WASHINGTON – Amtrak has published two Requests for Qualifications (RFQs) that will help deliver new and upgraded maintenance facilities in Boston, New York City, Seattle and Washington, D.C. Funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), Amtrak’s facilities upgrade program will prepare more than 20 sites around the country for new trainsets scheduled to enter service in the coming years.
“Amtrak is delivering a new era of passenger rail, which includes replacing a large portion of our fleet with state-of-the-art passenger trainsets and locomotives across the country,” said Amtrak Executive Vice President, Capital Delivery Laura Mason. “These new facilities and modifications at existing rail yards will help modernize our maintenance practices and ensure a seamless transition from Amtrak’s aging fleet to modern, state-of-the-art equipment.”
Future facility upgrades will help improve service reliability, enable more efficient maintenance practices and support projected ridership growth. With new Acela trainsets coming soon, Amtrak Airo trainsets being built and the process to replace decades-old Long Distance railcars now underway, these improvements will benefit Amtrak’s existing and future fleet as the company delivers a new era of rail.
Six major maintenance facilities will receive significant upgrades to support preventive maintenance, routine inspections, equipment repairs and minor service and cleaning needs. Several layover sites where trains are often cleaned, serviced or stored will also be renovated. Amtrak’s existing heavy maintenance facilities, including sites in Delaware and Indiana, will also continue to play an important role providing equipment maintenance and overhaul capabilities.
Two RFQs are currently active – one for Seattle and another for the three Northeast Corridor sites (Southampton Yard in Boston, Sunnyside Yard in New York and Ivy City Yard in Washington, DC). A separate Request for Proposals (RFP) recently welcomed bids for a Philadelphia site and procurement information for the sixth location – Rensselaer, N.Y. – will be announced at a future date.
Earlier this year, Amtrak initially announced these upcoming procurements to help alert potential proposers. Interested contractors should continue to monitor Amtrak’s Procurement Portal for further solicitation information and submittal requirements.
REACTIONS
Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY-09)
“Amtrak has long provided New Yorkers and Americans at-large steady, reliable, and affordable service – earning its distinction as a premier passenger rail nationwide. As it transitions to this revolutionary new chapter made possible by funding within the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, I look forward to seeing what Amtrak and the countless dedicated employees it comprises are able to achieve while empowered with modernized equipment and facilities.”
Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA-06)
“Amtrak’s initiative to upgrade and establish new maintenance facilities marks a pivotal milestone in improving our nation’s passenger rail system. These investments, made possible through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, are essential in ushering in a new era of rail travel. And these upgrades will not just benefit Amtrak’s existing fleet – they will drive economic growth throughout the South Sound and lay the foundation for a more efficient and sustainable rail network nationwide.”
Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY-11)
“Amtrak is an important source of transportation for both business and leisure between America’s cities, particularly along the Eastern corridor. This investment in maintenance facilities will make travel between New York City and multiple cities more reliable and comfortable.”
Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY-06)
“As New York’s representative on the Regional Leadership Council, I’m thrilled to see Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding for the much-needed improvements to Amtrak facilities in New York. This project and, similar ones, will provide a tremendous economic boon for New York communities, and I am proud to have played a part in creating this growth for New York.”
Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA-09)
“I was proud to support the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in Congress and I am thrilled to see funding from this bill being put behind projects in our region that will make our transportation system more safe, reliable, and efficient. These investments will create good-paying jobs, improve our communities, and drive economic growth in Washington State and across the country.”
Rep. Marilyn Strickland (D-WA-10)
“The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) is already working for the people of Washington State and across the nation to bring critical rail infrastructure support and improvements that make public transit more accessible. I look forward to seeing Washington’s upgraded Amtrak facilities, funded by IIJA, because now more than ever it is vital that we build our workforce and increase investment and innovation as we enter a new era of intercity passenger rail.”
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Secretary Mike Carroll
“For generations, passenger rail has been critical to transportation in Pennsylvania. PennDOT is proud to support passenger rail in Pennsylvania through our significant state investments and resources. These new federal dollars from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act reaffirm the shared commitment to improving critical railroad infrastructure, and ensure better service for generations to come.”
Virginia Passenger Rail Authority (VPRA) Executive Director DJ Stadtler
“The launch of the procurement process for Amtrak’s new maintenance facilities is a major step forward as we look to introduce the Amtrak Airo trainsets in the Commonwealth. As more and more Virginians are choosing to travel by train, the upgraded maintenance facilities are needed to enable us to provide reliable service to a greater number of Virginians.”
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