Amtrak updates progress on Penn Station renewal work

Amtrak last week provided an update on its infrastructure renewal work at Penn Station in New York City.

Engineering crews recently completed projects that include:
• renewal of 125 feet of station track 7 at east end limits, including the replacement of 600 railroad ties;
• total switch replacement in several sections within tracks in the "A" interlocking on the station's west side;
• wood, timber and rail replacement within the "JO" interlocking on the station's east side;
• replacement of 96 block ties in Line 1 of the East River tunnels;
• replacement of block ties within station tracks 2 and 10; and
• positioning of equipment in New York and New Jersey in preparation for the extensive summer work in July and August.

The work is part of a series of major projects designed to strengthen and improve operations at the station, Amtrak officials said in a press release.

On a normal weekday, more than 1,300 train movements occur at the station, with each of the 21 tracks in use every two minutes.

Follow this link to watch a time-lapse video of the "A" interlocking renewal work.