(The Associated Press circulated the following on October 15, 2009.)
LANDOVER, Md. — Amtrak is using $25 million in stimulus funds to speed up the modernization of electrical equipment on the northeast corridor.
The railroad says it is replacing a transformer this week in Landover that has been in operation since 1934.
Amtrak started a long-term modernization of 82 outdated substations on the corridor in 2002. The company says a power failure in May 2006 that left thousands of passengers stranded on trains highlighted the need for improvements.
The stimulus money is allowing Amtrak to speed up the work in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. The work being done at the Landover substation, for example, wasn’t slated to happen until 2013.