Work has been completed on the steel framework for a new Maintenance & Inspection (M&I) Facility being built for Amtrak in Seattle, Oregon, in the USA.

Installation of a steel beam was the final part of the structure to be erected, and marked an important milestone in the construction of the building at Amtrak’s King Street Yard.

The new facility is part of Amtrak’s New Era of Rail, and is designed for the maintenance of a new Airo fleet planned to start service on Amtrak’s Cascades service later this year. It will also support Amtrak’s services throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Construction of the superstructure required 365 tonnes of pre-engineered metal building, whilst more than 12,500 cubic yards of concrete were used in constructing the M&I Facility and the adjacent parking deck. Further work this year will include architectural work, systems installation, and interior fitout to prepare the site for use as a train maintenance facility.

The Seattle building is one of a network of USA, both to support the current fleet of trains and in readiness for the next generation of trainsets. The design of the new facilities will enable a full trainset to be inspected and serviced more efficiently, with the associated reduction in downtime.