Amtrak to Revitalize Fleet with State-of-the-Art Facility in Philadelphia

Friday, March 1, 2024

Amtrak has initiated a significant upgrade to its maintenance infrastructure by securing a contract for the construction of the initial facility out of six planned across the nation. This move is pivotal in transitioning from an older fleet to cutting-edge, modern trains, enhancing maintenance procedures.

In detail, Herzog Contracting Corporation has been selected to both design and build a new Heavy Maintenance Facility situated within Amtrak’s Penn Coach Yard in Philadelphia. This facility is poised to provide maintenance services to a significant number of Amtrak’s trains, including the Acela and Northeast Regional lines, which are key players in the Northeast Corridor (NEC). Presently, the NEC facilitates over 12 million trips annually, a figure that is on the rise.

Amtrak Executive Vice President, Capital Delivery Laura Mason:

· “We look forward to breaking ground in 2024 on this critical infrastructure investment along the NEC, America’s busiest passenger corridor. This new facility will speed up train maintenance and reduce turnaround times, providing Amtrak customers with more reliable and frequent service.”

From a broader perspective, Amtrak is laying the groundwork for the introduction of new trains that will begin operations in the near future by investing in facilities across the nation. Specifically:

• Upgrades will be made to six rail yards, with five located in the Northeast and one in the Pacific Northwest, to accommodate new maintenance, inspection, repair, and cleaning operations.
• Additionally, several layover facilities located along existing routes outside the NEC will either be constructed anew or upgraded. These facilities are essential for the cleaning, servicing, or storage of trains.

FRA Administrator Amit Bose:

· “President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is investing in nearly every aspect of passenger rail, including advancing projects of national significance, improving accessibility at stations, funding workforce development, and upgrading facilities like Amtrak’s Penn Coach Yard in Philadelphia. The Federal Railroad Administration looks forward to working with Amtrak and others to deliver these benefits and ensure Americans have access to the safe, modern, and convenient passenger rail service they deserve.”

Funding for these projects comes from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), which supports Amtrak’s future planning and the ongoing evolution of passenger rail services in the U.S. These major infrastructure endeavors are not only crucial for job creation and economic growth but also benefit local communities by fostering investment.

Amtrak is on the cusp of a new era in rail travel, with plans to introduce brand new trains to replace the bulk of its current fleet. This includes ongoing testing of the new Acela trains, acceleration of Amtrak Airo manufacturing, and the commencement of procurement processes for replacing the Long Distance fleet.

Looking ahead, the next year is expected to bring additional contracts for facility upgrades in key locations such as Seattle, Washington DC, New York City, and Boston. These efforts are part of Amtrak’s ambitious plan to allocate approximately $5.5 billion in Fiscal Year 2024 for its most extensive annual capital program yet. This program aims to rejuvenate trains, enhance station experiences, and refurbish critical infrastructure, including bridges and tunnels that are over a century old.

Reactions:

Senator Bob Casey (D-PA)

“When Pennsylvanians can move quickly and easily across the state for work, study, or travel, our Commonwealth thrives. Improving rail service means more jobs, more economic opportunities, and more time spent with family for urban and rural communities alike. Today’s announcement shows just how big the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is delivering for Pennsylvania.”

Senator John Fetterman (D-PA)

“I applaud this award for the construction of a new heavy maintenance facility in Philadelphia. This new facility will service the critical Northeast Corridor, which provides millions up and down the East Coast with critical transit access. This is just another example of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law money helping to modernize our transit infrastructure, create jobs, and support the economic development of our local communities.”

PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll

“Passenger rail is a crucial part of Pennsylvania’s transportation network. PennDOT is proud to support passenger rail through our state investments, and we’re pleased to see that these improvements are progressing.”

« Back to Page

• Amtrak seeks ideas for Chicago Union Station upgrade