Amtrak has announced a revised plan to replace its long-distance fleet, prioritising standardisation with single-decker cars on all routes, rather than the current mix of double-deckers and single-deckers.
This decision stems from a thorough analysis of the operational problems of a fleet combining both types, comments made by the industry in the previous double-decker tender and a joint review with the Federal Railway Administration (FRA).
The aim of the change in strategy is to improve competitiveness among manufacturers, reduce risks and accelerate the introduction of new cars in the early 2030s.
Amtrak President Roger Harris noted that the decision will improve the consistent and accessible passenger experience, with support from the FRA and the Department of Transportation.
Undersecretary Steve Bradbury and Administrator David Fink endorsed the initiative, linking it to President Trump and Secretary Sean Duffy’s vision for a “new Golden Age” of rail travel, fostering jobs at manufacturers with plants in the United States.
Amtrak will soon launch a new tender, cancel the tender for double-decker cars, and evaluate extending the life of current cars, some of which are more than 40 years old.
This process is part of the overall modernisation, which includes 125 ALC-42 locomotives (79 already delivered), the NextGen Acela (Alstom’s Avelia Liberty) and Siemens Venture cars for the Airo project.