RailWorks Transit LLC, in a joint venture with Halmar International, has been awarded the Penn Station Access project, which will expand Metro-North Railroad service to Penn Station on Manhattan’s West Side. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority awarded the contract in December 2021.
Working in a design-build partnership with Halmar International, RailWorks Corporation’s New York-based transit division, RailWorks Transit LLC, will construct new track and systems to connect Penn Station to Metro-North’s New Haven rail line via the existing Amtrak Hell Gate Line.
The project scope includes designing and constructing additional passenger tracks; traction power substations; overhead contact systems; new interlockings; updated communication systems; and new signal systems within Amtrak’s right of way. The contract also includes the construction of four new ADA-accessible Metro-North stations in the East Bronx, which will bring increased regional accessibility to the eastern Bronx communities.
The Penn Station Access project aims to present a new service option for customers and drastically reduce commute times to the Bronx, Westchester and Connecticut. The upgrades will not only improve reliability and accessibility for Metro-North customers, but will enhance the network’s resiliency, support faster recovery efforts and facilitate Metro-North’s ability to maintain adequate service when faced with unexpected disruptions.
The Penn Station Access project is the largest Metro-North Railroad expansion in history and is anticipated to be completed in 2027.
“The Penn Station Access project will expand service options and accessibility for hundreds of thousands of Metro-North commuters,” said Kevin Riddett, RailWorks president and CEO. “RailWorks is proud to partner with Halmar International on this crucial project, and we look forward to seeing it fully completed.”
