Amtrak has started the procurement process for what it calls its largest-ever long-distance train order, formally inviting railcar manufacturers to bid on a fleet replacement program that would deliver more than 800 new passenger cars for service across 14 routes.
The railroad said suppliers are now preparing proposals for submission, with an extensive evaluation to follow. Amtrak plans to name a selected supplier by the end of 2027, framing the effort as a “once-in-a-generation” overhaul of overnight and cross-country equipment—much of it now approaching 50 years in operation.
Amtrak said the replacement strategy was developed in close coordination with the Federal Railroad Administration and is intended to modernize long-distance service while standardizing the fleet to reduce risk and speed replacement. Under the plan, all long-distance routes would transition to a universal single-level fleet, replacing the current mix of bi-level and single-level cars.
The carrier positioned long-distance trains as a core piece of the national transportation network, arguing they connect major cities with smaller towns and rural communities and support regional economic activity.
Amtrak also cast the long-distance procurement as one component of a broader fleet modernization push already underway. The railroad said it continues taking delivery of ALC-42 locomotives for long-distance service, with 79 of 125 delivered so far. It also pointed to the introduction of NextGen Acela trainsets on the Northeast Corridor and said its new Airo fleet is expected to enter service in 2026 on Amtrak Cascades before expanding to other short- and mid-distance routes.
Amtrak directed readers seeking more details to its prior announcement outlining the long-distance replacement strategy, including comments from federal officials and members of Congress.
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