United States: Amtrak Advances B&P Tunnel Replacement, First TBM Launch Set for 2028

Amtrak said on 28 July 2026 that construction activity is increasing on its B&P Tunnel Replacement Program in Baltimore, with the first of two tunnel boring machines set to launch in 2028, according to a statement carried by Amtrak Media.

The program will replace the 153-year-old B&P Tunnel, which opened in 1873, with two new electrified tunnel tubes spanning 1.4 miles, to be named the Frederick Douglass Tunnel. The wider project includes a new, fully accessible West Baltimore MARC Station, five bridge reconstructions and about 10 miles of associated rail infrastructure upgrades. Amtrak did not disclose a total project cost in the update.

Amtrak said current work includes reconstruction of the Mulberry Street railroad bridge, with footings and excavation complete, and that manufacturing of the first tunnel boring machine is more than 50% complete. A 345-foot utility tunnel has passed a major construction milestone and is due to be finished in 2027, continuing utility relocation work under way since 2024. The full project is scheduled for completion in 2036.

"Replacing the 153-year-old B&P Tunnel is critical to improving safety and reliability along the Northeast Corridor," Amtrak President Roger Harris said. Federal Railroad Administration Administrator David Fink said: "The FRA worked with Amtrak to improve the design of the B&P Tunnel while maintaining the highest safety standards."