Amtrak train capacity expands across summer routes

Amtrak train capacity is being reshaped for the spring and summer travel period, as reported by Trains. The railroad is shifting cars across its long-distance network.

These moves are aimed at easing shortages on routes including the Coast Starlight and Sunset Limited while supporting broader spring and summer train consists.

Amtrak train capacity plans for long-distance routes

Still, Amtrak says it cannot find the two Viewliner sleeping cars and two Viewliner dining cars needed to reinforce the triweekly Cardinal. That train runs between New York, Washington, and Chicago. It also continues to sell out regularly.

Adding even one coach or sleeper requires enough equipment to cover every set assigned to a route. On Superliner-equipped trains, that need grows quickly across the network. For example, the Southwest Chief needs five cars of the same type if one car is added to each consist. Much of the fleet is now 30 to 45 years old. As a result, the equipment is typically cycled through maintenance when demand is lower.

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That constraint has made the Southwest Chief tough to book. Since the New Year holiday, the train has been operating with one sleeping car. It also carries roomettes in the transition sleeper. Through March 15, Chicago-Los Angeles roomette fares range from $806 to $1,438. As of Thursday, four rooms were still available at that higher fare for March 14. On one date, roomettes were already sold out.

Meanwhile, later this month, Amtrak will add another full sleeping car to every Southwest Chief through the summer. The railroad will also bring back a full baggage car. In April, after Colorado’s Winter Park Express finishes its season, the train will receive a third coach. That extra room will help serve campers traveling to and from Philmont Scout Ranch. The ranch is reached by bus from the stop in Raton, N.M.

Superliner-equipped trains and seasonal consist changes

Superliner Trains

• Service: Auto Train, Sets: 2
• Service: City of New Orleans, Sets: 3
• Service: Sunset Limited*, Sets: 3
• Service: Texas Eagle, Sets: 4
• Service: Eagle-Sunset*, Sets: 4
• Service: Coast Starlight, Sets: 4
• Service: Southwest Chief, Sets: 5
• Service: Empire Builder, Sets: 5
• Service: California Zephyr, Sets: 6

•  Tri-weekly

Eagle-Sunset: Chicago-Los Angeles through coach and sleeper

Elsewhere, other Superliner-equipped trains are getting adjustments as well. The Empire Builder, which runs between Chicago and Seattle/Portland, Ore., will regain a second Seattle sleeping car from March into the summer. It will not regain a second Seattle coach. The Portland section will continue to operate with a full coach, a coach-baggage car, one sleeping car, and the Sightseer Lounge. In summer 2020, the train ran with two Seattle coaches and two Portland sleeping cars. Later accidents involving the Chief and Builder reduced the available Superliner fleet.

In addition, the California Zephyr will gain a third sleeping car in early June. That change is made possible by reductions on the Auto Train. The train still will not receive a third coach. Amtrak told Trains that the extra coach “performed well in 2025,” but said the equipment will instead be assigned to the Coast Starlight as a third coach and to the Sunset Limited as a second Los Angeles-New Orleans coach in order “to maintain their consists.” Both routes have experienced repeated coach sellouts on parts of their runs over the past year.

Coast Starlight coach capacity and other equipment moves

Before the Coast Starlight lost its first-class Pacific Parlour Car in early 2018, the train usually operated from April through December with four coaches and three full sleeping cars. That change followed a directive from then-president Richard Anderson.

Separately, Amtrak is making several other capacity moves. The Superliner-equipped Heartland Flyer between Fort Worth and Oklahoma City will add a third coach in March. At the same time, a shortage of single-level Amfleet II coaches means the Boston section of the Lake Shore Limited will not receive a second coach until summer.

Also, no debut date has been announced for the first Airo Cascades trainsets. As previously covered by Railway Supply, they are not expected to enter service until after World Cup soccer matches in Seattle and Vancouver, B.C., in June and July. Aside from two higher-capacity Talgo Series 8 trainsets, the Cascades have been selling out while operating with two Amfleet I coaches and an Amfleet café-business class car.

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