History of paint schemes applied to Amtrak locomotives and rail cars
Amtrak has used a variety of paint schemes (liveries) on its rolling stock since taking over intercity passenger rail service in the United States in 1971. A series of seven schemes termed Phases, first introduced in 1972, have seen the widest use. Phases primarily use geometric arrangements of red, white, and blue—the national colors of the United States—part of Amtrak's patriotic visual identity.
Amtrak began operations in May 1971 with a mixture of equipment still painted in the distinct colored liveries of the freight railroads that relinquished their passenger service to Amtrak. The company retained the equipment that it determined to be in the best condition, and elected not to keep the same rolling stock on the same routes. Since this resulted in trains with mismatched liveries, which contrasted with the previous coordinated liveries, that period was later known as the Rainbow Era.
To build the brand of Amtrak as a unified passenger railroad, the rolling stock was gradually repainted into a new system-wide livery starting around 1972. Successive liveries are known as Phases and are sequentially numbered using Roman numerals – a nomenclature that began with model railroaders and was later officially adopted by Amtrak. Most current locomotives use the 2000-introduced Phase V, while passenger cars use the 2002-introduced Phase VI (or Phase IVb). A modified Phase III scheme was introduced for some equipment in 2013. Non-revenue equipment uses bright lime green or a variation of Phase V.
Some routes financially supported by individual states use service-specific liveries to provide a more regionalized distinction. These include the three Amtrak California routes, eight Amtrak Midwest services, the Cascades, and the Piedmont. Amtrak has repainted equipment in unique livery for special uses, including its 40th anniversary in 2011 and to promote the Operation Lifesaver safety campaign. Equipment has also been wrapped for advertising promotions. When testing equipment from other railroads, Amtrak has mostly kept existing livery, though some longer-term tests used Phase schemes.
and 26 Related for: Amtrak paint schemes information
Amtrak has used a variety of paintschemes (liveries) on its rolling stock since taking over intercity passenger rail service in the United States in 1971...
United States portal Amtrak Arrow Reservation System AmtrakpaintschemesAmtrak Police Department Amtrak Standard Stations Program Beech Grove Shops History...
a Metroliner service in 1980. Amtrakpaintschemes Budd SPV-2000, Connecticut-owned diesel multiple units which Amtrak operated in the 1980s–1990s Originally...
The Amtrak Cascades is a passenger train corridor in the Pacific Northwest, operated by Amtrak in partnership with the U.S. states of Washington and Oregon...
in 2011, Amtrakpainted four GE P42DCs, a P40DC, and an EMD F40PH converted to an NPCU into its older paintschemes. Several more were painted for its...
Pacific Surfliner, uses a unique blue and silver paintscheme that is different from the other Amtrak California-branded trains. The NPCUs that operate...
Retrieved December 12, 2023. "AmtrakPaintScheme and Logo Branding Guide" (PDF). p. 38. Retrieved May 28, 2023. Amtrak's Fiscal Year (FY) runs from October...
13, 2021. Retrieved September 22, 2018. "Official PaintScheme and Logo Branding Guide" (PDF). Amtrak. August 17, 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original...
West Point Routes. During this time, the railroads adopted the same paintschemes but continued to operate as separate railroads. In 1983, CSX combined...
New River is also the only Viewliner I sleeper painted in Amtrak's Phase IIIB paintscheme. In 2024 Amtrak plans to launch a refresh program for the Viewliner...
unveiled a new set of six EMD SD70ACe locomotives in "Heritage Colors", painted in schemes reminiscent of railroads acquired by the Union Pacific Corporation...
railroad's logo and has also painted two of its General Electric ES44AC locomotives (513 and 516) in Rock Island inspired paintschemes. The company operates...
locomotives, seventeen modern diesel locomotives in historic or commemorative paintschemes and nearly four dozen passenger cars used on office car specials and...
and then the Amtrak Chevron logo on the side of the locomotive. Bluebonnet One of two Santa Fe paintschemes. The standard freight scheme from 1972 until...
on Amtrak Cascades, and the MTA M8 railcar, and participated in the prototype development of the French high-speed AGV. He also designed the paint scheme...
and repainted in the Heritage III and Heritage IV schemes, respectively. Common locomotive paintschemes BNSF Warbonnet ATSF “Yellowbonnet” with Santa Fe...
2020, Amtrak announced that one of the first six locomotives will be painted in a replica of the "Day 1" livery to commemorate 50 years of Amtrak service...
rebuilt and repainted into the new WeGo paintscheme. 381 previously wore Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner paintscheme until late 2020. The former Pullman-Standard...
Indiana (currently painted in Penn Central colors) PRR/Amtrak 4890 — National Railroad Museum, Green Bay, Wisconsin PRR 4903/Amtrak (4)906 — Museum of...
service until Santa Fe ceased all passenger operations on May 1, 1971. When Amtrak took over operation of the nation's passenger rail service on May 1, 1971...
Historical Society Sunshine Special Union Pacific Diesel Locomotive PaintSchemes Brief history of the Missouri Pacific Handbook of Texas: Missouri Pacific...
Ohio. Commonly abbreviated as CUT, or by its Amtrak station code, CIN, the terminal is served by Amtrak's Cardinal line, passing through Cincinnati three...
individual engine, though some engines still retain their original paintschemes and numbers. Engine roster: EMD GP7 (BB 101, formerly of the Richmond...
were to be renovated, and the exterior paintscheme changed. Morrison-Knudsen rebuilt the power cars, while Amtrak overhauled the coach interiors at Beech...
Haven. Some were repainted in Penn Central schemes, while others remained in their former New Haven paint. When the New York Metropolitan Transportation...
Santa Clara–University by Amtrak) is a railway station in downtown Santa Clara, California. It is served by Caltrain, Amtrak Capitol Corridor, and Altamont...