“The concourse modernization project is impacting ability to accommodate private car access at the station,” Amtrak spokeswoman Kimberly Woods confirms with Trains News Wire.
Construction workers have started reconfiguring the concourse area to increase passenger capacity and provide passengers with new amenities and better access. The project, part of Washington Union Station’s 2nd century plan, is a long-term and comprehensive program designed to double train capacity and expand station facilities through several projects spanning the next 20 years.
Construction is underway and affecting several station platforms within the terminal, hindering the railroad’s ability to accommodate private car moves and layovers. Specifically, Amtrak has notified private car operators that private varnish may no longer be switched onto or off of almost all trains in Washington, D.C., and may not park in the terminal.
The construction and restrictions on private car operations within Union Station are expected to last for as long as two years.
For one nonprofit operator, the news has forced the cancellation of several upcoming excursions. The Washington, D.C. Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society recently notified passengers that three trips onboard the Dover Harbor had been cancelled and a stationary on-board venue at Washington Union Station was also annulled. All registered participants are being refunded, according to a notice published on the organization’s website.
When asked, Amtrak could not confirm the number of private car trips that have been affected by the Washington Union Station work.
This is why I swallowed hard, and dropped my $$$$ for next month’s Chicago-Oakland, CA Overland Limited trip by Altiplano Rail. Riding transcon in a former UP Budd 10-6 and daytime in the Milwaukee P-S Super Dome was enough of a sell, but the thought that the days are numbered for PV trips period convinced me it’s probably now or never. Sad.
I always thought that being a corporate spokesman for an organization like Amtrak would be an interesting job, but the big drawback is having to keep announcing stuff like this with your own name associated with it and making it sound like a good idea. I don’t envy these folks at all in the present climate.
Delta Dick strikes again !
The concourse work has been going on for more than a year without disrupting ability of private cars to park on track 30. What changed? We parked on 30 3 days ago and the track and ties were brand new. Also have been told PV can not park in Ivy City. With all the new (unannounced and unpublished) very little can travel on the east coast.