Amtrak Wins Nearly $3B in Federal Grants for New Trains, Chicago Maintenance Hub

Amtrak has been awarded nearly $3 billion in federal grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Railroad Administration to buy new trains and upgrade infrastructure, as part of a broader $5.3 billion package of rail funding announced August 14.

The largest piece -- $2.05 billion -- will fund 43 new trainsets for short- and medium-distance corridor routes, including Chicago-based regional services such as the Wolverine and Lincoln Service.

Separately, the FRA awarded up to $572 million to build a new Midwest Maintenance Facility in Chicago, on a site owned by Union Pacific south of the Chicago River. An additional $87 million will fund repairs to more than a dozen aging bridges, viaducts and related structures in the area.

Amtrak said the new facility will improve maintenance efficiency across its Midwest operations and support anticipated ridership growth on state-supported and long-distance routes. Construction on the maintenance facility and the associated bridge and viaduct work is expected to begin in fall 2026.