Amtrak Advances Major Rail Yard Upgrades in 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.

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 said: “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.”

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.