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January 4, 2019

Work to Enhance Customer Experience Underway at Washington Union Station

WASHINGTON – As part of ongoing work to upgrade the customer experience at Washington Union Station, Amtrak is seeking a general contractor to revitalize the Claytor Concourse.

With the release of a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) on Jan. 4, 2019, Amtrak and its partners are beginning a two-phase process to select a contractor to modernize the Claytor Concourse, Union Station’s intercity passenger and commuter rail pathway.

Construction is expected to begin in the fall of 2019. Construction is anticipated to be completed in 2022. Amtrak is working in coordination with multiple stakeholders, including the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration, Union Station Redevelopment Corporation (USRC), and commuter and transit partners.

Built in the 1980s, the Claytor Concourse contains waiting areas for Amtrak customers, retail and food establishments, and customer amenities, such as restrooms. Virginia Railway Express, and Maryland Area Regional Commuter Rail customers also access the concourse.

Amtrak will expand the concourse to double its capacity, which will alleviate congestion and enhance customer comfort and accessibility. Connectivity will be improved to provide customers better access to the commuter rail and bus transportation that serves the station. The project will also brighten the space with new architectural finishes and more natural light.

Other project work calls for the addition of more restrooms and the construction of a new Metropolitan Lounge (currently Club Acela), a premium lounge space providing customers with a high-quality experience. Additional space will be added for support services such as station manager and customer service representatives. Work to upgrade and relocate mechanical and electrical equipment is being completed.

Information related to the RFQ can be found on the Union Station Redevelopment Corporation website at https://www.usrcdc.com/category/rfp/.

Learn more about other infrastructure investments that Amtrak is leading at nec.amtrak.com.

For More Information

Kimberly Woods
MediaRelations@Amtrak.com
Amtrak Contact
202 906.3860

About Amtrak®

Amtrak offers a more comfortable and convenient travel experience with free Wi-Fi on most trains, plenty of leg room and no middle seat. With our state and commuter partners, we move people, the economy and the nation forward, carrying more than 30 million Amtrak customers for each of the past eight years. Amtrak operates more than 300 trains daily, connecting more than 500 destinations in 46 states, the District of Columbia and three Canadian Provinces, and reaches 400 additional destinations via connecting bus routes. Book travel, check train status, access your eTicket and more through the Amtrak app. Learn more at Amtrak.com.