A world-class, dedicated, high-speed rail service on the Northeast Corridor would transform what it means to travel in and throughout the Northeast Megaregion. Two creative proposals, one by the University of Pennsylvania and another by Amtrak, aim to connect major population and job centers via next generation passenger trains capable of reaching speeds in excess of 220 mph on new, dedicated tracks along the length of the corridor. Both proposals would reduce travel times to roughly half of Amtrak’s current Acela service, and achieve greater frequency, reliability, and capacity than would ever be possible on the existing rail infrastructure. Both proposal also assume that the existing rail infrastructure would be upgraded and maintained as the true, high-speed rail system is implemented. However, the two proposals have contrasting visions in many areas, proposing different physical alignments, operational plans, and institutional and financial arrangements.