Ten manufacturers have submitted their ideas on replacement railcars to Amtrak in response to the agency’s December request for information.
Amtrak sent potential suppliers the request defining and describing the scope of Amtrak’s overnight train fleet and seeking input regarding the replacement of the equipment.
This is the first step to re-equip the Amtrak Long Distance Network. The network provides 14 overnight routes from coast to coast.
The existing fleet of overnight railcars will approach the end of its service life in the 2030s. The oldest cars in the more than 800-car fleet entered service in 1979.
“Purchasing new long-distance train cars will allow Amtrak to upgrade and modernize the iconic and vital overnight services that link our nation’s major regions,” Amtrak Board Chairman Tony Coscia said. “We are looking for new trains that improve safety, reliability, accessibility, and efficiency while offering the features our customers believe are most important to modernizing overnight train travel for the 21st century.”
Amtrak will issue a formal procurement request later this year. The agency also seeks design elements and customer amenities to advance overnight and cross-country train travel.
The federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will fund the project.