It would be great if the Empire Corridor west of Schenectady was faster than it presently is. I haven't ridden west of Schenectady in a while but from what I remember, the right of way is straight in many spots. Wherever there is single track, it should be expanded. It seems like stations like Syracuse can use a second platform. Many stops west of Schenectady are very far a part from each other, especially Syracuse and Rochester.
There's no single track between of Buffalo and Hoffmans, the junction for Selkirk Yard. The only single track remaining is the roughly nine miles between Hoffmans and Schenectady, which Amtrak/NYDOT could make double, but they haven't shown a lot of interest in doing so...
CSX could, and should demand a high price as the old Water Level Route is pretty much irreplaceable as a no-grade freight route.