Amtrak Breaks Ground on Southampton Rail Yard Modernization Project in Boston
Written by Jennifer McLawhorn, Managing Editor
Amtrak and partners break ground on a maintenance facility in Boston.
Amtrak
BOSTON - Joined by MassDOT, Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, and Rail Passenger Association leaders, Amtrak celebrated the start of construction on a train maintenance facility in Boston.
Earlier, RT&S reported on the ground breaking of Ivy City Rail Yard Modernization Project in Washington, D.C. Now, Amtrak is beginning construction on a maintenance facility that will be used for inspections, service, and cleaning. Amtrak says this will “improve the customer and employee experience” by reducing train maintenance turnaround times due to “more modern maintenance practices.” The 60,000+ square-foot building will measure 860 feet long and feature a two-bay Maintenance & Inspection (M&I) facility. This facility will have inspection pits, sanding systems, drop tables, and fueling pads at each end. Amtrak says there will also be a renovated two-track Service & Inspection (S&I) facility.
Other upgrades include a new direct fixation track at the M&I and S&C areas, the removal and installation of new catenary structures, new retaining walls, new storage tracks for MBTA and Amtrak trains and equipment, relocation of utilities, and more. The upgrades will benefit customers who travel on the Northeast Regional between Boston and Washington and the Amtrak Downeaster between Boston and Brunswick, Maine, says Amtrak. Additionally, the facility will be used for Acela and Long Distance trains that operate out of the yard. Along with Ivy City Yard in Washington, D.C., Amtrak says it plans to upgrade more than 20 rail yard and facilities in coordination with the USDOT’s FRA.
“We are now one step closer to introducing new, state-of-the-art Airo trainsets on the Northeast Regional and Amtrak Downeaster routes,” said Amtrak Vice President of Project Delivery, Fleet & Facilities, Michelle Tortolani. “This new facility will help speed up train maintenance and reduce turnaround times, providing Amtrak customers with more reliable service as ridership continues to break records. We’re grateful for our valued partners at the Federal Railroad Administration, who have helped support and fund this project from concept to construction.”
“The improvements that Amtrak is making to the Southampton Yard facility are an exciting step to enhance intercity passenger rail service along the Northeast Corridor,” said MassDOT Rail & Transit Administrator Meredith Slesinger. “As Amtrak continues to improve service to the Commonwealth by introducing the new Airo fleet, this investment ensures that Massachusetts continues to play a central role in maintaining and advancing world-class rail operations. Through our Rail and Transit Division, MassDOT is proud to collaborate with Amtrak in strengthening infrastructure that delivers safer, faster and more reliable service for passengers throughout the region.”
“Southampton Yard is a critical regional facility where trains that provide Amtrak Downeaster service between Brunswick, Maine and Boston have been maintained for nearly a quarter century,” said NNEPRA Executive Director Patricia Quinn. “We’re here to celebrate not only rail yard modernizations, but the introduction of a new generation of trainsets which will revolutionize passenger rail travel across the nation, including on Downeaster service beginning in 2030.”
“The MBTA is supportive of Amtrak’s investment in the Southampton Yard,” said MBTA Chief Operating Officer Ryan Coholan. “The upgrades will support the next generation of equipment and create a smoother, more efficient operation for everyone who travels through this busy corridor. This work will lead to better reliability, faster turnarounds, and a better experience for all riders traveling through South Station—one of the busiest transportation hubs in the Northeast.”
“America’s passengers waited for decades for days like today, with long-overdue investment in the future of our rail network from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act making a visible difference for the fare-paying public,” said Rail Passengers Association President & CEO Jim Mathews. “This project and the new Airo trains are an example of what’s possible when we commit to building – and keeping – a healthy industrial base to support our mobility and prosperity. It’s proof our country has what it takes to build and deliver the next rail revolution.”
