Amtrak’s Long Distance Routes are in Jeopardy
Rail advocates must turn up the pressure to get new trains running ASAP.
Long-distance trains are high-value, high-impact mobility machines. They connect urban and rural areas, providing essential transportation for hundreds of smaller communities that are becoming more isolated from major economic centers.
But, after decades of neglect, the trains are old and worn out. There are too few coaches and bedroom cars to meet demand.
Please ask US Department of Transportation Sec. Sean Duffy to work with Amtrak to get an order for new trains placed—with funds already appropriated by Congress—as soon as possible.
High-speed rail advocates have good reasons to support Amtrak’s cross-country trains.
A Great Value for the Money
Long-distance trains are multi-purpose mobility machines. They’re the most affordable way to connect urban and rural areas. And they provide essential transportation for hundreds of smaller communities that are becoming more isolated from major economic centers.
Not surprisingly, long-distance trains are heavily used. With just 15 routes (most with just one departure a day) they account for nearly half of passenger miles on the nation’s entire intercity passenger train system.
A Foundation for Future Growth
Long-distance trains are a toe-hold in key intercity travel markets, providing a platform to expand services step by step.
But they face the same problem that all railroad customers have: there is too little high-quality track to run the trains the country needs. So “fixing” the long distance trains requires the same tools that expanding any service will need.
Building up the supply chain
Just as the rail network doesn’t have enough quality track, orders for passenger trains aren’t steady enough to support a healthy supply chain. A big order for long distance trains will provide a big, immediate boost to the industry.
What is the delay?
Way back in 2004, an Amtrak official told attendees at our annual meeting that, “basically, all our trains are now running full, because we haven’t got enough rolling stock to accommodate all the people who want to ride.” In 2017, Amtrak CEO Richard Anderson highlighted the urgent need to replace the bi-level Superliners, the majority of which were built before 1981.
Congress finally appropriated funding for replacements in November 2021. Amtrak issued a request for proposals for bi-level trains in December 2023. Now, it appears that Amtrak is simplifying the request, based on feedback from car builders and the new target for choosing a builder is 2026.
Amtrak has also accelerated the order for single-level trains to retire the single-level Amfleet coaches, which pre-date 1983.
The delays—paired with worsening equipment shortages, caused by the retirement of damaged rolling stock—place long-distance routes at serious risk.
Here is how you can help:
Individuals
1. Send an email to Transportation Secretary Duffy
2. Ask your mayor to send a letter
Organizations
1. Send a letter to Secretary Duffy. Download a sample here.
2. Send us a PDF copy to info -at- hsrail.org
