Amtrak Awards Three Design-Build Contracts for East Coast Rail Yard Modernization Projects
Written by Jennifer McLawhorn, Managing Editor
Sunnyside Yard in New York City.
Courtesy of Amtrak
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Amtrak has awarded design-build contracts for three rail yard modernization projects located along the Northeast Corridor (NEC).
According to Amtrak, these join other projects currently underway in Philadelphia and Seattle that will “support Amtrak’s continued record ridership growth and help deliver a new era of passenger rail in America.” The upgrades made will support new Airo trains. Amtrak says the rail yard facilities will create a “consistent maintenance system” that will reduce turnaround times for necessary repairs or inspections.
Southampton Yard – Boston
SPS New England-Railroad Construction Company (RCC) Joint Venture will design and construct the maintenance facility as well as made renovations to the existing facilities. These renovations will the Northeast Regional, Acela, and Long Distance trains that operate out of the Southampton Yard. Crews will construct a new two-track Maintenance & Inspection facility and renovate the current two-track regional Service and Inspection facility into a two-track Service & Cleaning facility. The work is expected to be completed in 2029.
Sunnyside Yard – New York City
Scalamandre-Citnalta Joint Venture will design and construct maintenance, inspection, and servicing facilities that will support the Northeast Regional, Acela, Long Distance, and commuter trains that operate out of the Sunnyside Yard. Crews will construct a new two-track Maintenance & Inspection facility, six new Service and Cleaning tracks, reconfigure two major interlockings and tracks that connect the yard to the NEC, and bring 11 existing service platforms to a state of good repair. Additionally, crews will consolidate “commissary, employee workspace, material storage, and parking into a single location within the yard.” Work is expected to be completed in 2030.
Ivy City Yard – Washington, D.C.
Clark-Herzog Joint Venture will work to design, construct, and renovate the maintenance and servicing facilities to support the Northeast Regional, Acela, Long Distance and commuter trains that operate out of the Ivy City Yard in Washington, D.C. Crews will construct three exterior Service & Cleaning tracks, renovate two existing two-track maintenance facilities, and replace the existing water main infrastructure in and around the yard. Work is expected to be completed in 2030.
Virginia Passenger Rail Authority Executive Director DJ Stadtler, “The work progressing at these three maintenance facilities is critical to the success of our Transforming Rail in Virginia initiative. These investments, coupled with the launch of Amtrak’s new Airo equipment, complement the significant investment Virginia is making in infrastructure to improve and expand passenger rail in the Commonwealth.”
Rail Passengers Association President & CEO Jim Mathews said, “These three projects in Boston, New York, and DC join recent investments in heavy maintenance shops in Seattle and Philadelphia as important steps forward for Amtrak. Delivering a better experience for passengers requires not only new coaches, diners, cafés, and sleepers, but sustained, thoughtful investment in the rail backbone of people, parts, processes, and support. These new shops represent a clear commitment to making sure today’s fleet investments deliver value for decades to come.”
Amtrak President Roger Harris said, “These investments are key to introducing our new Airo trains on the Northeast Corridor beginning in 2027. With ridership and revenue at all-time highs, we’re making great strides to meet this growing demand with new, state-of-the-art trains that will improve service reliability and the overall customer experience, thanks to strong support from the Trump Administration, Congress, and many other partners.”
