Replacing Amtrak’s Amfleet I equipment will improve the experience for customers, an Amtrak executive said.
In a Request for Information (RFI) posted late last month, Amtrak indicated it is seeking information on rail vehicles, including coach cars, trainsets and self-propelled units that could replace the Amfleet I equipment. Equipment includes single-level passenger cars used primarily on routes east of the Mississippi River such as the Northeast Regional, Keystone, Carolinian and Illinois service trains.
Amtrak plans to develop and release a Request for Proposal for specific replacement vehicles in 2019.
“New equipment will provide our customers with a more modern experience, while improving ride quality and reliability,” Amtrak Vice President of Corporate Planning Byron Comati said in a news release.
Last month, Amtrak said it issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to rebuild its current diesel fleet or purchase a minimum of 50 to 75 next-generation locomotives, with options to rebuild or acquire additional units. The locomotives will offer the latest safety features, have more horsepower and the lowest emissions possible, Amtrak said.
