Overhauling Amtrak

[202_Cyclist]

Amtrak missed a big opportunity for New Jersey-native Bon Jovi to note they are halfway there.

Amtrak, NJ Transit announce new Portal North Bridge halfway complete and on budget

By Anthony Johnson
May 13, 2024
ABC 7

"NEW JERSEY (WABC) -- Amtrak and New Jersey Transit announced Monday that the new Portal North Bridge is halfway complete.

It is the biggest transportation project in the nation, they said, and it is making good progress.

While trains are still running over the old Portal Bridge, the passengers can see what will be the new bridge and catch a glimpse of the future taking shape..."

https://abc7ny.com/post/amtrak-and-n...lete/14808274/

[Busy Bee]

Jeez, did they bring in the Chinese to build this???

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by Busy Bee

Jeez, did they bring in the Chinese to build this???

This is damage control.

https://www.northjersey.com/story/ne...t/73592095007/

The drastic increase in outages also meant a need for more labor, which increased Amtrak’s budget by 140%, but it hasn’t affected the overall budget of the project because Amtrak is using its contingency funds for unforeseen events that are already factored into the cost.

I would not consider this to be "on budget". Any project of this nature will have a big contingency, but a 40% increase is an abject failure, not a reason to pat yourself on the back.

[Paniolo Man]

Way to little Amtrak discussion around here.

I FOIA'd the lift of manufacturers who recieved the RFP for LD rolling stock.

6 Car Builders received the solicitation on 12/22/2023. Alstom, Hitachi, Siemens, CAF, Kawasaki and Stadler. These Car Builders were those that not only were qualified, but interested.

[Busy Bee]

Pretty much the gang assumed to be players. Thanks for doing the FOIA though, that's above and beyond, plus now we know here before it's official.

[202_Cyclist]

Amtrak Awards Contract to Build New Connecticut River Bridge

June 28, 2024

"OLD SAYBROOK/OLD LYME, Conn. – Amtrak will soon begin construction of a new, modern Connecticut River Bridge to replace the existing bridge following the award of a construction contract to O&G/Tutor Perini, a Joint Venture. This milestone comes on the heels of recent permit approvals from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.

The new Connecticut River Bridge will improve reliability and reduce delays for Amtrak’s intercity services, Connecticut Shore Line East commuter service and freight operators along the Northeast Corridor (NEC), America’s busiest rail corridor. This is one of several passenger rail improvement projects in the State of Connecticut, including the Connecticut Department of Transportation’s Devon Bridge and Walk Bridge replacement projects, among others..."

"💲 How it’s paid for: The approximately $1.3 billion project is primarily funded by the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA), thanks to a $826.64 million federal grant awarded by FRA. The remaining portion will be funded by Amtrak and the State of Connecticut..."

https://media.amtrak.com/2024/06/amt...-river-bridge/

[ardecila]

Utter waste of money. They should have built a new alignment along I-95 between Old Saybrook and Westerly, per the original plan, instead of doubling down on the twisty Shore Line from the 1800s.

[Busy Bee]

I'm all for that but it would have turned a 1.3 billion bridge replacement into a probably multiple billions more mega-project. I'm sure all parties involved believed it was wiser to precision target the immediate concern and that was a century old bridge with a third world speed restriction. It is what it is. My more immediate complaint is they determined pursuing a higher fixed span bridge was going to "negatively affect wetlands" with the earthworks required for long approaches. Thus the decision to recommit to an old lift bridge design, with the added benefit of being entirely aesthetically charmless, this time with a first world 70mph speed limit. Genius.

[Crawford]

Yeah, they need to replace the bridge. Everyone knows the alignment needs to eventually be shifted northwards, but the present operation needs a new bridge.

[202_Cyclist]

And here is another bridge replacement on the Northeast corridor.

Amtrak to begin $2.7B replacement of Havre de Grace train bridge next year

By Matt Hubbard 
The Baltimore Sun
Jul 1, 2024

"The historic train bridge spanning the Susquehanna River from Havre de Grace to Perryville is set to be demolished and replaced by 2030, as part of a $2.7 billion Amtrak infrastructure improvement project.

The project is part of Amtrak’s $50 billion program that aims to double ridership through infrastructure improvements from Washington, D.C., to Boston by 2040..."

https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/07...dge-next-year/

[Nexis4Jersey]

The Walk Bridge is also under construction...no word on the Pelham Bay Bridge replacement..

[ardecila]

Originally Posted by Busy Bee

I'm all for that but it would have turned a 1.3 billion bridge replacement into a probably multiple billions more mega-project. I'm sure all parties involved believed it was wiser to precision target the immediate concern and that was a century old bridge with a third world speed restriction. It is what it is. My more immediate complaint is they determined pursuing a higher fixed span bridge was going to "negatively affect wetlands" with the earthworks required for long approaches. Thus the decision to recommit to an old lift bridge design, with the added benefit of being entirely aesthetically charmless, this time with a first world 70mph speed limit. Genius.

They could have spent 20% of this cost on a refurbishment for the next 20 years while the new alignment is being planned. This is way too much money to spend for something that is obsolete on Day 1.

Instead, the new alignment is radioactively toxic among some of the grumpiest, most entitled NIMBYs this side of California, and a new alignment is no longer planned at all except possibly a dotted line that runs inland and bypasses Providence.

[sammyg]

This bridge is as close to I-95 as you can get. The rest of the alignment can be fixed and still use this bridge.

[Crawford]

Originally Posted by ardecila

They could have spent 20% of this cost on a refurbishment for the next 20 years while the new alignment is being planned. This is way too much money to spend for something that is obsolete on Day 1.

The new bridge will get 20-30 years of service, easy. A new alignment will eventually come, but absolute best case scenario is 20-30 years from now. That's worthwhile, considering the old bridge has super-slow speeds and breaks down all the time. Acela is doubling service, and that would be impossible without these bridge replacements.

Ultimately, I believe the new alignment will actually be via Hartford. That route is faster, less NIMBY and covers more population. A shorefront alignment would require tunneling. The shorefront line will remain vital, but more for local/commuter traffic.

[202_Cyclist]

USDOT’s Pete Buttigieg helps kick off $1.1 billion passenger rail project in Raleigh


Gov. Roy Cooper shakes hands with U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg during an event at Raleigh Union Station on Dec. 11, 2023, to celebrate construction of the first leg of a high-speed rail line between the Triangle and Richmond, Va. KAITLIN MCKEOWN

Raleigh News & Observer
By Richard Stradling
July 1, 2024

"U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg took part in a groundbreaking ceremony in North Raleigh on Monday for a bridge that will carry Durant Road over a railroad line.

The bridge is part of a $1.3 billion project to provide passenger service between downtown Raleigh and Wake Forest by 2030. It’s the first leg of what state and federal officials say will be a direct high-speed rail connection between Raleigh; Richmond, Virginia, and the Northeast..."


https://www.newsobserver.com/news/lo...#storylink=cpy

[TowerDude]

Construction Begins on Livingston Avenue Rail Bridge Replacement
https://www.rtands.com/track-constru...e-replacement/
ALBANY, N.Y. -Construction has begun on a $634.8 million project to replace the Livingston Avenue Rail Bridge, which will replace the Civil War-era passenger rail bridge spanning the Hudson River between the cities of Albany and Rensselaer and provide a “modern crossing that will improve service and reliability along New York State’s Empire Corridor and throughout the entire Northeast.”

Additionally, Gov. Hochul also announced a $10 million award to demolish the Central Warehouse, a blighted building in Downtown Albany, pieces of which have fallen onto nearby rail tracks “disrupting Amtrak service for thousands of New Yorkers.”

[202_Cyclist]

Bridges and tunnels!

Amtrak awards construction contract for East River Tunnel rehabilitation

Progressive Railroading
July 16, 2024


"Amtrak will begin the East River Tunnel's rehabilitation in New York City later this year following the award of a construction contract to a Skanska E-J ERT Joint Venture.

The tunnel is comprised of four tubes, two of which require significant repairs and comprehensive reconstruction following damage caused by floodwaters that entered the tunnel during Hurricane Sandy in 2012, according to an Amtrak release.

The $1.6 billion project calls for demolishing all existing tunnel systems down to the liner, then restoring both tubes. During the project, one tube will be closed at a time, minimizing service impacts while maximizing track access for construction and renewing the tunnel infrastructure to last another 100 years, Amtrak officials said..."

https://www.progressiverailroading.c...itation--72362

[ardecila]

Woah they are gonna close the North River tubes for repairs before the new Gateway tunnels are in place? Holy shit, that will affect the entire NEC and NJT networks.

Can Amtrak/NJT run more trains into Hoboken while the work is ongoing?

[Nexis4Jersey]

Originally Posted by ardecila

Woah they are gonna close the North River tubes for repairs before the new Gateway tunnels are in place? Holy shit, that will affect the entire NEC and NJT networks.

Can Amtrak/NJT run more trains into Hoboken while the work is ongoing?

NJT has cut all direct service into Hoboken from the Coast line and RVL back in 2020...and refuses to restore it even on days when the tunnels have issues. Amtrak could and should come up with a plan to terminate at Hoboken...which is largely used as a storage terminal with trains sitting on the same track for hours at a time..

[Busy Bee]

What are we talking about? This is about the East River tubes.