Metro-North tasks Skanska-ECCO for shops rebuild

New York’s MTA Metro-North Railroad has awarded a design-build contract to Skanska-ECCO for the final phase of rebuilding its Croton-Harmon Shops and Yard complex.

The facility was built in the early 1900’s by the New York Central Railroad and is a linchpin of Metro-North’s commuter railroad operations.

The 100-acre facility located between the train station and Croton Point Park hosts round-the-clock service, repair and maintenance of M-N’s fleet of EMUs, coaches and diesel locomotives that serve the three east-of-Hudson River lines.

The shops also feature expanded train storage capacity, new locomotive servicing stations, and the first facility in North America that, M-N claims, can simultaneously true four wheels.

The agency did not immediately disclose the value of the contract.

The railroad said it has nearly completed the construction of a new consist shop that allows an entire train to enter the facility for repairs without having to uncouple and recouple cars.

This final stage of the rebuild completes the demolition and replacement of the facility’s “main shop,” where Metro-North formerly performed most of its major and preventative maintenance, paving the way for a new electric car shop and a support shop facility. The work is slated for completion in 2022.

A new support shop will bring more efficient, updated equipment used to repair or replace train components, including wheel and axle assemblies, HVAC units, compressors, tread brake units and electronic equipment.

“It’s impossible to operate the railroad safely and efficiently without a well-maintained fleet,” said Catherine Rinaldi, Metro-North President. “The Croton-Harmon Shops and Yard Replacement project brings an antiquated facility into the 21st century, ensuring we continue to provide the best possible service to our customers for generations to come.”

The MTA said the new contract reduces initial design effort, while Skanska-ECCO can introduce innovative design or construction methods to reduce the project’s cost and schedule.