Meet Amtrak's Next Generation of Trains
"A new California-made fleet set to debut in 2026 is being billed as ushering in a "new era of rail," with an immediate rollout on several established routes (debuting in 2026 on Northeast Regional, Empire Service, and the Vermonter) and eventual service expansion to lines including Northeast Regional, Empire Service, Amtrak Virginia Services, Keystone Service, Amtrak Downeaster, Amtrak Cascades, Maple Leaf, New Haven–Springfield–Greenfield Service, Palmetto, Carolinian, Pennsylvanian, Vermonter, Ethan Allen Express, and Adirondack. Passenger cars will feature modern, spacious interiors with panoramic windows; even in Coach, seating will be more spacious with extra legroom, bigger tray tables, moveable headrests, and seats with a dedicated cup holder and tablet holder. Additional amenities include onboard Wi‑Fi, individual outlets and USB ports, and enhanced lighting, while cafe cars receive a modern upgrade with self-service options. The new trains are also more fuel efficient—producing 90 percent less particulate emissions in diesel operations—and can operate at speeds up to 125 mph, shortening travel times. Accessibility improvements include restrooms, vestibules, and cafe cars designed for wheelchair accessibility and lifts for people using mobility devices. "Sustainable transportation, a modern design, and world-class amenities. [The new trains] will transform the travel experience. This is the future of Amtrak," Amtrak President Roger Harris said in a video on the company’s website. The announcement accompanies broader company investments—billions in expanded rail yards, updated stations, and the addition of observatory cars on popular routes." - Evie Carrick Evie Carrick Evie Carrick is a writer and editor who’s lived in five countries and visited well over 50. She now splits her time between Colorado and Paris, ensuring she doesn't have to live without skiing or L'As du Fallafel. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines
This West Coast Train Route Has Been Enchanting Riders Since the ’70s | Vogue
"Shortly after pulling away from the station in Oxnard, passengers migrate to the glass dome observation car for a coveted window-facing seat as the train lunges west, dips down to the sea, and the Pacific Ocean fills the window frame. This view continues for over 100 miles and has been dazzling riders since the route’s inception in 1971. Departing once daily, the 35-hour journey from Los Angeles to Seattle is celebrated for its coastal scenery, but also soars through sprawling valleys and winds around snow-capped mountains and cascading waterfalls, easily lending it status as one of the most beautiful train routes in the United States. The route isn’t without its shortcomings—it’s been known to run behind schedule and there’s no Wi-Fi onboard—but fans don’t ride to answer work emails; they do it for the romance and the opportunity to experience 1,377 miles from an old-school perspective, with 28 picturesque stops that make extending the trip into a multi-day exploration feel all but necessary." - Nicole Kliest
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