WATCH: Amtrak’s Laura Mason Tours Harrisburg Track Renewal Project

Amtrak Executive Vice President, Capital Delivery Laura Mason

Courtesy of Amtrak

MIDDLETOWN, Pa. – Laura Mason, Amtrak Executive and Railway Age 2024 Influential Leader, tours the Harrisburg Track Renewal Project in Pennsylvania.

Along with Vice President of Infrastructure Maintenance & Construction Services Lee Moss, Executive Vice President of Capital Delivery Laura Mason visited Middletown, Pennsylvania on Wednesday, May 1^st. For Railway Age’s May 2024 issue, it has selected Laura Mason as one of its Influential Leaders.

The project will replace rail infrastructure dating back to the 1950s. When completed, the replaced infrastructure will improve ride quality and comfort and reduce the maintenance work required. Amtrak says the project is ahead of schedule as it entered Phase 2 on April 29^th. 

As of May 1^st, crews have installed over 23,720 ties, more than 9 miles of rail, and undercut more than 5 track miles of roadbed. Amtrak says it is “taking a fresh approach and expediting this important project with a combination of single and full track outages that will improve work efficiencies and reduce the duration of customer impacts. As a result, this work is scheduled for completion in nearly half the original estimated timeline of two years.” Additionally, concrete ties will replace the existing wood ties to ensure a longer life span.