Amtrak has selected PCL Construction Services for a $300 million upgrade to its maintenance facility at the King Street Coach Yard, located within Seattle’s Sodo area at 187 S. Holgate St., approximately one mile south of King Street Station. The project will support the new Airo train fleet and includes building a two-bay maintenance facility, relocating existing structures, and upgrading utilities.
PCL Construction Services will begin construction in spring 2025 and continue until 2027.
“We look forward to breaking ground soon on this important King Street Coach Yard upgrade project that will modernize maintenance and upgrade the overall customer experience,” Laura Mason, Amtrak executive vice president of capital delivery, said in a Wednesday news release.
Amtrak’s Seattle station will first use the Amtrak Airo trains, which use less fuel than diesel trains and emit 90% less particulate emissions. The new trains can travel up to 125 miles per hour and feature a redesigned cafe car and amenities such as individual seat outlets, USB ports and onboard Wi-Fi.
According to Amtrak’s website, these new trains will provide improved passenger amenities, including modern comfortable seating, spacious restrooms and a contemporary food service experience, among other improvements to better serve all Amtrak customers.
The 2021 federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provides funding for the project.
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King Street Coach Yard Facility Upgrade: What’s Coming?
The new facility will operate without using fossil fuels for heating, helping to meet Amtrak’s sustainability goals of using carbon-free electricity sources by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2045.
The project coincides with regional Amtrak ridership returning to pre-pandemic levels. From January through September, Amtrak had 733,155 passengers on its Cascades route, which runs from Eugene, Oregon, to Vancouver, British Columbia, and includes stops in Seattle and other Puget Sound-area destinations.
That surpasses 2023, when the Cascades route had 744,688 passengers for the entire year. Based on current ridership, the passenger total appears set to surpass 2019’s total of 824,061 riders and Amtrak expects it to top 1 million in 2025.
Amtrak has awarded this project as its second major rail yard upgrade contract in 2024, following similar work at Philadelphia’s Penn Coach Yard. Amtrak plans additional upgrades for key locations across the U.S., including Boston, New York City, and Washington, D.C., as well as other facilities in Oregon.
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Project Overview:
$300 million upgrade to Amtrak’s maintenance facility
Location: King Street Coach Yard, Seattle’s Sodo area
Address: 187 S. Holgate St., Seattle (1 mile south of King Street Station)
Project Scope:
Building a two-bay maintenance facility
Relocating existing structures
Upgrading utilities
King Street Coach Yard Facility Upgrade Timeline:
Construction start: Spring 2025
Estimated completion: 2027
Contractor:
PCL Construction Services
Goal:
Support the new Amtrak Airo train fleet
Modernize maintenance operations
Upgrade overall customer experience
Funding Source for the Amtrak’s King Street Coach Yard Facility Upgrade:
2021 federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
Sustainability Features:
Fossil fuel-free heating system
Supports Amtrak’s goals:
Carbon-free electricity sources by 2030
Net-zero emissions by 2045
New Airo Trains Features:
More fuel-efficient than diesel trains
90% less particulate emissions
Top speed: 125 miles per hour
Redesigned cafe car
Individual seat outlets, USB ports, onboard Wi-Fi
Modern comfortable seating
Spacious restrooms
Contemporary food service
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King Street Coach Yard upgrade Project Leadership:
Laura Mason: Amtrak Executive Vice President of Capital Delivery
Amtrak Cascades Route:
Runs from Eugene, Oregon to Vancouver, British Columbia
Includes stops in Seattle and other Puget Sound-area destinations
Ridership Data:
Jan-Sep (current year): 733,155 passengers
2023 total: 744,688 passengers
2019 total: 824,061 passengers
2025 projection: Over 1 million passengers
Strategic Importance of the King Street Coach Yard Facility Upgrade
First station to use Amtrak Airo trains
Coincides with return to pre-pandemic ridership levels
Supports growing passenger numbers on Cascades route
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