In Construction and Planning
Awarded contract for the Bryn Mawr Substation
U.S. DOT Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), SEPTA, PennDOT, Philadelphia Electric Company (PECO), local municipalities and counties along the project corridor
SEPTA, PennDOT, Amtrak, Submitting for Federal-State Partnership Grant through the FRA
The Zoo to Paoli multi-year program will advance major power system upgrades along a critical segment of the Harrisburg line increasing service reliability for Amtrak and SEPTA customers. As owner of the Harrisburg line, Amtrak is working with its partners to advance the Zoo to Paoli Electrification Transmission Line Project. The overall program covers multiple components, including the construction of a new substation, the replacement of aged catenary structures (overhead wires used to supply electricity to a train), the construction of new transmission lines, and upgrades to the signal power system.
Once this project is complete, Amtrak’s Keystone Service and Pennsylvanian trains, as well as the SEPTA Paoli Thorndale Line, will benefit from more reliable service thanks to a modern overhead catenary system (OCS) and increased capacity signal power for future signal upgrades. The existing high voltage transmission line (138kV) located off Amtrak’s right-of-way will no longer be in use as Amtrak will have the new transmission line on Amtrak property to access for maintenance, use and overall increase in system reliability.
Planning and public engagement for this project began in 2012 in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). An Environmental Assessment (EA) was completed and signed by the Federal Railroad Administration in March of 2017.
Amtrak is working with its partners at the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), PennDOT, SEPTA, and Philadelphia Electric Company (PECO) as well as local municipalities and counties along the project corridor.
This work will be completed across three major components.
The existing Bryn Mawr Substation adjacent to Bryn Mawr train station (on Bryn Mawr Avenue in Montgomery County) will be demolished and upgraded to a new substation; equipment to reinforce the power supply for the Philadelphia-Paoli route will be added to ease maintenance by consolidating infrastructure on the right-of-way. A contract has been awarded for this project and construction began in the fourth quarter of 2024.
This work will include:
Also included are auxiliary power systems, cabling, feeders, lighting, lightning protection, ground grid, grounding wiring and terminations, fencing, civil works, SCADA and all associated steel structures gantries.
Approximately ten miles of Amtrak right-of-way will be upgraded with new OCS structures carrying a new 138kV transmission and upgraded 6.9kV signal power system. Amtrak initiated procurement for this segment in 2024 and construction is expected to begin in 2025.
Approximately eight miles of Amtrak right-of-way will be upgraded with new OCS structures carrying a new 138kV transmission and upgraded 6.9kV signal power system. Procurement is planned to kick off for this segment in 2028-2029.
Amtrak’s mission is to provide efficient and effective intercity passenger rail mobility consisting of high-quality service that is trip-time competitive with other travel options. Zoo to Paoli Electric Upgrades will fulfill this mission by delivering the following benefits:
Reduced Travel Times and Improved On-Time Performance: The section between Zoo and Paoli is 20 miles long. Existing trains operated by Amtrak and SEPTA experience low-voltage conditions in this section of railroad during periods of higher train density, causing disruptions to rail service. The new Bryn Mawr substation will solve this problem.
Infrastructure: The heights of the proposed structures are a result of meeting both Amtrak’s design requirements and the requirements of the National Electric Safety Code. In order to accommodate the new transmission lines, the new poles will be the minimum height necessary to meet those clearances.
Additional height is needed for structures to provide required clearances at bridges and other crossings.
All construction activities will be limited to within Amtrak’s right-of-way, and no private property will be impacted. Amtrak is working with SEPTA to minimize impacts to passengers as this and other Amtrak and SEPTA improvement projects continue along the corridor. Furthermore, no street detours or closures are planned.
Thirty-one parking spaces will be impacted by construction at the Bryn Mawr station parking lot. Nineteen will be temporary and twelve will be permanent loss for the new footprint of the substation. There will also be additional truck traffic on local streets during construction, due to equipment delivery and construction activities.
Email your questions, comments or concerns to the project team at [email protected].
