Amtrak completes upgrades to LA rail maintenance facility

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The safety inspection, servicing and maintenance of Amtrak and some California-owned passenger rail equipment will now be performed in an upgraded, more efficient and environmentally designed facility in Los Angeles.

This enhanced facility will improve the capacity, efficiency and working conditions of the shop that performs safety inspections, servicing and maintenance of passenger rail cars used on Amtrak long-distance routes (Coast Starlight, Southwest Chief and Sunset Limited) and one of the California supported corridor services (Pacific Surfliner).

“By providing our mechanical forces with an updated workplace, the service, inspection and maintenance functions will be done more efficiently,” said Amtrak Master Mechanic, Richard Olson.

“Our employees, passengers and state partners will all benefit from it.”

The building’s design incorporates a number of features from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards for environmentally sustainable construction including redevelopment of an existing site, high bay florescent lighting with photocell sensors, large ceiling fans for air circulation, sun lights, and point-of-use instant hot water in lieu of water heaters.

A new in-floor jacking system to lift the passenger cars makes it more efficient to remove the replace the wheel assemblies.

The new structure covers work that was previously performed outdoors and includes administrative offices and employee locker and lunch rooms.

The $24.5 million project was funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act economic stimulus program and was awarded in February 2010 to Kemp Bros. Construction Co. of Santa Fe Springs, California.

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