Bridge construction in Washington will lead to a change in the schedules of some Amtrak trains, including the Chicago-New York Cardinal.

The construction project involves the CSX-owned two-track Long Bridge over the Potomac River between Washington and Alexandria, Virigina.

Over the next five years a second two-track bridge will be constructed over the river adjacent to the CSX bridge, which Amtrak and VRE trains currently use.

Starting Jan. 12, 2026, a work window will reduce operations on the current bridge between 8:15 a.m. and 1 p.m. Also affected will be the Virginia Railway Express commuter service.

Amtrak and VRE are adjusting the schedules of affected trains.

The westbound Cardinal currently is scheduled to depart Washington at 10:59 a.m. on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, but that will change to 11:40 a.m.

Times at intermediate stations also will change as well. Train 51 is scheduled to arrive in Indianapolis at 5:15 a.m. and depart at 6 a.m., which suggests that the schedule could be tightened so that the train operates on its current schedule from Indianapolis to Chicago.

However, part of that dwell time is devoted to on some days adding equipment from the Beech Grove shops to be ferried to Chicago.

Amtrak has not yet released new schedules for the affected trains.

Although the Chicago-Miami Floridian also crosses the Long Bridge, its schedule in both directions falls outside the work window.

Virginia Passenger Rail Authority Executive Director D.J. Stadtler told Trains magazine that one of the two tracks through the area will remain closed until 1 p.m., while the other track will reopen to allow three Amtrak trains to use the bridge.

Stadtler said he hope the single tracking will only last for a few months.

Other Amtrak trains affected include the Palmetto to Savannah, Georgia; the Carolinian to Charlotte, North Carolina; and the Silver Meteor to Miami.

A train to Richmond, Virginia, and one train to Norfolk, Virginia, will be suspended and replaced by express bus service.