Amtrak has broken ground on a set of two different modernisation projects at the Southampton Rail Yard in Boston and the Ivy City Rail Yard in Washington DC.
The ceremonies, which were attended by leaders from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA) and Rail Passenger Association in Boston, and leaders from Maryland, Virginia, and the national Rail Passenger Association in Washington, mark the start of major construction at both sites.
The modernised 860-foot-long rail yards are set to open in phases through 2029 (Southampton) and 2030 (Ivy City), and will be used for daily inspections, service, cleaning and more. The investment into the sites aim to improve both the customer and employee experience by expediting train maintenance and reducing turnaround times with modern maintenance practices.
Encompassing over 60,000 square feet; the Southampton Rail Yard will feature new two-bay Maintenance & Inspection (M&I) facilities with inspection pits, drop tables, sanding systems, fuelling pads and a renovated two-track Service & Inspection (S&I) facility, whilst the Ivy City Rail Yard (which encompasses more than 55,000 square feet) will feature five Maintenance & Inspection (M&I) tracks with inspection pits, drop tables, sanding systems, and fuelling pads at each end, as well as four Service & Cleaning (S&C) tracks – one enclosed and three covered.
Additional upgrades at Southampton will include a new direct fixation track within both the M&I and S&C areas, the removal of existing and installation of new catenary (electric power) structures, new storage tracks for MBTA commuter trains and Amtrak equipment, new retaining walls, utility relocations, and yardmaster’s operations area and more.
Meanwhile, additional upgrades at the Ivy City yard will include a new direct fixation track within the M&I and S&C areas, removal of existing and installation of new catenary (electric power) structures, new retaining walls and utility relocations.
Both sites are expected to continue operations as normal during the modernisation works, with upgrades set to benefit Amtrak customers across the East Coast and Northeast Regional and commuter trains.
Amtrak’s wider fleet modernisation plans include more than 20 rail yard and facility upgrades across more than a dozen routes in order to facilitate the operation of new Airo trainsets.
The programme also includes the building or renovation of several layover sites outside the NEC.
