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1/6/2026
Amtrak has experienced challenges in planning and managing its $4 billion effort to upgrade its maintenance facilities, potentially hindering its ability to fully operate its new trains, according to a recent Amtrak Office of Inspector General (OIG) report.
Amtrak requires facilities upgrades to support its newest trains, including NextGen Acela, Airo and its planned long distance trains. However, some facilities will not be ready in time to service Amtrak’s new trains, the report said. If the current schedule holds, Amtrak can operate only the first 24 of 28 NextGen Acela trainsets and the first 12 of 83 Airo trainsets without additional capacity to maintain the new trains, the OIG reported last month.
If Amtrak cannot find other ways or locations to maintain the new equipment, that equipment may need to sit idle intermittently, the report said. Amtrak officials told the OIG that this would delay the railroad from capturing the additional revenue it anticipates from new trainsets.
To ensure the fleet and facilities efforts align, the OIG recommended that Amtrak continue to develop a joint strategic fleet/facilities plan that defines goals, timelines and next steps. It also recommended that Amtrak develop a management framework for its facility upgrades, including a risk management process.
The report can viewed here.