Friday, August 8, 2025

Amtrak Starts Replacements for Overnight Trains Across U.S.

Manufacturers are submitting ideas to replace some Amtrak trains, which is the first step in changing and updating their trains. Railcars for notable routes such as the Auto Train, California Zephyr, Coast Starlight, Crescent, Empire Builder and Southwest Chief will be under consideration.

“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 in a press release.

Photo Credit: Vergx96/Pixabay

The current group of overnight railcars have been delivered to Amtrak over the course of 40 years. Over 800 cars entered service in 1979 and have seen wear and tear. Most of the equipment in the current fleet will approach the end of its service life after the next decade, according to the release.

Later this year, Amtrak says it plans to take the next step by issuing a formal procurement request in the release. The federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act enacted by Congress and the Biden Administration in 2021 will provide funding for the future purchases to Amtrak.

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Amy Harris
Amy Harris is a writer and photographer who has been traveling for 20 years and flown over 2 million miles to visit over 80 countries on 6 continents. She is a freelance photographer for Invision by Associated Press, AP Images and Rex/Shutterstock. Her work can be seen in various publications and websites including: Rolling Stone, AP Images, National Geographic Books, Fodor’s Travel Guides, Forbes.com, Lonely Planet Travel Guides, JetStar magazine, and Delta Sky Magazine.

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