Amtrak was awarded nearly $3 billion in federal funding on August 14, 2026, to acquire up to 43 new trainsets and upgrade rail infrastructure across 21 state-supported routes in the United States. The funds were granted through the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) National Railroad Partnership Program as part of a $5.3 billion package covering 41 projects in 23 states.
Distribution of Funding and Project Scope
The largest portion of the grant, $2.05 billion, is designated for purchasing up to 43 new trainsets to replace aging equipment described as “legacy equipment that is at the end of its service life on State Supported services.” The trains will
serve routes including the Adirondack (NY & Quebec), Blue Water (Michigan), Carolinian (Carolinas), Amtrak Cascades (Pacific Northwest), and Downeaster (Maine), among others. The complete list covers routes in 17 states plus Washington, DC, and Virginia.
The new trainsets will be built in the United States, engaging nearly 100 suppliers from 31 states to comply with Buy America requirements embedded in the grant. Amtrak and state transportation departments must provide a 20% funding match for each project.
Additional federal funds include $572 million to relocate Amtrak’s Chicago-area Midwest maintenance facility from the 14th Street Yard to the Canal Street Yard, aiming
to improve operational efficiency and support forecasted ridership growth.
The grant package also allocates $87 million to rehabilitate or replace over a dozen viaducts and bridges near Chicago’s new maintenance hub, while $37.25 million will address the South Branch Chicago River lift bridge, which serves Amtrak, Metra, and freight operators and is over 110 years old.
To address ongoing reliability issues with Siemens Charger locomotives that serve Midwest and long-distance routes, a $140.6 million grant is set for overhauling 41 locomotives at Siemens’ Lexington, North Carolina facility. One locomotive was confirmed en route for overhaul in August 2026.
Background on Funding and Procurement
The $3
billion awarded to Amtrak includes about $2 billion redirected from canceled grants for California’s high-speed rail project, which the federal government terminated in July 2025 after a compliance review revealed non-compliance in nine areas and a $7 billion funding shortfall. The California High-Speed Rail Authority later dropped a lawsuit seeking reinstatement of those funds in December 2025, citing loss of federal partnership reliability.
Despite securing funding, Amtrak has not selected a manufacturer or signed contracts for the 43 new trainsets. Based on prior procurement timelines, including the ongoing Airo trainsets order from Siemens, earliest deliveries are unlikely before 2031 or
2032.
The grant’s intention is to replace end-of-life rail equipment and expand fleet capacity, allowing operation on routes currently without service. Meanwhile, riders face ongoing disruptions caused by Siemens Charger locomotive failures, which resulted in cancellations on Midwest routes such as the Illinois Zephyr in August 2026.
Statements from Officials and Industry Partners
Amtrak Interim President Byl Herrmann said, “Thanks to these new grants and continued support from Secretary Duffy and Administrator Fink, Amtrak is investing in vital projects that will drive economic growth, create jobs, and improve and expand rail service for millions of Americans.”
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy called the awards “putting dollars
behind new trains and new tracks to improve transportation and make America and its rails safer, smoother, and world class.” FRA Administrator David Fink described the grant round as the largest single passenger-rail funding round of 2026, noting 103 eligible applications requested $11.66 billion.
Siemens stated it is “working closely with Amtrak to support fleet availability and reliable passenger service” amid current locomotive reliability challenges affecting Midwest routes.
Additional Infrastructure Projects Across States
The FRA grant supports multiple infrastructure projects beyond trainset procurement and Chicago-area upgrades. These include replacing 31 miles of track in South Carolina in partnership with CSX, installing 3,500 feet of bypass
track in the state, and constructing six miles of second mainline track near Havre and Lohman, Montana, with BNSF cooperation.
Other supported projects encompass safety programs and station relocations in states such as North Carolina, Maine, Texas, Colorado, Nebraska, Missouri, and Ohio. These improvements aim to enhance reliability, safety, and operational capacity across Amtrak’s network of 32 state-supported and 15 long-distance routes.
