All Aboard Florida taps Archer Western for rail infrastructure improvements

Privately funded passenger-rail venture All Aboard Florida (AAF) recently selected Archer Western to perform various infrastructure improvements on the Henry Flagler corridor, where AAF's trains would run.

Workers will soon begin upgrading the 66-mile rail corridor that stretches from Miami to West Palm Beach, Fla., AAF officials announced yesterday.

Archer Western previously led construction of the SunRail project in Orlando, Fla., AAF officials said.

"Modernizing the rail infrastructure is central to All Aboard Florida’s new rail operations and to our commitment to public safety," said AAF President Mike Reininger in a prepared statement.

The improvements include safety upgrades, trackwork, rail signalization and structural construction. Archer Western also will update 185 grade crossings, implement quiet zones and build a new running repair facility in West Palm Beach, AAF officials said.

AAF plans to invest $1.5 billion to prepare the rail corridor for passenger-rail service, which is slated to begin in early 2017, railroad officials said.