Get ready for those day trips and weekend getaways–Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor (NEC) is undergoing track improvements this summer.
The track work is part of a long-term effort to ensure the railroad operates at peak performance.
“Updating railroad infrastructure is a fundamental component of our plan to deliver a new era of rail by modernizing the Amtrak fleet, building new bridges and tunnels, revitalizing stations and redefining the customer experience for the modern era,” said Amtrak Executive Vice President, Capital Delivery Laura Mason.
The Northeast Corridor project will cost $130 million in total, with over $124 million being invested this summer. The project includes:
- Replacing 40 track switches throughout New York and Mid-Atlantic regions
- Updating 25 miles of track in the Mid-Atlantic Region
- Completing over one million feet of surfacing work across the entire NEC for high-speed rail
Trains will run on newly adjusted schedules to account for this work and avoid conflicts, however straphangers traveling on the Northeast Corridor through September 30 may unfortunately experience minor delays throughout the New England and Mid-Atlantic Regions.
The silver lining: the long-term benefits outweigh the temporary inconveniences, including increased reliability and improved on-time performance.
The news comes not too long after Amtrak announced that they restored ‘Adirondack’ service between NYC and MTL after three years of closure–so if you’re not quite sure where to take a trip to this summer, grab your passport and head to Canada!