Bucks County Company Key In Amtrak Recovery

A Bucks County company was crucial in getting Amtrak up and running again after last week’s accident, according to Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick’s office.

Bensalem-based fabrication company PennFab was charged with setting up two new steel structures to hold wires above the rail lines at Frankford Junction, Fitzpatrick said.

The catenary portal structures weight about 30 tons altogether.

Amtrak asked PennFab and manager Mike Mabin Sr. if they’d be able to complete all the neccessary construction in two to three days. Mabin said he’d never received an order like it ever before.

Some 50-odd hours later, with employees working around the clock, with food being delivered by worker’s families and with employees taking turns napping when they needed rest, the portals were completed.

It was a key ingredient in getting Amtrak back on track in record time, just one part of a much larger machine of repairs, renovations, and safety checks needed to get trains back running again.

Fitzpatrick noted it was fitting that a local company helped remedy a situation that affected so many Bucks County commuters.

“Last week’s Amtrak derailment hit close to home for the thousands in Bucks County who rely on transit for transportation and work,” he said. “That’s why it’s fitting those stepping up to get this vital service back on-line are also from our community. PennFab’s around-the-clock work to design, build and install critical portions of Amtrak’s rail system is a testament to the efficiency and effectiveness of its employees and operation, but also a prime example of Bucks County businesses stepping up when the pressure is on.”