.

If approved, the cars would offer space for roughly a third more passengers for the same cost. The cars would, however, lose some overhead space for luggage.

New Jersey Transit and Long Island Rail Road both run bi-levels, but Metro-North's current car fleet is entirely single-level. Both have ordered bi-levels with sloping roofs to meet clearance restrictions in the area's tunnels, and Metro-North would likely need an even steeper bevel to keep from hitting the walls of Park Avenue Tunnel.

Before the agency could order bi-levels, it would need to figure out how they'd negotiate the intermittently missing third rails at Grand Central Station. That could mean an electric engine on each end or an order for dual-mode locomotives.