Amtrak announced it would implement a temporary service outage in October to replace aging track components and improve reliability along the Northeast Corridor.
Calling it a “Pause for Progress,” Amtrak said the track outage would take place at “A-Interlocking” in the First Street Tunnel just south of the Washington Union Station, beginning on Oct. 16 through the 26th. The outage begins after the close of service on Oct. 16, and will conclude before service resumes on Monday, Oct. 26.
“A-Interlocking is a critical track and control point within the First Street Tunnel, responsible for routing all Amtrak and Virginia Railway Express (VRE) train movements between Washington Union Station and Virginia,” Amtrak said. “The existing switches and crossovers are beyond their service life, requiring a 10-mph speed restriction that impacts operations. ‘Pause for Progress’ is designed to address those limitations and help prevent larger, unplanned service disruptions.”
The agency said a short-term coordinated outage is more efficient because of the tunnel environment and limited access. Phased construction would be impractical, the agency said.
Customers traveling to or from Washington, D.C. from the south should expect service reductions and train cancelations. However, once completed, the investment will deliver improved safety and reliability, fewer delays and better on-time performance, and infrastructure modernization. Crews will be replacing outdated switches and crossovers, rehabilitating the tunnel track base and installing modern electric switch systems.
Amtrak said it is coordinating with the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority, VRE and the North Carolina Department of Transportation. During the work, Carolinian service will continue with coordinated bus connection to and from Washington Union Station so that passengers can complete their trips with a transfer between the train and bus.