Structures carry the railroad over or under rivers, streams, roadways, and other obstacles, in addition to buildings necessary to support railroad operations. Regular maintenance is required to maintain safe operating conditions and extend the useful life of assets. Hundreds of such assets are now over a century old and require complete replacement.
Track physically supports the movement of trains, including rail, concrete or wooden ties, a trackbed of ballast, and sublayers designed to ensure proper drainage and prevent shifting of the railroad. Regular maintenance of such infrastructure is required to maintain safe operating conditions, prevent damage to train equipment, and promote comfortable ride quality.
Electric traction systems draw power from the regional electric grid and distribute it to trains through a complex system of frequency converters, substation facilities, and overhead catenary lines. Many such assets that date back to the 1930s limit train speeds and are a frequent source of infrastructure failures and service disruptions.
Communication and signal systems control the movement of trains along tracks and between tracks at interlockings. The signal network on the NEC is among the most outdated of all assets as communications technology has rapidly developed in recent decades. Many replacement parts for the current system are not available.