Amtrak Platforms were reconstructed in 5 stations by adding concrete platforms. This created safer and more convenient loading and unloading area

Case History: Amtrak Passenger Platforms

Keeping Rail Service Moving with Helical Pile Foundations

Amtrak's initiative to improve passenger safety included reconstructing platform facilities at five stations across the Northwestern United States. The project called for new concrete boarding platforms that would provide safer, more accessible loading and unloading areas while minimizing disruption to active rail operations.

The Challenge

Original plans specified drilled concrete piers to support the new platforms. However, several critical site conditions made conventional foundation construction impractical:

• Contaminated soils restricted excavation activities.
• Active rail lines could not be shored during drilling.
• Limited access prevented the use of oversized drilling equipment.
• Construction needed to proceed without interrupting rail service.

These challenges required an alternative foundation solution that could be installed safely, efficiently, and with minimal impact to daily operations.

The MAGNUM Solution

MAGNUM® MH325BR 25-ton Helical Piles were selected to overcome the project's construction constraints while providing dependable structural support for the new passenger platforms.

More than 500 helical piles were installed across five Amtrak stations, offering several key advantages over traditional drilled foundations:

• No excavation spoils, reducing environmental concerns in contaminated soils.
• No need to shore active rail lines during installation.
• Installation adjacent to live tracks without interrupting rail operations.
• Compact installation equipment for limited-access work areas.
• Smaller crews and reduced manual labor, improving jobsite safety and efficiency.

The Result

The helical pile solution enabled Amtrak to successfully complete platform construction at all five stations on schedule and under budget while maintaining uninterrupted rail service throughout construction.

Project Highlights

• Application: Passenger Rail Platform Foundations
• Location: Northwest United States
• Foundation System: MH325BR 25-Ton Helical Piles
• Quantity Installed: Over 500 Helical Piles
• Stations: Browning, MT • Cut Bank, MT • Libby, MT • Whitefish, MT • Wishram, WA
• Key Benefits:
  • No track shutdowns
  • No excavation spoils
  • Limited-access installation
  • Reduced labor requirements
  • Successful completion on time and under budget

Why MAGNUM®

Infrastructure projects often demand foundation solutions that work around existing operations—not through them. MAGNUM® Helical Piles provide immediate structural support with minimal site disturbance, making them ideal for transportation, rail, utility, and other critical infrastructure projects where maintaining operations is just as important as meeting schedule and performance requirements.

High-Capacity Foundations. Minimal Disruption. Proven Performance.