What’s Going to Happen with Amtrak’s Superliner Cars?

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What’s Going to Happen with Amtrak’s Superliner Cars? === #onthetrains #train #amtraktrains === 0:00 Intro 0:35 Superliner trains' status 3:11 Amtrak’s Replacement Plan 6:14 Delays and Challenges === thanks to: Roger Puta https://www.flickr.com/photos/129679309@N05/30567817685/ Rckania CC BY-SA 4.0 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superliner_(railcar)#/media/File:Amtrak_superliner_on_Saluki_(cropped).jpg Lexcie CC BY-SA 3.0 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superliner_(railcar)#/media/File:P1010012_Superliner_Coach_Interior.jpg === What’s Going to Happen with Amtrak’s Superliner Cars? For nearly half a century, Amtrak’s double-decker trains have carried America across deserts, through mountains, and between small prairie towns. They’re the Superliners, the backbone of Amtrak’s long-distance network. But now the paint is fading, the steel is corroding, and the clock is ticking down. Rust, cracks, and aging systems threaten the very soul of American rail travel. We’ve already seen Amtrak retire its Horizon cars. Could the same fate be waiting for the Superliners? So, what happens when these legendary trains stop running? And more importantly, what will replace them? Find out in today’s episode of OnTheTrains! Superliner trains' status. What’s Going to Happen with Amtrak’s Superliner Cars? Born in the mid-1970s, the Superliner is more than just a train car, it's a symbol of the rebirth of American rail in the postwar era. The first Superliner I cars were built by Pullman-Standard and delivered between 1975 and 1981, followed by the Bombardier Superliner II from 1991 to 1996. In total, Amtrak owns about 380 Superliner cars, making up its largest double-decker fleet. These trains operate on most long-distance routes, especially west of the Mississippi River, where low-level stations complement the Superliner’s distinctive design. From the California Zephyr to the Empire Builder, the Southwest Chief to the Coast Starlight, the Superliner has been the “lifeblood” of transcontinental travel, carrying the memories, sights, and stories of millions of passengers for nearly half a century. What’s Going to Happen with Amtrak’s Superliner Cars? But that legacy is fading. Much of the fleet is now over forty years old, with the original 1970s cars hitting the 50-year mark by 2025, a significant increase over their original design life. The steel frames are starting to corrode, the electrical and air conditioning systems are outdated, and many cars do not meet ADA standards for people with disabilities. Some have been forced to retire, like the removal of the old Horizon cars in 2025. That’s just the outside, the general look, but the inside of the trains is older and more desolate. Step into an old Superliner and you can feel the past is still here.