NYPS returning to “normal” operations

Amtrak engineering forces have completed an intense eight-week summer infrastructure renewal work at New York Penn Station, allowing for regularly scheduled Amtrak, NJ Transit and Long Island Rail Road operations to resume Tuesday, Sept. 5.

The project was focused on “A Interlocking,” where inbound and outbound trains accessing Penn Station from the Hudson River tunnels and the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) West Side Yard are routed through numerous station tracks and platforms. Work included total roadbed, tie, track and turnout replacement. Approximately 360 Amtrak employees worked around-the-clock to install 897 ties, 1,100 feet of rail, 1,000 tons of ballast, 7 turnouts, 4 complex diamond crossings, and 176 yards of concrete.

“This accelerated work was an enormous undertaking,” said Amtrak co-CEO Wick Moorman. “We did it on time, on budget, and most important, safely. We thank passengers for their patience and flexibility, and our commuter partners, local governments and the states for their collaboration this summer. The work and support from our partners will result in greater reliability in the future. I also want to specifically thank all of the Amtrak employees who were involved in this massive project. Without their skill, dedication and hard work, none of what we do would be possible.”

“As we mark the conclusion of this intense two-month work period, we must remind everyone that much more work remains and that rebuilding our infrastructure is a continuous process,” added Moorman. “We have more work planned throughout the fall, winter and into next year to improve other areas of track within New York Penn Station. Most of this work will be handled during our normal weekend maintenance periods and should not have major impacts on service levels. Now we need continued investment from the federal government, our railroad partners and the states to help us make the necessary improvements to infrastructure at Penn Station and all along the entire Northeast Corridor.”

Amtrak said the renewal work “is one element of a plan to modernize stations, infrastructure and equipment on the Northeast Corridor. Amtrak’s Penn Station concourse operations improvement study has begun and improvement projects for the restrooms, waiting areas and Acela Lounge in Amtrak’s concourses are under way. New [high speed] trainsets [from Alstom Transport] will provide more frequency and smoother rides will enter service starting in 2021. Passengers will see refreshed Northeast Regional [Amfleet] coaches with new seats, carpet, improved lighting and other enhancements later this fall and in 2018, pulled by our new [Siemens ACS-64] electric locomotive fleet. The much-anticipated construction of Moynihan Train Hall is now under way and key projects of the Gateway Program to preserve and expand rail capacity into New York City are ready to begin construction.”

Regularly scheduled Amtrak, NJT and LIRR services, including all previously announced modified routes at New York Penn Station as well as Amtrak Empire Service trains, which will be returning to Penn Station for all arrivals and departures following a temporary shift to Grand Central Terminal, will resume Tuesday, Sept. 5, with the exception of Amtrak’s Crescent, which will resume regular operations between New York and New Orleans Saturday, Sept. 2.