Amtrak has published two Requests for Qualifications (RFQs) that will help deliver new and upgraded maintenance facilities in Boston, New York City, Seattle and Washington, D.C. Funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Amtrak’s facilities upgrade program will prepare more than 20 sites around the country for new trainsets scheduled to enter service in the coming years.
“Amtrak is delivering a new era of passenger rail, which includes replacing a large portion of our fleet with state-of-the-art passenger trainsets and locomotives across the country,” said Amtrak Executive Vice President, Capital Delivery Laura Mason. “These new facilities and modifications at existing rail yards will help modernize our maintenance practices and ensure a seamless transition from Amtrak’s aging fleet to modern, state-of-the-art equipment.”
Future facility upgrades will help improve service reliability, enable more efficient maintenance practices and support projected ridership growth. With new Acela trainsets coming soon, Amtrak Airo trainsets being built and the process to replace decades-old long-distance railcars now underway, the improvements will benefit Amtrak’s existing and future fleet as the company delivers a new era of rail.
“The launch of the procurement process for Amtrak’s new maintenance facilities is a major step forward as we look to introduce the Amtrak Airo trainsets in the Commonwealth. As more and more Virginians are choosing to travel by train, the upgraded maintenance facilities are needed to enable us to provide reliable service to a greater number of Virginians,” said Virginia Passenger Rail Authority Executive Director DJ Stadtler.
Six major maintenance facilities will receive significant upgrades to support preventive maintenance, routine inspections, equipment repairs and minor service and cleaning needs. Several layover sites where trains are often cleaned, serviced or stored will also be renovated. Amtrak’s existing heavy maintenance facilities, including sites in Delaware and Indiana, will also continue to play an important role providing equipment maintenance and overhaul capabilities.
Two RFQs are currently active – one for Seattle and another for the three Northeast Corridor sites (Southampton Yard in Boston Mass., Sunnyside Yard in New York and Ivy City Yard in Washington, D.C.). A separate Request for Proposals (RFP) recently welcomed bids for a Philadelphia site and procurement information for the sixth location – Rensselaer, N.Y., – will be announced at a future date.
“For generations, passenger rail has been critical to transportation in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is proud to support passenger rail in Pennsylvania through our significant state investments and resources. These new federal dollars from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act reaffirm the shared commitment to improving critical railroad infrastructure and ensure better service for generations to come,” said PennDOT Secretary Mike Carroll.
