Amtrak has started the procurement process for a fleet of new long-distance trains.

This will be the largest order for new trains that Amtrak has ever placed, and signals a new era for train travel across America. A formal request has gone out to potential suppliers so that they can bid for the contract to replace Amtrak’s long-distance fleet.

After proposals have been submitted, there will be an extensive evaluation, with the selected supplier expected to be announced by the end of 2027.

Many of the cars in the existing fleet have been in service since the 1970s. Amtrak worked closely with the Federal Railroad Administration to develop the fleet replacement programme, which aims to modernise overnight and cross-country travel, with more than 800 new cars, which will be in service across 14 long-distance routes.

These long-distance routes are an essential part of America’s transport network, as they link major cities with smaller towns and rural communities, and help support economic growth throughout the country.

One of the drivers behind the long-distance fleet replacement programme is to standardise the fleet, and whilst it makes for more competition among potential suppliers, it reduces the programme risk and accelerates the replacement of the current ageing fleet.

The plan envisages that single-level cars, instead of the current mix of bi-level and single-level cars, will operate all long-distance services.

As well as replacing its long-distance trains, Amtrak locomotives are going through a fleet modernisation program. The new locomotives for long-distance services are high-powered ALC-42 units, with 125 on order, of which 79 have already been delivered.

Towards the end of last year, new next-generation Acela trains started operating on America’s only high-speed rail corridor. Later this year, a new fleet of Airo trains will begin services on Amtrak Cascades, followed in the next few years by new trains on the Northeast Regional and other short- and mid-distance routes.

In February, Amtrak introduced an expanded dining menu for travellers in sleeping cars on its long-distance services.