Amtrak is preparing for a nine-day service disruption in the Washington, D.C., area this October as crews carry out a major infrastructure project.
The temporary outage is scheduled for October 16 through October 26, 2026, and will affect several Amtrak routes traveling south of Washington, D.C.
The work is part of Amtrak’s “Pause for Progress” project, which will replace aging track components and upgrade infrastructure in the First Street Tunnel just south of Washington Union Station.
Travelers planning an Amtrak trip through the nation’s capital during the affected period should check their itinerary carefully, as some trains will be canceled, shortened or replaced with bus service.
When will Amtrak service be disrupted in Washington, D.C.?
The temporary outage is scheduled to begin after service ends on Friday, October 16, with normal service expected to resume Monday morning, October 26.
That means the project will affect travel for nine days, although the exact impact will vary depending on the route and direction of travel.
Amtrak says the work will take place at A-Interlocking inside the First Street Tunnel, a key track and control point used by Amtrak and Virginia Railway Express trains traveling between Washington Union Station and Virginia.
The existing switches and crossovers have reached the end of their service life and currently require trains to operate under a 10-mph speed restriction.
Rather than conducting the work in smaller phases, Amtrak says a coordinated temporary outage is more efficient because of the tunnel’s confined environment and limited access.
Which Amtrak trains will be affected?
Several Amtrak routes will have significant service changes during the project.
The Northeast Regional will continue operating between Washington, D.C., New York and Boston, while service south of Washington will be significantly reduced. Amtrak Virginia trains will continue operating certain trips between Norfolk or Roanoke and Alexandria, with buses connecting Alexandria and Washington.
Other routes will also be modified:
- Carolinian: Train service will operate between New York and Washington, with a bus connection between Washington and Alexandria before continuing by train to Charlotte.
- Cardinal: Service will operate only between Chicago and Indianapolis during the outage.
- Floridian: Service will operate between Chicago and Pittsburgh and separately between Jacksonville and Miami.
- Silver Meteor: Train service will operate between New York and Washington and separately between Jacksonville and Miami.
- Palmetto: Train service will operate between New York and Washington.
- Crescent: Train service will operate between New York and Washington and separately between Atlanta and New Orleans.
Amtrak says customers affected by the changes will be supported with rebooking options and alternative travel solutions.
Why is Amtrak shutting down the track?
The temporary service reduction is being done to complete critical infrastructure upgrades that Amtrak says will improve the long-term reliability of rail service.
During the project, crews will:
- Replace outdated switches and crossovers
- Rehabilitate the tunnel track base
- Install modern electric switch systems
The existing infrastructure has contributed to operational restrictions, and Amtrak says the upgrades are intended to improve safety, reduce delays and provide infrastructure capable of handling future demand.
The project is being coordinated with the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority, Virginia Railway Express and the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
What should travelers do?
Anyone traveling to or from Washington, D.C., by Amtrak between October 16th and 26th should check their specific itinerary before heading to the station.
Some passengers may encounter a canceled train, a shortened trip or a bus connection, depending on their route.
One important distinction: this project does not mean all Amtrak service to Washington is shutting down, and the Auto Train is not listed as an affected route in Amtrak’s announcement. Auto Train service between Lorton, Virginia, and Sanford, Florida, should therefore not be described as part of this nine-day suspension based on the information currently provided by Amtrak.
The temporary outage is designed to allow crews to complete the work in one coordinated period rather than potentially causing longer-term disruptions through phased construction.
Amtrak says customers should monitor Amtrak.com and its customer communications for updates as the October work approaches.
