A first look at the trains that will replace Amtrak's 50-year-old rail cars

[brooklynite]

Washintgon Post

Amtrak on Thursday unveiled details of the trains that will replace some of the carrier’s 50-year-old rail cars, starting in 2026.

The images offer a glimpse of the multi-powered Amtrak Airo trains being built in California by manufacturing company Siemens Mobility as part of Amtrak’s multibillion-dollar plan to upgrade its rolling stock over the next decade.

The rail cars will have panoramic windows, more comfortable seating with movable headrests, and cup and seatback tablet holders. The trains also will have a redesigned cafe car and come with individual power outlets and USB ports, onboard WiFi, and better lighting, officials said.

“Our new trains will transform the Amtrak experience with significant environmental benefits, a progressive design and world-class amenities,” Amtrak president Roger Harris said in a statement.

FYI: these will be conventional service rather than Acela.

[TigressDem]

1. NOICE! nt

[Diamond_Dog]

2. I would love to travel on a train like that!

[vanlassie]

3. Europe. Any part.

[Initech]

4. Man we need these on the West Coast! The Surfliner could definitely use some replacing!

[bahboo]

9. agree....love the trip up the coast to Pismo Beach...

but the cars are definitely showing their age...

[Initech]

11. I love taking the train to San Diego.

Though apparently there's been some problems with the tracks in Oceanside that won't be fixed until next year, according to some friends of mine that live in the area.

[Greybnk48]

5. I LOVE to ride on trains!

I sure hope we get service in my area before I croak, but I doubt it. We have to drive 100 miles to catch a train to anywhere.

That said, I'm happy to see this is happening! This is thanks to Joe Biden, and will be so beneficial to us and the environment!

[Just A Box Of Rain]

6. I may be in the minority, but I find the train interiors to be soulless, brutal, and dismal.

The design aesthetic is as synthetic as the materials that appear to have been employed.

Sterile, cold, and uninviting.

Major fail.

[brooklynite]

7. Show us a train interior that meets your design aesthetic.

I don't recall French/Italian/German trains having unique interiors.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

20. While certainly not in perfect alignment with my taste--and not really meeting the standards of

my design aesthetics--I think the Vistadome Coaches that are employed on the Pune-Mumbai Express in India offer a greater sense of openness that those produced by Siemens Mobility.

Good design is an art-form.

In my search I've yet to see a modern railcar interior design that I think is sublime.

But for a simple design, I think these would feel more experiential.

[MagickMuffin]

23. Yes to the swivel seats!

I think all trains should have swivel seats, less pain in the neck.

[Genki Hikari]

27. That red is awful. Hurts my eyes.

And the seat covers are obviously polyester. I can already feel that funky semi-greasy texture of it now. Blech.

Not a fan of the skylight windows, either. It looks nice, but it makes it more difficult on climate control systems in the summer. Plus, the glare of the sunlight bouncing around will be quite bad, even with window tinting.

I do like how the seats swivel and seem to be more padded. So bonus there.

[brooklynite]

21. This is a premium service tourist train...

[Just A Box Of Rain]

24. In a developing country.

Nothing "fancy" here.

No exotic materials. Pretty utilitarian.

Again, not my idea of perfect design, but it creates more "openness" that the Siemens design.

I can guess which costs more.

[WhiteTara]

8. no open seats to lie down

[erronis]

10. Yeah. I'd like wood panelling, staterooms with curtains, beautiful travel companions also.

But we probably won't see the Orient Express on this continent.

[Alexander Of Assyria]

12. Airplane interiors?...trains are castles!

[DET]

25. Sterile

That was my initial impression as well. It seems odd that they clearly tried to liven up the exterior but made the interior so dull and unwelcoming. JMHO.

[garybeck]

13. Sorry, not impressed

they look just like the ones we have now, but a little cleaner and more modern. many of the "new" amenities they list, are already available on the old cars. USB ports.... been there for a while now.

what we need is to revamp the entire rail system. other countries have better, faster, more efficient trains, and they get used a lot more. trains are the most efficient means of mass transportation. we should be getting caught up with the other countries, not just making the cars a little nicer.

[peggysue2]

14. I love riding by train!

So much easier than bucking freeway, turnpike traffic and no city parking worries.

Yeah, I'd hop that baby in a heartbeat.

[republianmushroom]

15. nice

[Tommymac]

16. All well and good, but how about actual TRACK UPGRADES so we can use REAL modern engines

Very High Speed bullet trains like the ones in use EVERYDAY in Europe and Japan.

EVERY Major City needs to be linked via track that can handle high speed passenger service. And every region needs to be equipped with passenger rated track too, down to the smallest towns - just like in Europe.

Until then, this is just putting lipstick on a pig.

[brooklynite]

18. You can't "upgrade" tracks for HSR...

You have to acquire land and build entirely new ROW designed precisely for trains running at 200 mph.

[AZLD4Candidate]

17. I still prefer the Chinese bullet trains and the Korean KTX line

[multigraincracker]

19. Looking forward to my

Governors plan for passenger service from AA to Traverse City, with a stop in my town.
I’ll be traveling both ways.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

22. Couple of YouTube videos on the topic

[DFW]

26. Wow, we are making progress!

This looks almost as good as the trains introduced here in Europe 20 years ago!

[mcar]

28. They look great!