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Burns Begins Design for the Installation of New Transmission System for Amtrak's Zoo to Paoli Corridor
Burns Engineering has been selected to complete the engineering and design of two 138 kV transmission lines, and new transmission and catenary structures, as well as a new step-down traction power substation at Bryn Mawr Station.
The New York-Washington-Harrisburg portion of Amtrak was electrified by the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) in several stages between 1915 and 1940. The Philadelphia to Paoli route was the first stage of this program, built with 11 kV catenary (later raised to 12 kV) and a parallel 44 kV transmission network. The Philadelphia to Paoli route was eventually surrounded with the –final– PRR configuration of 12 kV catenary paralleled with 138 kV transmissions. The 22 miles between Zoo and Paoli now represent the longest distance between 138 kV substations on the entire electrified territory.
The Amtrak-owned line between Paoli and Philadelphia is used by both Amtrak and SEPTA for passenger rail services. Service on the line includes 14 daily Amtrak round trips between Harrisburg and Philadelphia which has seen considerable growth in ridership and roughly 42 daily round trips of SEPTA’s commuter rail system.
“A technology that has lasted 100 years, and still provides traction power to a busy commuter rail service and an intercity rail service, is impressive to say the least. Not discounting the tweaks over the years, which include the elimination of the 44kV transmission, the electrification system between Zoo and Paoli has held up remarkably well, and is a tribute to the brilliance of the original engineering. Not unreasonably, the time has come for a major overhaul. The task at hand is to create a better link in Amtrak’s 138kV transmission network between Zoo and Paoli, so that the existing, less direct route over other railroad property can be abandoned. The 138kV line will also be available to feed a new step-down substation at Bryn Mawr, greatly improving the resiliency of the electrical distribution system. The hurdles faced by 21st Century engineers are considerably different from those of our predecessors. Our hurdles include dealing with the complications of building this new transmission line and modifying the catenary system, while maintaining full electric railroad operations, a PECO transmission line, an aerial fiber optic line and other railroad utilities, all within the confines of a well-established residential corridor” (Peter Gaffer, PE)
Burns is proud to be the lead engineering firm selected for the Amtrak Zoo to Paoli Transmission Line design project. This segment of railroad is a critical link in Amtrak’s Keystone Corridor, and the successful completion of this project will provide a significant improvement to the right-of-way, operations and maintenance of this important rail corridor
Posted on Jun 28, 03:04 PM