Amtrak has secured federal grants totalling nearly USD 3 billion for seven rail projects across the United States. The bulk of the funding, USD 2.05 billion, will be used to finance the purchase of up to 43 new trains, which will replace rolling stock that has reached the end of its service life and enable the expansion of certain regional services.
The US rail operator Amtrak has received new funding from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to modernise regional and long-distance services across the United States.
The grants are awarded through the National Railroad Partnership Programme, a federal programme designed for projects that reduce infrastructure modernisation backlogs, improve service performance or enable the introduction and expansion of intercity passenger rail transport.
Amtrak and its partners will be required to provide a 20 per cent contribution towards each project.
“Amtrak is investing in vital projects that will drive economic growth, create jobs and improve and expand rail services for millions of Americans,” said Byl Herrmann, Amtrak’s interim president.
USD 2 billion for up to 43 new trains
The largest tranche of funding, amounting to USD 2.05 billion, is earmarked for the fleet modernisation programme.
Amtrak plans to purchase up to 43 new trains, along with the investments required to bring them into service.
The new trains will replace older ones that have reached the end of their normal service life on several services funded by US states. At the same time, the expansion of the fleet will enable the introduction of additional services funded by local authorities.
The trains are to be built entirely in the United States, and the programme is expected to involve nearly 100 suppliers from 31 states.
The rolling stock will be able to operate on numerous Amtrak routes, including Adirondack, Blue Water, Carolinian, Amtrak Cascades, Downeaster, Empire Service, Hiawatha, Keystone, Lincoln Service, Pennsylvanian, Piedmont, Missouri River Runner and Wolverine.
Amtrak currently operates 32 services funded by state and regional authorities, as well as 15 long-distance services, many of which run overnight and include railcars for sleeping.
USD 659 million for Chicago rail hub
Another major funding package, worth USD 659 million, is earmarked for the modernisation of Amtrak’s infrastructure in the Chicago region, the company’s most important hub for long-distance trains.
The project involves relocating maintenance facilities from 14th Street Yard to Canal Street Yard, with the aim of improving the efficiency of maintenance operations and preparing the infrastructure for an increase in passenger numbers.
Here, too, more than a dozen viaducts, bridges and other structures that are showing their age will be refurbished or replaced.
Separately, Amtrak will receive USD 37.2 million to refurbish the South Branch Bridge over the Chicago River.
The bridge is over 110 years old and faces significant reliability and maintenance issues. The works will extend its service life, whilst preparations are made for its future replacement.
The infrastructure is used by Amtrak trains, Metra commuter services and freight rail traffic.
Investments in rural rail infrastructure
The funding also targets several projects outside major urban centres.
In South Carolina, Amtrak and the freight operator CSX will replace approximately 50 km of track that has reached the end of its service life and will build approximately one kilometre of additional passing track.
The project also includes the construction of dedicated passenger tracks at Florence station, with the measures set to reduce journey times and delays caused by congestion and maintenance work.
In the state of Montana, Amtrak and BNSF will build nearly 10 km of a second main line in the Havre and Lohman area, to eliminate a point where passenger and freight trains frequently block each other.
Another project involves the installation of new on-board equipment designed to improve train detection and operational safety, which will be used on all of Amtrak’s 32 regional services and 15 long-distance routes.
Over 30 other projects are receiving funding
Amtrak’s partners have, in turn, received funding for over 30 additional projects involving planning and construction.
These include the removal of level crossings on the Sunset Limited route in Texas, safety works on the Piedmont corridor in North Carolina, the relocation of Portland station, projects in Colorado and Ohio, and measures to improve reliability on the California Zephyr corridor in Nebraska.
The new grants come at a time when Amtrak is simultaneously carrying out several major modernisation projects. In recent months, the operator has made progress on work at the Dock Bridge in New Jersey, the new Portal North Bridge and the modernisation of the Southampton depot in Boston, which is also being prepared for the future Amtrak Airo fleet.
Through the funding now announced, however, the federal government is placing particular emphasis on replacing ageing rolling stock and increasing the capacity of Amtrak services outside the Northeast Corridor, where a large proportion of regional and long-distance trains still operate with outdated equipment.
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