Arrive Magazine - July/August, 2009

All Aboard!
Capital Improvements

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If you’re a regular Amtrak rider, you’ve probably noticed a lot of changes and work being done throughout our system. That’s because we’re currently working on a number of capital improvement projects to advance our goals of connecting America in safer, greener and healthier ways.

This spring, we began conducting extensive rack maintenance on the Northeast Corridor that will extend through the summer. As a result, schedules for many trains operating in the Northeast will change to accommodate the work and minimize delays. Please make sure you visit Amtrak.com or call 800-USA-RAIL (800-872-7245) for current schedules. If you’re like me and prefer to read a hard copy of the schedule, you can also download and print the most current schedules from Amtrak.com.

In addition to the investments we have on the books, we are investing an additional $1.3 billion across our national system over the next two years as a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Aligned with ARRA goals, our objectives are to repair, rehabilitate or upgrade our assets and infrastructure and to expand passenger rail capacity.

Some of our more visible projects include a $32 million renovation to the station in Wilmington, Del., that began in the spring along with a new $10 million station at our Auto Train terminal in Sanford, Fla. We’re also spending about $40 million on improvements to more than 200 other stations to increase accessibility for people with disabilities and make other upgrades.

These are crucial projects because we understand that your time at the train station is an important part of your travel experience. However, we only own a small fraction of the stations we serve, so we work with local governments and other station owners to offer guidance in enhancing their stations. It’s an effort that benefits everyone involved because stations not only improve the passenger experience, but they also are proven to drive economic growth and civic activity.

Another project that may be of interest to you is our effort to overhaul otherwise-sidelined Superliner and Amfleet passenger cars, as well as 15 P- 40 diesel locomotives. New maintenance facilities in Los Angeles and Hialeah, Fla., will help us keep our fleet in a state of good repair. This work by our mechanical department will allow us to meet the demand for rail travel and improve reliability while providing you with more comfortable on-board accommodations.

Upgrading Amtrak-owned Northeast Corridor infrastructure is another focus for us because we want to make sure your trip is as smooth and efficient as possible. In the Northeast alone, our engineering department is renewing or replacing 13 bridges, including the $100 million replacement of the Niantic River Bridge in Connecticut. They’re also replacing 160,000 railroad ties, building 30 new turnouts and upgrading the electrical system to reduce slow orders and increase reliability.

There’s just as much going on behind the scenes that you probably won’t notice, but will definitely have an impact on your travel with us. We’re dedicating funds to security and life safety projects, investing in things like additional Positive Train Control systems, fire detection and suppression capabilities, while other security improvements will make one of America’s safest travel modes even safer.

So as you ride the rails, take note of all the work going on around you. The hassle-free, relaxing ride you’re enjoying today is going to get even better. As always, please don’t hesitate to contact any one of our employees if you need assistance of any kind.