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mahatmakanejeeves

(60,933 posts)
Thu May 11, 2023, 03:21 PM May 2023

2022: Overhaul of Baltimore station will help speed trains through busiest rail corridor in nation

I'm clearing out old files from my computer.

Overhaul of Baltimore station will help speed trains through busiest rail corridor in nation

The project is expected to improve travel along the aging corridor and add capacity to meet new demand

By Luz Lazo
March 12, 2022 at 6:00 a.m. EST

The Baltimore train station is getting its first major facelift in nearly four decades, an investment that railroad officials say will help move passenger trains throughout the busy corridor from Washington to New York. ... Renovation of the 110-year-old train hall began last month as part of a $150 million revamp that will include an extension of the concourse, two new train platforms, and dining and retail amenities to be completed by 2025. The improvements will double track capacity at the station, the eighth-busiest in the Amtrak network, and could precede a multibillion-dollar transformation of Union Station in the nation’s capital.

The Baltimore project is the first phase of a renovation for the train hub and its surroundings, signaling a revitalization for an area long defined by empty lots, busy highways and weathered buildings. It’s also expected to improve travel along the aging corridor, adding capacity to meet future demand as ridership increases two years into the coronavirus pandemic.

[Amtrak that dominates Northeast wants trains across country]

Penn Station Partners, based in Baltimore, is working with Amtrak on the project to envision a modern train hub followed by at least $400 million in private investment to add housing, office space, restaurants and retail near the station in the coming years. Railroad and local officials say an upgraded station will raise Baltimore’s profile as a destination for residents, visitors and businesses.

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Scaffolds went up last month to kick off construction at Baltimore Penn Station. (Lawrence Green/Amtrak)

Baltimore is one of several Amtrak stations in the Northeast Corridor, the backbone of the nation’s passenger rail infrastructure, that is in line for a major overhaul. It follows other projects to modernize aging infrastructure, including at stations that lack accessibility and amenities and haven’t seen upgrades in years.

{snip}

By Luz Lazo
Luz Lazo is a transportation reporter at The Washington Post covering passenger and freight transportation, buses, taxis and ride-sharing services. She also writes about traffic, road infrastructure and air travel in the Washington region and beyond. She joined The Post in 2011. Twitter https://twitter.com/luzcita
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