Amtrak Orders Single-Level Railcars for Entire US Long-Distance Fleet

WASHINGTON D.C. – The U.S. national rail operator Amtrak announced on February 26 a revised strategy to replace its entire long-distance passenger rolling stock fleet. The new plan prioritizes a standardized, single-level fleet for all routes, cancelling a prior procurement process for double-decker trains. This decision follows a joint assessment with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to streamline operations and speed up the replacement of cars delivered more than 40 years ago.

What Does This Contract Cover?

The new procurement strategy covers the complete replacement of Amtrak’s long-distance rolling stock, which currently consists of a mixed fleet of Superliner double-decker and Amfleet single-level carriages. By standardizing to a single-level design, Amtrak aims to reduce maintenance complexity, improve accessibility, and expand competition among potential manufacturers. The operator will soon issue a new request for proposals for the single-level cars and will work with the selected supplier to establish a delivery schedule for service entry in the early 2030s.

Key Contract Data

How Does This Compare to Similar Contracts?

This fleet renewal represents a significant national-level investment, similar in scale to other recent large-scale procurements in Europe. For comparison, Alstom secured a €1.03 billion contract in 2025 to supply 153 new trains for Comboios de Portugal, the country’s national operator. That deal, the largest in Portugal’s history, has a delivery timeline with the first trains scheduled to enter service in 2029, slightly ahead of Amtrak’s early 2030s target. (Source: Alstom, 2025). The total value and final number of railcars for the Amtrak contract have not yet been disclosed, but are expected to be substantial given the scope of replacing the entire long-distance fleet.

Editor’s Analysis

Amtrak’s pivot to a standardized single-level fleet is a pragmatic move to de-risk a complex and long-overdue procurement. Operating a uniform fleet drastically reduces long-term costs associated with maintenance, parts inventory, and crew training. This decision aligns with a global trend of operators seeking fleet simplification, though it sacrifices the high capacity of double-decker cars on scenic western routes. Securing manufacturing capacity for a multi-year delivery schedule will be a key challenge, reflecting a broader need for long-term investment planning in the rail supply chain, as highlighted by the UK’s updated Infrastructure Pipeline strategy. (Source: UK Government, 2025).

FAQ

Q: Why is Amtrak switching from double-decker to single-level cars on all routes?
A: Amtrak is standardizing its fleet to reduce operational complexity, expand competition among manufacturers, and accelerate the replacement of aging cars. The decision was made after an analysis with the Federal Railroad Administration identified this as the most effective approach.

Q: When will passengers see the new long-distance trains in service?
A: Amtrak has stated its commitment to introduce the first new long-distance railcars in the early 2030s. The final delivery schedule will be determined after a manufacturer is selected through the upcoming bidding process.

Q: What will happen to the current fleet of railcars?
A: The existing cars, many over 40 years old, will be phased out as the new fleet is delivered. Amtrak will continue to evaluate the condition of its current rolling stock and determine measures to extend their use to ensure safe operations until the replacements arrive.