This summer, Amtrak will be performing more than $55 million in infrastructure improvements between Washington, D.C., and New York City.
Work includes updating up to 25 miles of track in the Southern Mid-Atlantic Region and replacing 40 track switches throughout New York and the Northern and Southern Mid-Atlantic regions.
Amtrak has committed approximately $130 million for rail improvements along the route and has hired 500 employees to complete the work. It will hire additional workers as needed.
“Amtrak continues to prioritize updating our infrastructure to improve service reliability on the Northeast Corridor,” Laura Mason, Amtrak executive vice president of capital delivery, said. “Modernizing and investing in infrastructure is a continuous process on the railroad, and we thank our partners for their coordination and flexibility as we advance these important projects.”
The project is expected to improve ride quality for customers and reduce the likelihood of lengthy train delays.
Amtrak adjusted train schedules to accommodate the work, but minor delays may occur.
Amtrak also cautions customers that extreme heat can cause rail, bridge, and overhead wires to expand, and temporary heat restrictions sometimes are enacted. Restrictions require locomotive engineers to operate trains at lower speeds than under normal operating conditions and are based on the rail temperature.