Written by

Marybeth Luczak, Editor-in-Chief

Amtrak unveiled refreshed railcar interiors and other onboard upgrades for passengers this week at Chicago’s Union Station, as part of a three-year, $ 28 million initiative to modernize more than 450 passenger cars. long distance service.

Amtrak presented elements of the work, in addition to the first of its new low-emission diesel-electric locomotives, after completing the restoration of daily service for 12 long-haul routes, which had suffered outages related to the pandemic.

(Siemens Mobility, based in Sacramento, Calif., Is supplying Amtrak with 75 ALC-42 units, referred to as “Amtrak Long Distance Charger, 4,200 horsepower; see below. Delivery of the remaining units is expected by 2024. )

Amtrak updates the interiors of its 1980s-1990s bi-leveler Superliner fleet, serving primarily Midwest, South and West routes, with new cushions and upholstery, rugs, LED lighting, tables and curtains. All Superliner Coaches, sleeping cars, dining cars and tourist lounges will be refreshed; “Viewer ISleeping cars operating to and from the east and south-east will benefit from similar improvements.

The first refreshed coaches will be ready for runners this summer, Amtrak said. It will begin rolling out the other three types of updated Superliners this fall.

Amtrak also reported that after successfully testing premium bedding, pillows, towels, and linens on Automatic train, it will begin to extend their use to all private rooms and roomettes in August. The railroad will then install lotion dispensers in every room and dispensers of three bottles of shampoo, conditioner and body wash in every shower, “eliminating much of the single-use packaging in our sleeping cars.”

Other recent improvements to Amtrak’s “customer experience” include:
• Restoration of traditional food service on six western routes, effective June 23.
• Launch of the electronic USA Rail Pass, which allows users to travel on multi-segment trains.
• Expansion of the BidUp program, allowing passengers to bid on upgrades to premium Amtrak services, including from coach class to private rooms.

“We are marking a new era in the customer experience for our historic routes that serve the country with comfortable and affordable coach seats and private accommodations,” said Roger Harris, executive vice president / chief marketing and revenue officer from Amtrak. “As we celebrate Amtrak’s 50th anniversary this year, these significant investments in the long distance network are laying the foundation for our next decades of service.