Amtrak has revised its strategy for replacing its long-distance rolling stock fleet, prioritizing standardization of rolling stock, expanding competition among potential railcar manufacturers, reducing program risks, and accelerating the replacement of aging passenger carriages.
Under this plan, all long-distance routes will transition to single-level trains and railcars, replacing the current mix of double-level and single-level equipment.
The announcement, made on February 26 by the U.S. national rail operator, reflects a comprehensive analysis of the challenges associated with operating a hybrid fleet. It also incorporates industry feedback received during the previous request for proposals for new double-deck trains, as well as the conclusions of a joint assessment between Amtrak and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), which identified the most effective direction to take.
“This new approach will provide a more consistent and accessible experience for customers across the Amtrak network, while maintaining our commitment to introduce the first new long-distance railcars in the early 2030s,” said Amtrak President Roger Harris.
“With these new cars, Amtrak will replace its aging fleet and provide passengers with the world-class rail service they deserve, helping to realize Secretary Duffy’s [ed. Sean Duffy, Secretary of Transportation] for a new Golden Age of travel,” said U.S. Deputy Secretary of Transportation Steve Bradbury.
A new procurement process
Amtrak will soon issue a formal request for suppliers to submit bids for the new long-distance rolling stock contract and will cancel the procurement process for double-decker trains. After selecting the winner, Amtrak will work closely with the chosen manufacturer to finalize the delivery schedule needed to replace the current long-distance fleet.
Many of the current cars used on long-distance routes were delivered more than 40 years ago. Amtrak will continue to evaluate the condition of existing trains and cars, analyze their remaining service life, and determine any measures to extend their use to ensure safe and reliable operations until the new long-distance trains/cars enter service.
The purchase of new long-distance passenger railcars is part of a broader program to modernize Amtrak’s entire fleet of rolling stock. The company continues to receive new high-powered Charger ALC-42 locomotives for long-distance service, with 79 of the 125 units delivered by Siemens Mobility to date. The new NextGen Acela trains manufactured by Alstom were launched last fall on the only high-speed rail corridor in the United States, and the new fleet of Airo trains produced by Siemens Mobility will enter service on the Amtrak Cascades route in 2026, followed by Northeast Regional service and other short- and medium-distance routes in the coming years.
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