Herzog Contracting Corp. and Dana B. Kenyon Company (DBK) have started preconstruction on Amtrak’s new Penn Coach Yard Heavy Maintenance Facility near Philadelphia’s 30th Street Amtrak Train Station. The project is the first of six facility upgrades across Amtrak’s network.

The Penn Coach Yard facility will service many of Amtrak's Acela, Airo, and Northeast Regional trains that operate up and down the Northeast Corridor (NEC), which today provides more than 12 million annual trips.

"We look forward to breaking ground in 2024 on this critical infrastructure investment along the NEC, America's busiest passenger corridor. This new facility will speed up train maintenance and reduce turnaround times, providing Amtrak customers with more reliable and frequent service," said Laura Mason, Amtrak’s executive VP, capital delivery.

Amtrak’s Yard Facility

The project award is a significant milestone for Herzog and DBK’s design-build team, as it marks Amtrak's first contract within a multibillion-dollar program aiming to upgrade or construct six major maintenance facilities across the U.S.

Herzog selected DBK to serve as the project's dedicated building subcontractor alongside TYLin, the lead designer. This is the second project Herzog has awarded to DBK, and the partnership solidifies the strong relationship that has developed between the firms.

DBK will construct the heavy maintenance facility and additional support buildings within Amtrak's Penn Coach Yard.

Impact of the New Facility

The yard will operate around ongoing Amtrak and SEPTA yard operations. The new facility will inspect, test, and provide maintenance services and cleanings for train sets of various sizes.

Preconstruction services to assist with the design commenced early in 2024, and on-site construction is set to start in October of 2024.