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Home > Archives > Metroliner on the Northeast Corridor, 1979.

Metroliner on the Northeast Corridor, 1979.

Color slide showing a high-speed Metroliner on the Northeast Corridor in August 1979.

<i>Metroliner</i> on the Northeast Corridor, 1979.

The Metroliners were high-speed Budd electric cars designed for use on the Pennsylvania Railroad's busy mainline between New York and Washington. The cars generally operated as married pairs, meaning that trains had an even number of cars. Luxurious interiors and fast running times made the Metroliners a viable competitor to regional airlines.

Under Amtrak, Metroliner Service frequencies increased to keep up with demand, and trains often reached speeds of up to 110 mph. In the late 1970s, Amtrak refurbished and reconfigured part of the Metroliner fleet after it had run more than 1.5 million miles of service.

Closest to the viewer is coach No. 830. Following refurbishment by Amtrak in 1979, the car's seating capacity was reduced from 76 to 72 seats.

Photographer: Unknown for Amtrak. From the Amtrak Corporate Collection.