Amtrak has opened a new platform and track at Washington Union Station to expand service capacity and improve train movement through the Northeast Corridor and into Virginia.

The new Track 22 platform will primarily support Virginia Railway Express (VRE) trains, in addition to Amtrak Long Distance and Amtrak Virginia services. The project aims to reduce congestion at Amtrak’s second-busiest station.

“This investment helps ease congestion and improve reliability at a critical point in the rail network,” said Amtrak President Roger Harris.

VRE CEO Rich Dalton added that the expansion enhances “reliability and flexibility of service for all passengers moving through the station.”

Platform and Station Improvements

Track 22 is located on the lower level of the 118-year-old station and was previously used for train storage. Work included installing new track, rebuilding the platform, and restoring historic structural columns.

The platform is now fully accessible, featuring a new hallway with elevator, escalator, and stair access from the station concourse.

Broader Station Upgrades

Amtrak, which assumed daily operational control of the station over a year ago, has also advanced several initiatives to improve station usability. These include:

• A new ticketed waiting area with additional seating

• A revised boarding process to reduce congestion

• State-of-good-repair improvements focused on safety and maintenance

• New retail offerings in the station

The upgrades are part of Amtrak’s broader efforts to modernize Washington Union Station as a multimodal transportation hub.