Herzog Partners with DBK to Build Amtrak’s New Penn Coach Yard Maintenance Facility

On-site construction is on schedule to begin in October

PHILADELPHIA — Herzog Contracting Corporation and Dana B. Kenyon Company (DBK) have started preconstruction on Amtrak’s new Penn Coach Yard Heavy Maintenance Facility near Philadelphia’s 30th Street Amtrak Train Station. This project is the first of six facility upgrades across Amtrak’s network. The Penn Coach Yard facility will service many of Amtrak’s Acela, Airo and Northeast Regional trains that operate up and down the Northeast Corridor (NEC), which today provides more than twelve million annual trips.

“We look forward to breaking ground in 2024 on this critical infrastructure investment along the NEC, America’s busiest passenger corridor. This new facility will speed up train maintenance and reduce turnaround times, providing Amtrak customers with more reliable and frequent service,” said Laura Mason, Amtrak’s Executive Vice President of Capital Delivery.

The project award is a significant milestone for Herzog and DBK’s design-build team, as it marks Amtrak’s first contract within a multibillion-dollar program aiming to upgrade or construct six major maintenance facilities across the U.S. Herzog selected DBK to serve as the project’s dedicated building subcontractor alongside TYLin, the lead designer. This is the second project Herzog has awarded to DBK, and the partnership solidifies the strong relationship that has developed between the firms.

“Herzog is honored to be Amtrak’s design-build partner on such an important national rail project. We are excited to begin working on this project to deliver critical maintenance facility infrastructure upgrades in Philadelphia that will support improved rail service in the Northeast Corridor,” said Scott Norman, Herzog’s Executive Vice President.

DBK will construct the heavy maintenance facility and additional support buildings within Amtrak’s Penn Coach Yard. The yard will operate around ongoing Amtrak and SEPTA yard operations. The new facility will inspect, test, and provide maintenance services and cleanings for train sets of various sizes.

Preconstruction services to assist with the design commenced early in 2024, and on-site construction is set to start in October of 2024.

About DBK

DBK is a well-established construction firm that delivers diverse commercial and industrial markets, including transit and rail, ports, intermodal, warehouse distribution centers, aviation, and other facilities. With headquarters in Jacksonville since 1983, DBK has earned recognition as a regional and national industry leader, renowned for overseeing complex projects in private and public sectors. Over our years in operation, DBK has extended its geographical reach and obtained construction licenses nationwide to better serve its valued clients. 

DBK offers tailored delivery methods, such as design-build and construction management, to cater to each client’s unique requirements and deliver personalized service.  Backed by a reliable track record of performance, financial stability, and a robust bonding program, DBK’s team has earned trust nationwide.  Its unwavering commitment to safety, quality, and innovations ensures superior customer service and satisfaction. 

About Amtrak

For more than 50 years, Amtrak has connected America and modernized train travel. Offering a safe, environmentally efficient way to reach more than five hundred destinations across forty-six states and parts of Canada, Amtrak provides travelers with an experience that sets a new standard.

Amtrak is leading a new era of passenger rail, investing in modern trains, enhanced stations, new tunnels and bridges, and other critical infrastructure upgrades. We are enhancing the customer experience across the country, improving safety and reliability, driving economic development, reducing trip times, expanding capacity, advancing accessibility, and promoting a more sustainable future.