Accomplishments

Recent Accomplishments

Significant Recent New York State Passenger Rail Accomplishments

Grand Opening of Moynihan Train Hall in New York City

With a grand opening on Dec 31st, 2020 led by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, the 255,000-square-foot Moynihan Train Hall was opened for passengers in the westward expansion of New York City's Pennsylvania Station into the 100-year-old James A. Farley Building. The East End Gateway to Penn Station at 33rd Street and 7th Avenue also opened on New Year's Eve. The new Train Hall is named for former U.S. Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, who in the 1990s proposed and advocated for the surplus space in the historic Farley Post Office to expand the existing railroad station underneath Madison Square Garden.

Link to Office of the NYS Governor Press Release on the Grand Opening of Moynihan Train Hall

New Buffalo Exchange Street Station in the Heart of Downtown

Build on the historic site of the previous Exchange Street stations, the new station was constructed on time and on budget, being twice the size of the city's previous rail station. Providing travelers with a convenient and intermodal gateway to Buffalo's bustling downtown, the new station has easy connections to local bus and light rail service, with several hotels and attractionsbeing a short walk away. A tremendous improvement over the previous 1952-era facility, the rebuild and expanded station is a great addition to rapidly-redeveloping and increasingly vibrant downtown Buffalo.

Link to Photo Album by Bruce Becker of the New Buffalo Exchange Street Station

New Motive Power & Trainsets for Amtrak

July 2021: Amtrak signs $7.3 billion deal for 83 multi-powered trains for Northeastern Services

Amtrak is contracting with California-based Siemens Mobility Inc.to manufacture a new fleet of up to 83 multi-powered modern trains that will be leveraged for state and northeast services, with further options for up to 130 additional trains to support Amtrak growth plans. The new fleet will offer modern rail amenities that better serve Amtrak customers. “These new trains will reshape the future of rail travel by replacing our aging 40-to-50-year old fleet with state-of-the-art, American-made equipment,” said Amtrak CEO Bill Flynn. “This investment is essential to preserving and growing our Northeast Regional and state-supported services and will allow our customers to travel comfortably and safely, while deeply reducing criteria pollutants.”

The new equipment will operate on the Northeast Corridor, long distance Palmetto and various state-supported routes that will replace Amtrak-owned Amfleet, Metroliner, and state-owned equipment on certain routes throughout the country. In addition to the Northeast Regional, other routes will include the Adirondack, Carolinian, Cascades, Downeaster, Empire Service, Ethan Allen Express, Keystone Service, Maple Leaf, New Haven/Springfield Service (Amtrak Hartford Line and Valley Flyer), Pennsylvanian, Vermonter and Virginia Services. The $7.3 billion investment includes the purchase of equipment and a long-term parts supply and service agreement, facility modifications and upgrades, and other program expenses.

Using multi-power systems, including hybrid battery operation for a portion of the fleet used for New York’s Empire Service, these trains will also provide a substantial environmental benefit through reduced criteria pollutants compared to the existing fleet. “These new trains, some of which will be our first hybrid battery operations in the United States, will transform the way Americans travel. Offering a more sustainable and comfortable travel experience, they will be built for excellence and built with pride in Sacramento, California,” stated Michael Cahill, President of Siemens Mobility, Rolling Stock in North America. “Over the past decade, we’ve worked closely with Amtrak and its state partners to develop and deliver trains that meet the needs of America’s travelers, these next generation trainsets build on that experience and offer much more.”

“New York State congratulates Amtrak Chair Anthony Coscia and CEO William Flynn on their sustained commitment to service innovation and eco-friendly travel,” said New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez. “Today’s historic trainset award will serve to accelerate the replacement of the nearly 50-year-old Amfleet cars currently in operation and serve to complement New York’s unprecedented investments in new passenger stations, service reliability, and safety. The 17 new trainsets being dedicated to New York State-supported routes will significantly enhance the passenger experience and incorporate cleaner fuel technologies, in support of New York’s nation-leading climate laws. The State is committed to working with Amtrak and the State’s Congressional Delegation to secure the federal funding necessary for the manufacture of these new trainsets.”

From Amtrak Press Release

New Dual-Mode Locomotives for Metro-North

Dec 2020: MTA selects Siemens to build new Metro-North Dual Mode locomotives

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority in December 2020 approved a $335 million contract funded by the Federal Transit Administration for 27 dual-mode locomotives based on the existing diesel-electric Siemens Charger design. The new locomotives will replace the 27 existing over twenty-years old GE Genesis dual-mode locomotives used on the Metro-North on the Hudson Line, Harlem Line, and Danbury Branch. Like the aging locomotives they will replace, the new dual-modes will use third rail electric power to enter the Park Avenue Tunnel and Grand Central Terminal. The first 19 locomotives are scheduled to be completed in mid-2026.