Amtrak train services through Washington, D.C. in the USA, will be disrupted for nine days in October while engineers modernise critical tunnel infrastructure to improve its long-term reliability.

The critical infrastructure upgrade, which Amtrak is calling “Pause for Progress”, will take place in the First Street Tunnel just south of Washington Union Station, after the last train on Friday, 16th October until just before the first train on the morning of Monday, 26th October.

The work to replace ageing track components will improve reliability along the Northeast Corridor and into the Southeast.

It will affect ‘A-Interlocking ‘ within the First Street Tunnel, which is a critical track and control point that controls all Amtrak and Virginia Railway Express train movements between Washington Union Station and Virginia.

Because of their condition, a 10mph speed restriction has been in place over the existing points, which “Pause for Progress” aims to address.

The disruption will particularly affect travel from and to the south of Washington, D.C., and passengers should expect significant service reductions and train cancellations. Where appropriate, rail replacement bus services will run instead of trains.

Routes affected include:

• Northeast Regional between Washington, New York and Boston.
• Norfolk and Roanoke to Alexandria.
• Roanoke and Lynchburg to Washington, D.C.
• Charlottesville to Washington, D.C.
• Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Newport News, and Williamsburg to Washington, D.C.
• Norfolk, Newport News, and Williamsburg to Washington, D.C.
• Richmond Staples Mill and Richmond Main Street Station to Washington, D.C.
• The Carolinian between New York and Washington, D.C.
• The Floridian will only run between Chicago and Pittsburgh, and between Jacksonville and Miami.
• The Silver Meteor will only operate between New York and Washington, D.C. and between Jacksonville and Miami.
• The Palmetto will only operate between New York and Washington, D.C.
• The Crescent will only operate between New York and Washington, D.C. and betwen Atlanta and New Orleans.

Amtrak is currently introducing more NextGen Acela trains to provide more services throughout the northeastern USA. It is also offering a 30% discount on travel on the Northeast Corridor until the end of September.