Tag: Projects

Amtrak and Partners Break Ground on Southampton Rail Yard Modernization Project in Boston


This article was originally posted on media.amtrak.com on November 6th, 2025

New maintenance facility and other yard upgrades will support state-of-the-art Airo trains set to enter service on the Northeast Regional & Amtrak Downeaster in the coming years

BOSTON – Today, Amtrak was joined by leaders from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA), and Rail Passenger Association to celebrate the start of major construction on a new train maintenance facility in Boston. 

“We are now one step closer to introducing new, state-of-the-art Airo trainsets on the Northeast Regional and Amtrak Downeaster routes,” said Amtrak Vice President of Project Delivery, Fleet & Facilities, Michelle Tortolani. “This new facility will help speed up train maintenance and reduce turnaround times, providing Amtrak customers with more reliable service as ridership continues to break records. We’re grateful for our valued partners at the Federal Railroad Administration, who have helped support and fund this project from concept to construction.” 

“The improvements that Amtrak is making to the Southampton Yard facility are an exciting step to enhance intercity passenger rail service along the Northeast Corridor,” said MassDOT Rail & Transit Administrator Meredith Slesinger. “As Amtrak continues to improve service to the Commonwealth by introducing the new Airo fleet, this investment ensures that Massachusetts continues to play a central role in maintaining and advancing world-class rail operations. Through our Rail and Transit Division, MassDOT is proud to collaborate with Amtrak in strengthening infrastructure that delivers safer, faster and more reliable service for passengers throughout the region.” 

“Southampton Yard is a critical regional facility where trains that provide Amtrak Downeaster service between Brunswick, Maine and Boston have been maintained for nearly a quarter century,” said NNEPRA Executive Director Patricia Quinn. “We’re here to celebrate not only rail yard modernizations, but the introduction of a new generation of trainsets which will revolutionize passenger rail travel across the nation, including on Downeaster service beginning in 2030.” 

“The MBTA is supportive of Amtrak’s investment in the Southampton Yard,” said MBTA Chief Operating Officer Ryan Coholan. “The upgrades will support the next generation of equipment and create a smoother, more efficient operation for everyone who travels through this busy corridor. This work will lead to better reliability, faster turnarounds, and a better experience for all riders traveling through South Station—one of the busiest transportation hubs in the Northeast.” 

“America’s passengers waited for decades for days like today, with long-overdue investment in the future of our rail network from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act making a visible difference for the fare-paying public,” said Rail Passengers Association President & CEO Jim Mathews. “This project and the new Airo trains are an example of what’s possible when we commit to building – and keeping – a healthy industrial base to support our mobility and prosperity. It’s proof our country has what it takes to build and deliver the next rail revolution.”

As it opens in phases through 2029, the maintenance facility will be used for daily inspections, service and cleaning, and more. This investment will improve the customer and employee experience by significantly speeding up train maintenance and reducing turnaround times, thanks to more modern maintenance practices. 

The new 860-feet-long maintenance facility will encompass more than 60,000 square feet within the existing rail yard footprint, featuring a new two-bay Maintenance & Inspection (M&I) facility with inspection pits, drop tables, sanding systems, and fueling pads at each end, as well as a renovated two-track Service & Inspection (S&I) facility.  

Additional upgrades include a new direct fixation track within the M&I and S&C areas; removal of existing and installation of new catenary (electric power) structures; new storage tracks for both MBTA commuter trains and Amtrak equipment; new retaining walls; utility relocations; yardmaster’s operations area, and more. No major customer impacts are expected due to this project. 

These upgrades will benefit Amtrak customers across the East Coast – including the Northeast Regional between Boston and Washington, and the Amtrak Downeaster between Boston and Brunswick, Maine. This facility will also be used for Acela and Long Distance trains that operate out of this yard, connecting with cities such as Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, DC, and Richmond. 

Amtrak’s extensive fleet modernization plans include more than 20 rail yard and facility upgrades across over a dozen routes set to receive new Airo trainsets. Planned and delivered in close coordination with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration, these improvements will enhance maintenance capabilities and improve the overall customer and employee experience. The new facility at Southampton Yard is the fourth in this program to begin construction, following Philadelphia, Seattle, and Washington (where Amtrak broke ground yesterday). 

Several layover sites outside the NEC will also be built or renovated by Amtrak and its partners as part of this program. These are located along existing routes where trains are cleaned, serviced or stored, such Richmond, Newport News, Norfolk, and Roanoke, Virginia. 

Amtrak is transforming train travel with brand new trains slated to replace a majority of the existing fleet, and these rail yard upgrades will advance the company’s new era of passenger rail. New, premium high-speed NextGen Acela trainsets began service in August, Airo trainset manufacturing has ramped up, and work continues to advance replacement of the current Long Distance fleet. 

Additional Reactions: 

Democratic Whip Katherine Clark (MA-05)

“American rail should be the fastest and most reliable in the world. I’m thrilled that we’re breaking ground on a project that will help deliver the frequent, on-time travel Bay Staters deserve. Alongside the entire House Democratic Caucus, I’m fighting for the resources Amtrak needs to build on this investment and keep moving forward.” 

U.S. Representative Stephen Lynch (MA-08) 

“I am pleased that federal funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has been awarded to Amtrak to modernize their Boston facilities to support their new Airo and NextGen Acela trains on the Northeast Corridor. These new trains will be better for our environment, improve service reliability, and operate with greater fuel efficiency in the hands of our skilled Machinists and Rail employees at the Southampton Yard. I am grateful to Amtrak President Roger Harris for his commitment to improving our transportation system and making the travel experience more comfortable and enjoyable for everyone.”

    • For More Information Contact Amtrak Here

    – Taylor Auclair, Marketing Director at NNEPRA

    NNEPRA Announces Major Milestone | Wells Area Improvement Project Update

    Pedestrian Bridge, Elevator Towers, and Precast Platform Installed

    WELLS, MAINE — The Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority (NNEPRA) has announced that Great Falls Construction has installed the new passenger platforms at the Wells Regional Transportation Center, as well as the structural steel to support elevator towers and an elevated pedestrian bridge connecting the new platforms. These critical steps in the Wells Area Improvement Project (Project), sponsored by NNEPRA, mark visible progress toward improved and increased Amtrak Downeaster service throughout the region. The Project, designed by VHB, is being constructed by Great Falls Construction of Gorham, ME, with oversight provided by WSP. 

    “We’re thrilled to reach another major milestone in the Wells Area Improvement Project,” said Patrick Harrington, Project Manager at Great Falls Construction. “Placing critical structures using one of the largest mobile cranes in the state required detailed coordination and teamwork. Our project team, alongside our valued partners, executed this effort with precision and a shared commitment to safety. We’re proud of the steady progress and the strong collaboration that continues to drive this project forward.”

    The Project, funded by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), the Maine Department of Transportation (MaineDOT), and CSX Transportation, began in 2021 and includes a 6-mile extension of rail infrastructure, completed by CSX in December 2024, as well as expanded station facilities designed to increase operational efficiency.  Once complete, the Project, in conjunction with signal upgrades, will enable Amtrak to operate an additional Downeaster round-trip between Brunswick and Wells, scheduled to provide southern Maine commuters with car-free workday access into the Greater Portland region.

    • Quincy Henzel, Director of the Portland Regional Chamber of Commerce, noted the impact on economic growth, commenting that,  “This project fuels regional growth by paving the way for expanded service that will benefit businesses, commuters, visitors and our communities across Greater Portland.” 

    The Town of Wells staffs and manages the Wells Transportation Center per a lease agreement with the Maine Turnpike Authority (MTA).  “The Town greatly appreciates the collaborative working relationship we have had with NNEPRA and MTA in the development and construction of this Project, which provides a fabulous opportunity to better connect Wells and surrounding communities to jobs, attractions, and schools between Boston and Brunswick,” commented Michael Pardue, Wells Town Manager.

     “Seeing the vision come to life on site serves as an incredible reminder of the transformative impact this Project will have on passengers and communities along the Downeaster corridor.” said Patricia Quinn, NNEPRA Executive Director, noting that the new station platforms and facility are expected to be completed in 2026.

    – Taylor Auclair, Marketing Director at NNEPRA

    Expansion of Wells Train Station Begins

    The expansion to Downeaster train facilities at the Wells Transportation Center began on March 3, 2025.  The project includes the replacement of the existing high level boarding platform adjacent to the Wells Station building as well as the construction of a second boarding platform across the tracks connected by an overhead pedestrian bridge.  The additional platform will allow Amtrak Downeaster trains arriving at the station from opposing directions to board and alight passengers simultaneously. 

    The contract to construct the platform and pedestrian bridge was awarded to Great Falls Construction, based in Gorham, following a competitive bid process.  The $11.8M project will support approximately 80 jobs and involve approximately 40 suppliers throughout its 18 month duration.

    “We are excited to collaborate with NNEPRA on this endeavor which will enhance transportation infrastructure and serve the Maine community and its visitors well for year to come.  It’s a great project and we are happy to be a part of it,” said Jon Smith, President of Great Falls Construction.

    Amtrak Downeaster trains will continue to operate throughout construction.   A temporary boarding platform will be built to provide passenger access to trains and the traffic flow within the parking lot will be modified while work is underway.

    The platform expansion is part of the  $31.9 million Wells Area Improvement Project (WAIP) funded in part by the Federal Railroad Administration through the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement (CRISI) discretionary grant program, with matching funds provided by the Maine Department of Transportation and CSX Transportation.  The WAIP project also included a six-mile extension to the second track located in front of the station, which was completed by CSX in 2024. 

    The additional platform, combined with the added track capacity, will support an additional Downeaster train which will operate between Brunswick and Wells each morning on a schedule designed to serve commuters travelling to and from the Greater Portland Region.   A start date for that frequency has not been determined. 

    “We are delighted to work with Great Falls on this important project that will provide more options for Maine residents to get back and forth to work without adding to traffic congestion,” said Patricia Quinn, NNEPRA Executive Director.  “We are grateful for the partnership and collaboration with our funding and operating partners, as well as the Town of Wells and Maine Turnpike Authority, which owns the Wells Station property, throughout this project.”

    For Downeaster schedules and fares visit AmtrakDowneaster.com

    – Natalie Bogart, Deputy Director at NNEPRA