The Travels with Kev Weekly Newsletter

Hello Reader,

After 2030, there could be changes coming to Westward trains! Is it bad? Maybe? Maybe not?

Amtrak’s New Long-Distance Cars: Goodbye Bi-Levels, Hello Single-Level

If you’ve ever ridden the California Zephyr, Southwest Chief, Empire Builder, Auto Train, and other long-distance routes, you’ve experienced Amtrak’s Superliner cars. These tall, double-decker coaches and sleepers have long been a signature of train travel in the West.

But the Superliners are old. They’ve been rebuilt several times and are now showing their age and nearing the end of their service life.

The first batch, built by Pullman-Standard, entered service in 1979. Even the “newer” Superliner II cars from Bombardier date back to 1996. So Amtrak has gotten its money out of them.

Over the past few years, Amtrak has been looking at a replacement for these cars. Last week, that replacement effort took a major turn.

Amtrak announced it is canceling plans to order new bi-level (double-decker) cars and will instead move forward with a single-level design that can operate across the entire national network. This includes East Coast routes with high platforms and tight clearances that make bi-level cars impractical.

The bi-level procurement had been stuck in neutral for some time. Amtrak had requested features that manufacturers pushed back against, including elevators inside the cars and delivery of complete, pre-assembled trainsets rather than individual cars. An independent Inspector General report released late last year confirmed the process had essentially stalled.

This new direction clears the logjam.

What Amtrak Says

In its February 26 announcement, Amtrak framed the decision around four goals:

• Fleet standardization
• Broader competition among manufacturers
• Reduced program risk
• Faster delivery of new cars

The strategy was developed through a joint review by Amtrak and the Federal Railroad Administration.

Amtrak President Roger Harris said the new approach will deliver a more consistent and accessible customer experience while maintaining the early-2030s delivery target. Amtrak will issue a new request for bids soon and formally cancel the bi-level order once that process begins.

The car replacement is the next step in that modernization effort, alongside the NextGen Acela and the new Airo fleet.

Amtrak also acknowledged that its aging fleet needs attention in the meantime. The company will evaluate the condition of existing cars and determine what life-extension work is needed to keep trains running safely until the new fleet arrives.

In other words, they know the Superliners and Viewliners can’t simply be ignored until 2032 or beyond.

Another often-overlooked point is that the existing fleet has been shrinking for years without replacements. Over time, cars have been taken out of service due to damage or age-related defects. Amtrak can’t just call “Train Cars Are Us” when a car is damaged in an accident.

The Practical Upside and Downside

Advantages of a single car design include:

• One fleet style to maintain
• One training standard for crews
• One set of spare parts

That’s a real operational advantage.

The downsides:

• Less capacity per sleeper and coach car
• Longer trains might mean you'll need to walk more, either on the train or getting to your accommodations.
• The loss of the unique experience of walking up those narrow stairs

For new passengers, this doesn’t affect your plans today, and once these new cars are rolling, you'll be a pro. Superliners are still running and are definitely worth experiencing. If anything, use this as extra motivation to book that western train trip sooner rather than later.

I’ve already experienced the switch from Superliners to Viewliners on the Capitol Limited when it became the Floridian. I’ve ridden the Capitol Limited more than any other route. I still enjoyed the views and had a good time.

Kev’s Take

I’m conflicted about this decision, but I understand it. On my first Amtrak ride, I fell in love with these cars. But we need new cars sooner rather than later.

For those who study history, the use of long-distance bi-level cars started in the mid-50s and they were never widely used outside Santa Fe and Amtrak.

While I love riding the Superliners, I prefer the Viewliner (single-level sleepers currently used on eastern routes) room layout, especially the roomettes, because they offer more space for your belongings. The upper bunk on a Viewliner provides more headroom than a Superliner’s and includes a window.

I do not know what Amtrak's plan is now; they might develop a new Viewliner III, stick with the Viewliner II design, or introduce something entirely new, like a bedroom or roomette-only cars, perhaps a family bedroom on Viewliners.

What I do know is that a unified fleet would make it easier and faster for crews to build trains, since they’d be drawing from a single pool of cars instead of two completely different types.

One thing I would really love to see—quite a big wish—is for Amtrak to bring back dome cars. This could replace the Superliner Sightseer Lounges, or at least introduce a single-level lounge car with more windows.

What is Kev Up To?

This email is a little long, so I will keep this part short.

This week, I'm in Florida helping my mom settle in at my sister's place while my brother-in-law is away. The trip began with my first Metra ride of 2026 to O'Hare Airport and will end with an Amtrak ride. It's always nice when even the airport commute involves a train.

I'm also finalizing and booking plans for an upcoming trip with my niece. We'll take three Amtrak trains, a bus ride, and stay overnight at a hotel. Grandma chose a bedroom over a roomette, and honestly, she's right. Mack and I are excited about having more space.

Until Next Week!

Safe travels & Happy Planning,
Kev Monteith

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