Railroad tie replacement work set to begin along 124 miles of Amtrak Downeaster train corridor, officials say
From April through mid-July, crews will work in increments of eight days on, six days off, officials said.
'The tie replacement is necessary to maintain the Downeaster's operating speed and reliability,' NNEPRA said.
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Railroad tie replacement involves removing the perpendicular slabs that rails rest on. Older ties, often made of wood, can decay, compromising the stability of railroad tracks, officials said.
'The short-term temporary changes and service interruptions while track work is underway will result in long-lasting improvements that will benefit the public well into the future,' said Patricia Quinn, NNEPRA executive director.
Nearly 600,000 riders took the Downeaster line in 2024, setting ridership and revenue records, officials said.
A large portion of funding for the tie replacement project, about $27 million, was awarded to NNEPRA and CSX Transportation by a Federal-State Partnership grant, administered by the Federal Railroad Administration, according to the release.
Sarah Mesdjian can be reached at
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