Amtrak Selects STV to Modernize One of the World’s Largest Rail Power Converter Stations

New Converter Station Will Improve Reliability of Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor between Washington, D.C., New York and Harrisburg.

PHILADELPHIA, PA – STV today announced its selection by Amtrak to develop the preliminary design to replace Static Frequency Converter (SFC) #4 at the Richmond SFC Station in Philadelphia. The facility is Amtrak’s largest traction power converter station and one of the largest railway converter stations in the world, playing a crucial role in powering Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor between Washington, D.C., New York and Harrisburg.

STV’s scope will include a full site survey, infrastructure assessment and state-of-good-repair review, followed by a technology evaluation. The team will prepare design criteria, drawings, technical specifications and estimates for construction cost and schedule for the next project phase. The project requires close coordination with environmental and historical preservation stakeholders, as the station is located within a National Register boundary.

“Modernizing this converter station is essential to strengthening the long‑term performance and reliability of one of the most heavily used rail corridors in the country,” said Brandon Swartley, vice president and engineering chief at STV. “Our team brings the technical judgment and systems expertise needed to deliver upgrades that keep passengers moving and help to continue to enhance Amtrak’s traction power network.”

As a leader in rail systems design, operation and maintenance, STV provides expertise in traction power, signal and communications systems as well as maintenance facilities. The firm supports some of the largest railroad and transit systems nationwide, including the Long Island Rail Road, MBTA, Metro-North Railroad, SEPTA, Bay Area Rapid Transit and Sound Transit.

STV has supported Amtrak on several transformative programs, including design upgrades at Ivy City Yard in Washington, D.C.; project management and construction management (PM/CM) services for the Sawtooth Bridges Replacement project in Newark, New Jersey; vehicle procurement of the nation’s first battery-electric passenger rail vehicles in New York City for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority; and traction power and railway systems engineering for the largest infrastructure project in the United States, the Gateway Hudson River Tunnel Project.

About STV

STV is one of the top infrastructure-focused professional services firms in North America. Founded in 1912, STV advises, plans, designs, engineers and delivers the infrastructure that powers local economies, including transportation systems, buildings, water and other facilities. Headquartered in New York City, the company has more than 65 offices and 3,300 employees who reimagine the solutions and structures that connect our communities. The firm is ranked 32nd in Engineering News-Record’s Top 500 Design Firms survey and is 10th in its transportation category. Learn more at stvinc.com.