Amtrak Advances Major Rail Yard Upgrades in Seattle

Project made possible by the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA)

SEATTLE - Amtrak will soon begin major rail yard upgrades in Seattle following the award of a construction contract, advancing the company's New Era of Rail and supporting passenger rail growth as ridership continues to break records around the country, including here in the Pacific Northwest.

Why it matters: The upgraded King Street Yard will enable modern, more efficient maintenance practices and support the introduction of new, state-of-the-art Amtrak Airo trains set to enter service in 2026 for the Amtrak Cascades route, along with maintenance for trains on the Long Distance routes that operate out of this yard.

• When the project is completed, the rail yard will feature a new two-bay Maintenance and Inspection (M&I) facility and a new Service and Cleaning (S&C) bay to provide the foundations for a world-class maintenance yard.

Amtrak Executive Vice President, Capital Delivery Laura Mason:

• "We look forward to breaking ground soon on this important project that will modernize maintenance and upgrade the overall customer experience. Thank you to the Biden-Harris Administration, Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, Representatives Pramila Jayapal, Rick Larsen and the rest of the Washington congressional delegation who supported passage of the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA) and continued investments in passenger rail."

Digging deeper: PCL Construction Services, Inc. will lead design and construction, managed by the facilities team within Amtrak's Capital Delivery department. The new maintenance facility and rail yard improvements will support the existing fleet and prepare for future state-of-the-art trains.

• Additional improvements include relocating existing facilities, upgrading utilities, and adding space to store train maintenance materials. Regular service will be maintained throughout the duration of this project, with completion expected in 2027.
• This work will be completed within the rail yard's existing footprint, south of the Stadium District in Seattle.
• In alignment with Amtrak's Net-Zero Strategy, the new facility will operate without the use of fossil fuels for heating, allowing Amtrak to take advantage of the region's available renewable electricity. Amtrak, already one of the most sustainable ways to travel, has announced a Net-Zero Strategy which targets sourcing 100% carbon-free electricity by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2045.

FRA Administrator Amit Bose:

• "Thanks to the hard work of the Biden-Harris Administration and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law's historic funding, we're finally addressing long-standing rail needs, advancing major projects, and upgrading vital infrastructure across the country, including Amtrak stations and facilities like the King Street Coach Yard. The new Seattle facility and rail yard will benefit riders on several Amtrak routes, including Amtrak's Cascades route, and upgrades will ensure it is positioned for future growth. I'm grateful to the Members of Congress and State of Washington who have supported this project and the infrastructure law. FRA looks forward to our continued work with federal and state leaders, Amtrak and others to modernize and expand America's passenger rail network."

About the rail yard: Amtrak's King Street Coach Yard is located approximately one mile south of King Street Station and experiences more than 200 daily train movements.

• It will be home to the first Amtrak Airo trains to enter service in 2026, featuring a world-class design and modern amenities that will transform the travel experience.
• At the Seattle Rail Yard, Amtrak employees maintain, service and clean the locomotives and passenger railcars that operate on:
  • Amtrak Cascades - daily Pacific Northwest trips between British Columbia, Washington and Oregon
  • Coast Starlight - daily connections between Los Angeles and Seattle
  • Empire Builder - daily connections between Chicago and the Pacific Northwest
• Amtrak also maintains Sounder commuter trains at this rail yard. This Sound Transit service operates between Everett, Seattle and Lakewood, with additional stops in between.

How it's paid for: The overall project investment is nearly $300 million, funded by the IIJA.

• Major infrastructure initiatives like these create important jobs and drive economic development, while investing in local communities.

The big picture: This is the second contract Amtrak awarded in 2024 to advance major rail yard upgrades around the country, following the Philadelphia Penn Coach Yard award.

• Similar upgrades in Boston, New York City and Washington, DC, are in the procurement process, with contract awards expected soon.
• Several layover facilities outside the Northeast Corridor (NEC) will also be built or renovated. These are located along existing routes where trains are cleaned, serviced or stored, such as Eugene and Portland, Oregon.

Amtrak istransforming train travel with brand new trains slated to replace a majority of the existing fleet.

• Amtrak Airo manufacturing has ramped up, New Acela testing is underway in the northeast, and procurement has formally begun to replace the current Long Distance fleet.
• These projects are part of Amtrak's largest-ever annual capital program, which is modernizing trains, enhancing stations and upgrading critical infrastructure like century-old tunnels and bridges.
• Follow along with Amtrak's historic infrastructure investments here.

Reactions:

U.S. Senator Patty Murray:

"It's great to see more federal dollars from our bipartisan infrastructure bill coming back to Washington state to build and upgrade crucial transportation infrastructure that our families rely on, like the King Street Yard. Seattle has always been a world class destination, and these upgrades will make it easier than ever for more people up and down the West coast to travel to Seattle, as well as across our state, to see just how much Washington has to offer. This is an exciting announcement for families, workers, and businesses across our state, and I will be watching closely as this important project continues to move forward."

Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Rick Larsen:

Thanks to funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Amtrak service, which transports hundreds of thousands of people in Washington state each year, will soon have a new maintenance facility. Whether traveling to work, to visit family or to a Sounders or Seahawks game, riders will benefit from improved rail service. The BIL continues to create good-paying jobs and build cleaner, greener, safer and more accessible infrastructure in Washington and across the country."

Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal:

"I was proud to support the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and am thrilled to see this major investment coming to our region as a result. This funding will help to better connect the Pacific Northwest and ensure that travelers will better be able to get where they're going - quickly and conveniently."

Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland:

"Historic levels of funding from the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act continue to deliver for Washington State and our region. Rail yard maintenance will benefit all of the West Coast, and support Amtrak as ridership continues to grow."

WSDOT Rail, Freight and Ports Division Director Jason Biggs:

"This new Seattle maintenance facility is a key element in advancing train travel in the Pacific Northwest. With our new train equipment arriving in 2026, we look forward to offering passengers an enhanced travel experience along our scenic route. We are working together to provide more reliable, frequent and sustainable Amtrak Cascades service and this is one important part in making that a reality."

ODOT Director Kris Strickler:

"Amtrak Cascades is experiencing a historic high in ridership - 35% higher than 2023 in Oregon. "We appreciate the support of our federal partners in funding these upgrades which will help us continue to grow ridership and respond to the region's growing love of train travel."

Rail Passengers Association President and CEO Jim Mathews:

"Buying new trains is about a lot more than just the cars or locomotives. You need to make the right kinds of investments up front to manage and maintain your new fleet. This is yet another example of how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is paving the way for a new era of passenger rail in the U.S. The entire rail ecosystem has to change to make sure these investments work for decades to come, and we couldn't be more excited about what this means for America's passengers!"

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.