Amtrak releases first look at new long distance fleet

The new rail cars will “bring travelers the world-class service they deserve.”

Amtrak Amtrak

A new era in American train travel is coming, Amtrak says.

All the places you can go on the Amtrak Downeaster

The company announced on Wednesday that it has issued a formal request for suppliers to bid on its new long-distance fleet replacement contract. The strategy was first announced in February.

The “once-in-a-generation” fleet replacement program calls for more than 800 new railcars across 14 routes, according to Amtrak.

“These new rail cars will finally replace Amtrak’s aging fleet and bring travelers the world-class service they deserve,” said Federal Railroad Administrator David Fink, in a video posted on Amtrak’s website.

Many of today’s trains are approaching nearly 50 years of service, and the new fleet will help improve safety, reliability, and the customer experience.

The plan will standardize long-distance service by transitioning to a universal single-level fleet, the result of an extensive analysis of the challenges of operating a hybrid fleet, according to Amtrak. Currently, Amtrak has a mixture of single-level and bi-level trains.

Further details about the new fleet were not released, but the newly released video below displays images of new, more modern trains.

“Amtrak passengers have been riding the same trains for decades, but that’s about to change in a big way,” said Jim Mathews, CEO of the Rail Passengers Association, in the video. “New state-of-the-art trains are coming and they’ll be built right here in America.”

Long-distance routes are an important part of America’s national transportation system, Amtrak noted, because they link cities, small towns, and rural communities while supporting economic growth across regions.

The first new long-distance cars will be introduced in the early 2030s, according to Amtrak President Roger Harris.

Kristi Palma

Travel writer

Kristi Palma is the travel writer for Boston.com, focusing on the six New England states. She covers airlines, hotels, and things to do across Boston and New England. She is the author of the award-winning Scenic Six, a weekly travel newsletter.

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