Amtrak to implement nine-day infrastructure upgrade in Washington, D.C

Amtrak has announced a nine-day infrastructure project titled ‘Pause for Progress’ scheduled for October 16–26, 2026. The work will take place in the First Street Tunnel just south of Washington Union Station, specifically at the A-Interlocking point.

The project aims to replace aging switches, crossovers, and track components that have necessitated a 10-mph speed restriction. Crews will also rehabilitate the tunnel track base and install modern electric switch systems to improve long-term reliability and safety along the Northeast Corridor and into the Southeast.

Passengers traveling to or from Washington, D.C. from the south should expect significant service reductions and train cancellations. Amtrak plans to supplement lost rail service with buses and will offer rebooking options and alternative travel solutions during the outage.