Amtrak on April 15 issued an RFP (Request for Proposals) for its new Long-Distance train fleet replacement contract, which includes more than 800 single-level railcars across 14 routes. This is “a major step toward modernizing overnight and cross-country travel,” according to “America’s Railroad,” which also released a video (below) highlighting its “vision for the future of L-D service” and what such an investment means for “customers, communities, and the future of rail.”
The move cancels Amtrak’s bi-level procurement, for which an RFP was issued in 2023, and follows its announcement earlier this year of a new L-D fleet replacement strategy, which the railroad said “prioritizes fleet standardization, broadens competition among potential carbuilders, reduces program risk, and accelerates the replacement of aging passenger cars [many of which are approaching 50 years of service].” Under this plan, all L-D routes will transition to a “universal single-level fleet, replacing today’s mix of bi-level and single-level equipment.”
A supplier is expected to be chosen by the end of 2027.
The “next-generation fleet” will be designed “to deliver a more comfortable, accessible, and reliable experience for customers traveling long distances,” according to the railroad, which developed the fleet replacement program “in close coordination” with the Federal Railroad Administration. Planned upgrades include “modern seating, enhanced private rooms, improved dining options, and updated onboard amenities that reflect what today’s travelers expect.” The video of Amtrak’s vision includes the renderings below.
Amtrak said procurement of new L-D passenger cars represents one piece of its broader systemwide fleet modernization program. It noted that it continues to receive new Siemens ALC-42 locomotives for L-D service, with 79 of 125 units delivered to date. New NextGen Acela trains from Alstom entered service last fall, and the new Airo fleet from Siemens will begin service on Amtrak Cascades this year, followed by the Northeast Regional and other short- and mid-distance routes in the coming years.
Further Reading:
- FRA’s ‘Kind of a Little Bit’ Amtrak Restructuring
- Amtrak Releases Video on Fleet Maintenance Facility Program
- Watch: Amtrak Debuts Airo
- Amtrak 2025: The Rest of the Story
- Multiple Factors Impacting Amtrak Long-Distance Trains
- Amtrak Cancellations: More Than Just ‘Weather’
- Amtrak ‘High Risk’ Long Distance Fleet Replacement Program: Off the Rails?
- Amtrak OIG: Long Distance Fleet Replacement Program ‘High Risk’
- Amtrak Takes First Step to Re-Equip Long-Distance Network
- Amtrak Issues RFP to Replace Long-Distance Fleet
- Ending a 50-Year Embargo in the FRA Amtrak Long-Distance Study
- Amtrak Applies for FRA Grants to Upgrade Long-Distance Network, NEC Infrastructure
- FRA Kicks Off Amtrak Daily Long-Distance Service Study
- Amtrak Debuts Long-Distance Train Improvements
The post For Amtrak, a New L-D Train Fleet appeared first on Railway Age.