Photo courtesy STV
STV is developing preliminary design for one of the largest railway converter stations in the world, owned by Amtrak.
Amtrak has selected STV to develop the preliminary design to replace the Richmond Static Frequency Converter (SFC) #4 in Philadelphia.
The facility is Amtrak’s largest traction power converter station and one of the largest railway converter stations in the world, serving Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor between Washington, D.C., and New York City, as well as the Keystone Corridor to Harrisburg, Pa.
Commissioned in 2003, SFC #4 converts 60Hz grid power to 25Hz transmission power for Amtrak’s overhead catenary system. According to Amtrak data, the facility is beyond its service life, experiences increased downtime and has obsolete key components. Increased service efforts are required to maintain reliable power output.
STV will perform a full site survey, infrastructure assessment and state-of-good-repair review, followed by a technology evaluation. The team will prepare 30% design criteria, including drawings, technical specifications and estimates for construction cost and schedule for the next project phase, which includes final design and construction.
The project will required close coordination with environmental and historical preservation stakeholders, as SFC #4 is located within the boundary of historic Richmond Station, the largest and most efficient power plant in the world when it was completed in 1925. Listed on the National Register, Richmond Station is also locally significant for its Beaux Arts architecture, making it a prominent landmark along the Philadelphia waterfront.
Jim Parsons is a freelance writer who covers the industry from metro Washington, DC.
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