Amtrak has completed the summer infrastructure renewal work at New York Penn Station. Regularly scheduled operations will resume on September 5, 2017. This includes all previously announced modified routes at New York Penn Station as well as Empire Service trains, which will return to Penn Station for all arrivals and departures. One exception is the Crescent, which will resume regular operations between New York and New Orleans on September 2, 2017.
The infrastructure renewal work focused on “A Interlocking,” the critical sorting mechanism routing incoming and outgoing trains that enter and exit Penn Station from the Hudson River tunnel and the Long Island Rail Road’s (LIRR) West Side Yard to the various station tracks and platforms.
The work in “A interlocking” included total track and switch replacement to improve reliability of train service through this area in Penn Station. Amtrak employees installed 897 track ties, 1,100 feet of rails, 1000 tons of ballast, 7 turnouts (switches), 4 complex diamond crossings, and 176 yards of concrete.
“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. 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 to service levels,” said Amtrak co-CEO Wick Moorman.
“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,” added Moorman.
The work is part of Amtrak’s plan to modernize stations, infrastructure, and equipment on the Northeast Corridor.