WASHINGTON — Amtrak has begun the process of seeking new equipment to replace its Amfleet I passenger cars, posting a Request for Information today to explore options to replace the single-level cars built between 1975 and 1977.
The request is seeking information on cars, trainsets and self-propelled equipment to replace the Amfleet equipment, used primarily on routes east of the Mississippi River, such as the Northeast Regional, Keystone, Carolinian and Illinois Service trains. Based on the resulting information, Amtrak plans to release a Request for Proposal for specific replacement equipment 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 press release.
It is Amtrak’s second move this month to address its aging equipment fleet, following an earlier request for proposals for locomotives. [See “Amtrak asks for proposals to rebuild or replace as many as 75 locomotives,” Trains News Wire, June 1, 2018.]
The full Request for Information is available on Amtrak’s website.
Well said Ian. I think we all know the answer to that. The bigger question is will there be a passenger railroad left to buy new cars for when Ol’ Slash and Burn Anderson gets done.
How will they know which are the oldest cars? They kept renumbering the cars over the years. What will they do with 10000 and 10001?
Could not Viewliner cars replace the Amfleet equipment?
I think upping the order for single-level cars from Siemens that are based off the Brightline trains would be the wisest move, considering that 1. Buying in bulk is generally cheaper per car. 2. Siemens is already building them for my state of Michigan and several other DOTs in the Midwest and Pacific Coast so the time lapse would be shorter as Amtrak would be ordering essentially “Off-The-Shelf” that has already gone thru all the testing and what not.
Can the current administration and management(at Amtrak) be trusted with this?
Braden, Talgos are incompatible with the major stations on the NEC. Talgos can only service low platform stations, they sit too low for high platforms.
BRADEN – Intriguing. Please amplify. I’d be interested to know why you think the Talgos would be a good choice. Operating suitability? Quality of construction? Comfort? Cost? Kindly feed us more. We in the Midwest don’t have any, though they were on order (cancelled) for the Madison train that never happened.
I say increase the order of single-level cars from Siemens.
Talgo trainsets. That’s what I would order