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6/17/2021
Amtrak has launched a $28 million, three-year project to improve the rider experience aboard its long-distance trains serving overnight routes across the country.
Modernized interiors of Amtrak’s bi-level “Superliner” fleet, serving primarily midwestern, southern and western routes, will improve comfort with new seating cushions and upholstery, carpet, LED lighting, tables and curtains, according to a news release.
All Superliner coaches, sleeping cars, dining cars and Sightseer lounges will be refreshed. “Viewliner I” sleeping cars operating to and from the East and Southeast will be similarly improved, Amtrak officials said in the release.
In all, more than 450 rail cars will be refreshed to modernize cars that were delivered in the 1980s and 1990s. The first refreshed coaches will carry travelers this summer, with the other three types of Superliners deployed starting this fall.
Elements of the refresh project were displayed this week at Chicago Union Station.
Also at the Chicago event, Amtrak showed the first of its new U.S.-built low-emissions diesel-electric locomotives that are cleaner and faster than the ones they are replacing. The new locomotives are designated as ALC-42 for Amtrak long-distance Charger, 4,200-horsepower. Seventy-five of these units have been ordered from Siemens Mobility in Sacramento, California.
These are just the latest in a series of Amtrak customer experience improvements in recent days.
“As we mark Amtrak’s 50th anniversary this year, these significant investments in the long distance network lay the foundation for our next decades of service,” said Roger Harris, Amtrak’s executive vice president/chief marketing and revenue officer.