RailWorks Secures $24.5M LA Metro Light Rail Contract

LOS ANGELES, United States – The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority awarded two rail infrastructure packages to RailWorks, including a $24.5 million traction power contract for the K Line scheduled for completion in mid-2029. The procurement also assigns RailWorks to deliver four new interlockings and station siding works across the network’s A and E light-rail corridors. Construction on the substation package will officially start in early 2028 to support higher operating frequencies.

What Does This Contract Cover?

RailWorks will construct two new traction power substations along the K Line and install four new interlockings across four stations on the A and E Lines. The A&E Line Interlock project encompasses siding upgrades, train control system modernizations, traction power facility installations, communications improvements, and overhead catenary system adjustments across both light-rail routes. For the K Line package, valued at approximately $24.5 million, RailWorks is responsible for the complete design and construction of two traction power substations intended to support future service expansions along the corridor. The contractual value for the A&E Line interlocking work was not disclosed by the transit agency.

Key Contract Data

How Does This Compare to Similar Contracts?

L.A. Metro’s allocation for targeted traction power upgrades represents a specialized maintenance and capacity contract that sits alongside much larger civil turnkey works across the agency’s network. For example, L.A. Metro awarded a $957 million contract to a joint venture of Skanska and Stacy Witbeck to construct the 10.8-kilometer East San Fernando Valley Light Rail Transit line along Van Nuys Boulevard, featuring 11 stations and a 26-acre maintenance facility scheduled for delivery in December 2031 (Source: Skanska, 2024). In the international light rail signaling market, Stadler Signalling secured a comparable systems contract in April 2025 valued at approximately €50 million to deliver conventional signaling infrastructure for Norway’s Bergen Bybanen network (Source: Stadler, 2025). Independent verification of historical pricing benchmarks for North American light-rail traction substation procurements was not available at time of publication.

Editor’s Analysis

Targeted capital investments in traction power and interlocking points demonstrate how transit authorities must reinforce baseline electrical and switching assets before running higher train frequencies. Deployment of updated signaling and power technology aligns with global operational trends, where smart signaling installations have driven a 19% gain in transit network efficiency (Source: Business Research Insights, 2025). The scheduled completion date of mid-2029 reflects substantial lead times for heavy electrical component procurement in the North American urban transit sector.

FAQ

Q: What is the total financial value of the RailWorks contracts with L.A. Metro?
A: RailWorks received $24.5 million specifically for the K Line traction power substation project, while the budget for the A&E Line interlocking contract was not disclosed. Both contracts were procured directly by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

Q: When will physical construction start on the K Line substations?
A: On-site construction work for the two K Line traction power substations is slated to begin in early 2028. Final installation and commissioning are projected for completion by mid-2029.

Q: How will the new substations and interlockings impact light rail passengers?
A: The additions will allow L.A. Metro to increase train frequencies on the K Line and improve switching flexibility around four stations on the A and E Lines. Specific timetable adjustments have not been officially confirmed.