Horizon (railcar)

Horizon cars are single-level intercity passenger railcars used by Amtrak, the national rail operator in the United States. Built between 1988 and 1990 by Bombardier Transportation, the Horizon fleet consists of 104 cars configured as standard coaches and food service cars. Designed for short-distance corridor service, the cars were based on the Comet commuter railcars, but modified for intercity travel. The Horizon fleet has been primarily assigned to routes in the Midwest. In March 2025, the cars were withdrawn from service due to corrosion issues.

Horizon
Horizon cars on a Lincoln Service train in 2009
The interior of a Horizon coach in 2020.
In service	1989–2025 (temporarily withdrawn)
Manufacturer	Bombardier Transportation
Family name	Comet
Constructed	1988–1990
Number built	86 coaches, 18 food service cars
Operators	Amtrak
Depots	Brunswick, Chicago, Seattle
Lines served	Blue Water Borealis Carl Sandburg Cascades Downeaster Hiawatha Illini Illinois Zephyr Lincoln Service Missouri River Runner Saluki Wolverine
Specifications
Car body construction	Aluminum
Car length	85 ft (25.91 m)
Width	10 ft (3.05 m)
Height	13 ft (3.96 m)
Floor height	51 in (1,300 mm)
Platform height	High: 51 in (1,300 mm) Low: 22.5 in (570 mm)
Doors	2 manually operated dutch doors per side
Maximum speed	125 mph (201 km/h)
Power supply	Head end power (480 V AC at 60 Hz)
Bogies	General Steel Industries GSI-G70
Braking system(s)	Air
Coupling system	Janney Type H Tightlock
Track gauge	4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Notes/references
[1]

History

Horizon cars on the International in 1989

Amtrak contracted with Bombardier in 1988 to build 104 passenger cars derived from the Comet design, which Bombardier was already producing for commuter railroad agencies. This allowed for rapid delivery and avoided the need for federal funding, making the Horizon fleet the first Amtrak railcars procured entirely through private financing.^[2]

Bombardier assembled the cars in Barre, Vermont and delivered them between 1989 and spring 1990. The order included 86 coaches and 18 food service cars.^[3] The first Horizon cars entered revenue service in April 1989.^[4]

Amtrak considered ordering 23 additional Horizon cars in 1994 to replace its fleet of troublesome gas-turbine Turboliner trainsets on the Empire Corridor, but the order was never finalized.^[5]

On March 26, 2025, Amtrak withdrew all Horizon cars from service after the discovery of widespread corrosion on cars.^[6] The removal disrupted service on several routes while Amtrak worked to reposition equipment.^[7][8]

Design

The Horizon cars were adapted from the Comet II design, which itself was based on the original Comet I built by Pullman-Standard between 1970 and 1973. Bombardier modified the design for intercity use, increasing comfort and adding amenities for longer-distance travel.^[9]

Horizon cars ride on General Steel Industries GSI-G70 outboard bearing trucks and are capable of speeds up to 125 mph (201 km/h).^[10][11]

The Horizon fleet included 72 standard coaches that seated between 76 and 82 passengers, along with 14 accessible coaches that accommodated 72 passengers and featured dedicated wheelchair spaces. All coaches were later retrofitted for accessibility, reducing capacity to between 68 and 72 passengers.^[3]

The 18 food service cars were built in two configurations: café/club cars with seating for 32 passengers at tables and 19 in Business Class, and dinette cars with seating for 48 passengers at tables. Both types featured a central food service counter.^[12][2]

Routes served

Horizon cars on the Amtrak Cascades in June 2023

As of May 2024^[update], Horizon cars were primarily assigned to the Chicago-based Amtrak Midwest services, including:

• Borealis
• Hiawatha
• Illinois Service (Carl Sandburg, Illini, Illinois Zephyr, Lincoln Service, Saluki)
• Michigan Services (Blue Water, Wolverine)
• Missouri River Runner

Additionally, Horizon cars were also assigned to:

• Cascades^[13]
• Downeaster^[14]

See also

• Shoreliner - Similar cars operated by Metro-North Railroad.