Amtrak's next-generation of rail cars is set to roll out to even more passengers than originally planned.
The U.S. rail carrier is ordering 10 more of its new Amtrak Airo trainsets to meet surging passenger demand, the rail carrier announced Monday.
The order brings Amtrak to 83 Amtrak Airo trains, which are set to debut in 2026 along various routes in the Northeast, spanning from Toronto to Miami.
"We're thrilled to satisfy the soaring demand for train travel with new state-of-the-art, American-made equipment that ensures the highest standards of comfort, service and amenities," Amtrak president Roger Harris said in a statement. "These new trainsets will help us get people where they need to go while reducing road and air congestion, creating jobs and supporting the American economy."
Passenger demand for rail travel has exceeded its expectations, according to Amtrak. In a CNBC interview on Monday, Harris said the rail carrier has seen increased ridership this summer as overall travel demand has grown.
In August, ridership along the Northeast Corridor — the carrier's busiest railroad — increased 12% from 2019, according to CNBC, despite experiencing mounting delays this summer caused largely by sweltering weather, an aging fleet and nationwide reconstruction projects.
"There's a renewed interest in rail," Harris said on CNBC.
The new trains are part of a multi-billion dollar project to upgrade Amtrak's existing infrastructure. Amtrak directly received $22 billion from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which passed Congress in 2021. The act earmarked a total of $66 billion for freight and rail. The remaining $44 billion went toward the Federal Rail Administration for various passenger and freight upgrades, such as renovations for the Northeast Corridor's tunnels and bridges.
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