New York City, June
20, 2018 –
In a telephone press conference for the media, Amtrak officials reported that the Infrastructure
Renewal Program on the Empire
Corridor project currently underway is on target. Amtrak’s
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Scot Naparstek and
Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Stephen Gardner took
questions and led the discussion on this year’s project. Overall, Amtrak’s plan
is to modernize stations, infrastructure and equipment on the Northeast
Corridor.
The work is scheduled for completion
by Sept. 4, when upstate trains will switch back to Penn from Grand Central Terminal (normally the home of Metro-North).
The most dramatic part of the plan was the June 14, 2018 removal of the Spuyten
Duyvil Bridge that connects Manhattan and The Bronx for trains headed to
Albany-Rensselaer station. One of the world's largest floating cranes, the Left
Coast Lifter, was used to left the swing bridge and load it onto a barge to
repair the damage caused by Superstorm Sandy. Included in this overhaul are the
bridge’s electrical and mechanical systems. The crane was last used for the Tappan
Zee Bridge replacement project.
Amtrak is replacing track in the Empire Tunnel, as
well as replacing cross ties, grade crossings and 8,000 feet of continuous
rail, including the track between the tunnel and the Spuyten Duyvil Bridge.
Meanwhile, NY Penn Station is undergoing other
improvements.
Track 19 is currently undergoing a complete
gutting and replacement and replacing three turnouts and conduct total
ballasted track and wood tie track replacement.
The restrooms are being refreshed, upgrading
the air conditioning in the station's concourse area, lactation suites for
nursing mothers installed, and has receiving construction bids for Amtrak
Ticketed waiting room and a refreshing of the ClubAcela suite.
The big announcement was the arrival
of the replacement of the current Acelas after 20 years in 2021 and the replacement of
the current single-level Amfleet Is that are over 40 years old and operating on FRA waiver.
By
Joseph M. Calisi ©2018 All Rights Reserved
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