Amtrak is planning a USD 7 billion investment this year to continue its transformation into a modern and efficient passenger rail operator achieving historic ridership demands while leading an innovative construction arm that leverages industry expertise to safely and efficiently deliver quality assets.
During a meeting with the private sector partners, Amtrak highlights that after a USD 4.5 billion investment allotted in 2024 for major infrastructure and fleet projects, it is planning to increase its capital investments by 50% in 2025.
“We’re leading a strong American workforce and private-sector partners in building new bridges, tunnels, and trains to help meet the historic demand for intercity passenger rail and improve connections for millions of people in more than 500 cities, towns, and rural areas around the country,” Amtrak CEO Stephen Gardner said.
For Amtrak, an efficient passenger rail operator means a new era for rail by replacing, upgrading, and repairing iconic century-old bridges, tunnels, stations, and other critical infrastructure assets. These structures date back to at least the early 1900s and need comprehensive repair and modernisation. The company is constructing new tunnels and bridges that will remove major bottlenecks, including breaking ground on a megaproject to replace the 151-year-old B&P tunnel, which opened when America’s 18th President, Ulysses S. Grant, was in office.
In addition, investment is also channeled to company’s biggest-ever station improvement programme, improving accessibility at more than 380 stations across the national network, as well as restoring several major stations.
The operator is also replacing a majority of its train fleet, which serves more than 500 communities in 46 states and today averages nearly 40 years old, with some equipment dating back to Amtrak’s creation in 1971. The USD long-distance rail operator is introducing new state-of-the-art trains across the country, including 111 modern trainsets and 125 high-powered locomotives in production, as well as an upcoming contract award to replace hundreds of long distance railcars.
Collectively, these transformative projects are creating the largest boom in rail construction in company history, putting hundreds of thousands of skilled Americans to work and jump-starting American manufacturing like never before in company history, Amtrak says.
As Amtrak ramps up its capital programme, the company has continued its commitment to buy American products, with 99% of procurements domestically based in Fiscal Year 2024.
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