By Railfan & Railroad Staff

WASHINGTON — Amtrak announced Thursday that it had taken the first formal step toward replacing its fleet of long-distance passenger equipment by issuing a Request for Information from potential rail car suppliers. The request will solicit manufacturers’ input on replacing the railroad’s Superliner and Viewliner cars in the coming years.

While Amtrak has been making significant investments in recent years — from a new Acela train to new equipment for state-supported routes — the long-distance passenger equipment is in its fourth decade of service. Wrecks and derailments have also thinned the fleet, especially the Superliners. 

“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. 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,” said Amtrak Board Chair Tony Coscia. 

Amtrak expects interest from as many as ten manufacturers. Later this year, Amtrak plans to take the next step by issuing a formal procurement request. Funding for the purchases is being provided to Amtrak through the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act enacted by Congress and the Biden Administration in 2021.

The new equipment will appear on a number of routes, including the Auto Train, California Zephyr, Coast Starlight, Crescent, Empire Builder and Southwest Chief. In recent years, Amtrak has invested $28 million to refresh the current fleet, hoping to make them last long enough for the new cars to arrive.