US train operator Amtrak has issued a formal Request for Proposals (RFP) to railcar manufacturers to begin replacing its current Long Distance fleet.
The process, which Amtrak announced last month, aims to improve overnight, cross-country train travel by reequipping the fleet that provides train services from coast to coast. President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Congress has enabled funding for this multi-billion-dollar procurement.
Amtrak operates fifteen Long Distance routes, the longest of which is the Texas Eagle, which runs between Chicago and Los Angeles.
Between October 2022 and September 2023 (a period known as Fiscal Year 23 or FY23), passengers made 3.9 million journeys on Amtrak Long Distance, an increase of more than twelve percent on the previous period.
Amtrak wants its new fleet to be up-to-date trains which meet market expectations, improve passenger experience, are more accessible, efficient, sustainable and resilient, and attract more passengers.
The operator began the process a year ago, issuing a formal Request for Information (RFI) in December 2022 which it sent to potential railcar builders, which set out the scope of replacing the Long Distance fleet. Severa suppliers responded to the Request in early 2023, and Amtrak has used the responses to develop the which helped to shape the Request for Proposals.
The RFP specifies Amtrak's requirements to improve core elements of Long Distance service, which include:
- coach seating
- private rooms
- food service
- enhanced accessibility, and
- route experience.
Once it has selected the vendor, Amtrak and its supplier will move on to design, development and production, which will take several year. Amtrak expects its new fleet to be delivered from the early 2030s.
This is one of several Amtrak investments aimed at improving passengers' experience of Long Distance travel. Others include refreshing passenger car interiors, bringing stored equipment back into service, and improving stations, onboard amenities, sales and support channels. Recently, Amtrak has:
- bought 125 ALC-42 Long Distance locomotives, with more than three dozen already in service already. These locos, which are made in the US, and are cleaner, faster, greener and more fuel efficient than their predecessors.
- spent $28 million on interior upgrades to 400 bi-level Superliner and 49 Viewliner cars. Nearly 200 Superliner cars have been refreshed so far and are now in passenger service; the Viewliner refresh will begin in 2024.
- restored and repaired 63 idled railcars by the end of 2024.
Amtrak President Roger Harris said, “Procuring new equipment for our Long Distance trains is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine our iconic routes through a modern, accessible, and sustainable fleet,” said .
Amtrak Board Chair Tony Coscia added, “We believe in the future of our Long Distance service. Amtrak's Long Distance network provides vital mobility and an economic link for communities around the country. A new Amtrak Long Distance fleet will help us modernize and transform the service to meet the needs of customers now and into the future.”
FRA Administrator Amit Bose said, “The Federal Railroad Administration firmly believes that intercity passenger rail service, including Long Distance service, has an important role to play in America's transportation network. Millions of Americans depend on Long Distance service annually as a transportation alternative to congested highways and airports, and they deserve a modern, safe, and convenient experience.”
Rail Passengers Association President and CEO Jim Mathews commented, “Designers, suppliers, and the traveling public have all been waiting for a long time for this exciting news. Issuing this RFP kicks off what will be the biggest rolling stock acquisition since the 1940s, when the New York Central turned to three manufacturers for a blockbuster order for more than 700 cars. Rail passengers deserve a safe, modern, clean, reliable and exciting onboard experience, and today's announcement is a vital step in ensuring that for generations to come.”
