Amtrak receives FRA grant for Washington Union Station project

Amtrak has obtained a $19 million grant from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to help pay for a construction project at Washington Union Station.

The grant will fund part of the project, which is aimed at increasing track capacity for revenue trains operated for Amtrak and the Virginia Railway Express (VRE), Amtrak officials said in a press release.

Track 22, located at the station's lower level, currently serves as a storage track for equipment. The construction project will involve installing new track, rebuilding the platform and rehabbing and restoring historic columns. A walkway will be built to provide rider access to the platform via a new elevator, escalator and stairs to the station.

Amtrak and VRE revenue service to Track 22 is expected to begin in 2022, Amtrak officials said.

"Washington Union Station is integral to the national rail network. This grant will allow Amtrak to construct a new revenue track at Union Station and increase capacity to meet the growing demand for rail service,” said David Handera, Amtrak's vice president of stations, facilities, properties and accessibility.