Amtrak Advances Fleet Modernization with Ivy City Rail Yard Transformation

Amtrak has broken ground on a major modernization project at its Ivy City Rail Yard in Washington, DC—marking a key milestone in the railroad’s expansive fleet renewal and infrastructure improvement program. The new state-of-the-art maintenance facility will play a central role in supporting Amtrak’s next generation of passenger trains, including the new Airo fleet set to debut on the Northeast Corridor (NEC) in 2027.

Amtrak President Roger Harris joined federal, state, and local leaders Nov. 5 to celebrate the start of construction, underscoring the project’s role in reshaping rail travel across the East Coast. “Breaking ground today brings us one step closer to introducing Amtrak’s new state-of-the-art Airo trains on the Northeast Corridor in 2027,” said Harris. “This investment will help transform the customer experience, improve reliability, and enable more efficient maintenance practices.”

Backed by funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the $22 billion nationwide effort to modernize Amtrak’s infrastructure includes 20 yard and facility upgrades. Ivy City—one of six major rail yards to be overhauled—will feature an 860-foot-long complex with five maintenance and inspection tracks, new sanding and fueling systems, and four cleaning tracks, alongside utility and catenary upgrades. The facility will handle daily inspections, service, and cleaning of Amtrak’s Northeast Regional, Acela, Long Distance, and state-supported services, helping speed up maintenance turnaround and improve reliability for passengers traveling between cities such as Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Richmond, and Charlotte.

Lawmakers praised the project as a transformative step for passenger rail in the Mid-Atlantic. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) called it “an important step forward for the Amtrak workforce and passengers throughout the Northeast Corridor,” while Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) highlighted its role in “continuing safe and high-quality rail service along the Northeast Regional Corridor and Virginia Railway Express routes.”

The Ivy City modernization is part of Amtrak’s broader commitment to ushering in a new era of passenger rail. Along with the launch of its NextGen Acela high-speed fleet earlier this year and ongoing Airo trainset production, Amtrak is investing in facility upgrades from Philadelphia and Seattle to Richmond and Roanoke, ensuring its infrastructure matches the performance and quality of its new trains.

As Amtrak and its partners advance this extensive modernization effort, the Ivy City project stands as both a symbol and a catalyst—supporting a faster, cleaner, and more reliable rail network for the millions of riders who depend on America’s passenger rail system every year.