View source for Amtrak paint schemes

{{short description|History of paint schemes applied to Amtrak locomotives and rail cars}}
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{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}}
[[File:AMTK 536 with 568 Train 14 San Jose 77xRP - Flickr - drewj1946.jpg|thumb|right|Amtrak's livery has included a variety of designs, most based on a red, white, and blue color scheme. The lead locomotive here is in Phase II livery, while the trailing locomotive is still in Phase I.|alt=A passenger train led by two diesel locomotives. The first locomotive has a black roof, light gray sides, and red and blue horizontal stripes separated by a thin white stripe. The second locomotive has a black roof, gray sides, and a red-and-blue Amtrak logo on the side.]]

[[Amtrak]] has used a variety of paint schemes ([[Livery|liveries]]) on its [[Amtrak rolling stock|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 [[Flag of the United States#Colors|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 [[Rail transport modelling|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 ''[[Amtrak Cascades|Cascades]]'', and the ''[[Piedmont (train)|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 [[Wrap advertising|wrapped]] for advertising promotions. When testing equipment from other railroads, Amtrak has mostly kept existing livery, though some longer-term tests used Phase schemes.

==Rainbow Era==
[[File:SP 6446 ^1 track at Summit Dec 1971 - Flickr - drewj1946.jpg|thumb|A "Rainbow Era" Amtrak train in 1971|alt=A passenger train exiting a mountain snowshed. The four diesel locomotives are dark gray, with a red nose on the lead locomotive. Four passenger cars are visible - one dark grey and three yellow.]]
When Amtrak took over intercity passenger rail service on May 1, 1971, it inherited a collection of rolling stock from [[List of railroads eligible to participate in the formation of Amtrak|twenty different railroads]], each with its own distinct colors and logos.<ref>{{Sanders-Heartland|pages=7–8}}</ref> Operating only 184 of the 366 privately operated trains, Amtrak was able to pick the 1,200 best passenger cars to lease from the 3,000 that the private railroads owned.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://history.amtrak.com/blogs/blog/a-closer-look-out-on-the-range |title=A Closer Look: Out on the Range |date=December 15, 2014 |work=History Blog |publisher=Amtrak}}</ref> Equipment was used nationwide and did not always stay on predecessor routes, resulting in trains with the mismatched colors of several predecessor railroads. This "Rainbow Era" was short-lived; Amtrak began purchasing some of the leased equipment in mid-1971, setting the stage for wholesale repainting from 1972 to 1974 as the equipment was refurbished.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.trains.com/ctr/default.aspx?c=a&id=54 |first=John |last=Kelly |title=Amtrak's beginnings |journal=Classic Trains Magazine |date=June 5, 2001 |access-date=December 29, 2010 |archive-date=June 2, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080602150701/http://trains.com/ctr/default.aspx?c=a&id=54 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=allaboard>{{All Aboard Amtrak|page=21}}</ref>
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==Phase paint schemes==
The Phase paint schemes have been used on most passengers equipment – locomotives, passenger cars, and trainsets – as well as some non-passenger cars and non-revenue equipment. Phase schemes generally have red, white, and blue on the sides of equipment, with black or gray sections around the wheels and roof to hide grime.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/amtrak-paint-designs |title=It Takes a Lot of Thought and Planning to Paint a Train |work=Atlas Obscura |date=April 28, 2021 |first=Justin |last=Franz}}</ref>

===Phase I===
Introduced in 1972, Phase I was the first paint scheme to be implemented system-wide on Amtrak's trains.<ref name="official">{{Cite web |url=https://history.amtrak.com/archives/amtrak-livery-and-logo-guide-2018/@@download/item/Amtrak%20Livery%20and%20Logo%20Guide%202-8-19.pdf |title=Official Paint Scheme and Logo Branding Guide |date=February 2019 |publisher=Amtrak |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191115005822/https://history.amtrak.com/archives/amtrak-livery-and-logo-guide-2018/%40%40download/item/Amtrak%20Livery%20and%20Logo%20Guide%202-8-19.pdf |archive-date=November 15, 2019}}</ref> It was the first new paint for most equipment under Amtrak, for a small number of locomotives that had been painted into experimental and promotional paint schemes.<ref name=official /> The scheme was part of Amtrak's larger move to a visual identity featuring the national colors of red, white, and blue.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://history.amtrak.com/blogs/blog/outfitting-amtrak |title=A Uniform Retrospective |publisher=Amtrak |date=January 30, 2014}}</ref> Amtrak did not initially assign nomenclature for its livery; [[Rail transport modelling|model railroaders]] began referring to this first paint scheme as Phase I and numbering all subsequent phases sequentially using [[Roman numerals]]. Amtrak later made the Phase numbering scheme the official terminology.<ref name="Amtrak Paint Scheme and Livery History video" />

Locomotives in Phase I were painted light gray ("Platinum Mist") with a black roof, the Amtrak "Pointless Arrow" chevron logo on the side, and a red nose (which led to a "Bloody Nose" nickname).<ref name=official /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://history.amtrak.com/exhibit-train/gallery/prototype-for-the-adapted-phase-i-livery/view |title=Prototype for the Adapted Phase I Livery |publisher=Amtrak}}</ref> Passenger cars were silver (or left bare stainless steel), with a red and bright blue stripe (bracketed by thin white stripes) at window level and the chevron logo at one or both ends.<ref name="official" /> A number of variants were made for non-revenue locomotives, [[PRR GG1|GG1 locomotives]], [[UAC TurboTrain|Turbotrain]] and [[RTG Turboliner|Turboliner]] trainsets, and self-propelled [[Budd Rail Diesel Car|RDC]] and [[Budd Metroliner|Metroliner]] railcars.<ref name=official />
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File:Amtrak San Francisco Zephyr.jpg|An [[EMD FP7]] and two [[EMD SDP40F]]s in 1975|alt=A passenger train with three diesel locomotives. All have black roofs and light gray sides with red-and-blue Amtrak logos
File:Ann Arbor AMTK May 1975 5-19.jpg|A Turboliner trainset in 1975|alt=A white passenger trainset with red and blue horizontal stripes on the side
File:Amfleet postcard, circa 1975.jpg|A circa-1975 postcard of an [[Amfleet]] I passenger car|alt=Postcard view of a stainless steel passenger rail car with red and blue stripes horizontally across the windows
File:Broadway Limited at Harrisburg, January 26, 1978.jpg|A GG1 locomotive in 1978|alt=A gray electric locomotive with red ends and a blue side stripe
File:PASSENGERS OF THE SOUTHWEST LIMITED STROLLING BESIDE THE AMTRAK TRAIN AT ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO, AS IT HALTS FOR... - NARA - 555985 (cropped).jpg|Hi-Level passenger cars in 1974|alt=A train of two-level passenger rail cars at a station. The coaches are stainless steel, with red and blue horizontal stripes halfway up their sides
File:Amtrak RDC 15 on the Black Hawk, July 1975.jpg|Rail Diesel Cars in 1975|alt=Stainless steel passenger rail cars with red and blue stripes horizontally across the windows. The visible end is covered with three vertical red, white, and blue stripes.
File:Turbotrain on the Yankee Clipper at Stonington, November 1974.jpg|TurboTrain in 1974|alt=A white passenger trainset with red and blue horizontal stripes on the side and red noses on both ends
File:Amtrak Metroliner train, November 17, 1975.jpg|Metroliners in 1975|alt=Stainless steel passenger rail cars with red and blue stripes horizontally across the windows. The visible end is covered with three vertical red, white, and blue stripes.
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===Phase II===
Phase II was introduced in late 1974 with the arrival of the new [[GE E60]] locomotives.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Holland |first=Kevin J. |title=Amtrak's F40PH: From dark clouds, a silver lining |journal=Railroad History |date=Spring–Summer 2009 |issue=200 |page=59}}</ref> The red nose and chevron logo on Phase I locomotives were replaced with the same stripes found on passenger cars, which wrapped around the nose of the locomotive. Locomotive roofs remained black. Most passenger cars were essentially unchanged from Phase I, except for the removal of the chevron logo; new [[Superliner (railcar)#Lounges|Sightseer lounges]] had a higher stripe with an angled transition on each end.<ref name="official" />
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File:Amtrak 957 leading a northbound train through Bowie, December 1980.jpg|GE E60 locomotive in 1980|alt=A passenger train led by an electric locomotive with black roof, light grey sides, and horizontal red and blue stripes separated by thin white stripes. The passenger cars are stainless steel with stripes matching the locomotive.
File:Southbound Amtrak Metroliner with cab car 880 at Bowie, December 1980.jpg|Metroliners in 1980|alt=Stainless steel passenger railcars with horizontal red and blue stripes separated by thin white stripes. The visible end of the near car is red with a large blue stripe at the bottom, with "Amtrak" in large white letters.
File:AMTK 303 with the Train 6, the California Zephyr in January, 1985 (28882632954).jpg|Superliner passenger cars in 1985|alt=A train of two-level passenger rail cars at a station. The coaches are stainless steel, with red and blue horizontal stripes halfway up their sides.
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===Phase III===
Phase III, introduced in 1976, is still used on some equipment. On both passenger cars and locomotives, the outer white pinstripes were removed while the inner stripe was widened, resulting in red, white, and blue stripes of equal width. Turboliners and the [[LRC (train)|LRC]] test train were painted in white, with the stripes at the bottom of the train.<ref name="official" />  This scheme was introduced "for safety, graphic aid and saving money", as the white band was highly reflective and provided a place for car information, and the standard widths made better use of raw material.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://history.amtrak.com/archives/i-amtrak-news-i-september-october-1980/@@download/item/Amtrak%20News_Sep%20Oct%201980_WM.pdf | title=Hot Line To President Boyd |work=Amtrak News | issue=September–October 1980 | publisher=Amtrak |page=10}}</ref>

Several types of locomotives that were acquired later were given variations on Phase III. [[EMD AEM-7|AEM-7]] locomotives had the blue stripe expanded to cover the entire lower part of the body.<ref name=official /> On [[GE Dash 8-32BWH|Dash 8-32BWH]] locomotives, a deeper blue and red was used; the stripes had additional pinstripes and angled upward across the middle of the body.<ref name="official" /> The similarity to the [[Pepsi]] logo led to the units being nicknamed "Pepsi Cans".<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JubUBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA130 |title=GE and EMD Locomotives: The Illustrated History |page=130 |first=Brian |last=Solomon |year=2014 |isbn=9780760346129 |publisher=Voyageur Press |via=Google Books}}</ref><ref name=solomon />{{rp|108}} [[GE Genesis|Genesis]] locomotives had a lighter roof and narrower white stripe; the stripes angled downward on the sloped nose, and faded towards the rear.<ref name=official /> That variant was created by industrial designer [[Cesar Vergara]], who also designed the angular bodies of the locomotives.<ref name=solomon />{{rp|111}}

In October 2013, Amtrak introduced a new variant of Phase III with the production of the new [[Viewliner#Viewliner II|Viewliner II]] cars, the first of which entered service in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://blog.amtrak.com/2013/10/coming-soon-new-long-distance-cars/ |title=Coming Soon: New Long Distance Cars |date=October 24, 2013 |website=Amtrak |language=en-US |access-date=February 26, 2018}}</ref> The Viewliner cars have some changes from previous Phase III passenger cars, including a red reflective stripe at the bottom and a newer ("Travelmark") logo.<ref name="official" /> In January 2016, Amtrak revealed a P32AC-DM that was repainted into Phase III, similar to that of the heritage units {{Abbr|Nos.|Numbers}} 145 and 822, but featuring modern logos and "[[Empire Service]]" emblems on the sides. All P32AC-DMs were repainted into this scheme, with costs shared between Amtrak and the state of New York.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gunnoe |first=Chase |date=January 12, 2016 |title=Amtrak confirms 'Phase III' scheme for 'Empire Service' locomotives |work=[[Trains (magazine)|Trains]] |url=https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/12-amtrak-unveils-phase-iii-scheme-on-ge-p32ac-dm-repaint/ |url-access= |access-date=January 13, 2016}}</ref>

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File:AMTK P30CH 700 built Aug. 1975 at Autotrain facility Lorton, VA on November 13, 1987 (22849741311).jpg|[[GE P30CH|P30CH]] locomotive in 1987|alt=A gray diesel locomotive with a black roof. On the side are red, white, and blue stripes of equal width.
File:San Diegan at Simi Valley station, January 24, 1992.jpg|P32-8BWH locomotive in "Pepsi Can" livery in 1992|alt=A gray diesel locomotive with red, white, and blue stripes wrapping around the sides and front. There is one wide stripe of each color, plus several narrower stripes. The stripes angle upwards and cross each other on the side of the locomotive
File:Amtrak Empire Corridor Turboliner (cropped).jpg|Class RTL Turboliner trainset in 1984|alt=A white passenger trainset with red, white, and blue stripes of equal width on the side under the windows
File:Amtrak 943 with a Metroliner at Seabrook, MD, November 12, 1987.jpg|AEM-7 locomotive in 1987|alt=A gray electric locomotive with a black roof. At the bottom of the sides and front is a wide blue stripe, with thinner white and red stripes above.
File:Auto Train leaving Lorton, October 1993.jpg|P40DC locomotive in 1993|alt=A gray diesel locomotive with red, white, and blue stripes of equal width on the side. The stripes narrow and angle downwards on the front.
File:AMKT 107 at Sanford, FL on February 6, 1987 (22712695802).jpg|RS3M work locomotive in 1987|alt=A gray diesel switcher locomotive with black roof and underside. On the side are red, white, and blue stripes of equal width.
File:Amtrak Ocean View on the Downeaster, September 2016.JPG|Heritage Fleet dome car "Ocean View" in 2016|alt=A stainless steel passenger dome rail car with red, white, and blue stripes of equal width on the side
File:20210514 13 Amtrak, Albany, New York.jpg|P32AC-DM locomotive in 2021|alt=A gray diesel locomotive with red, white, and blue stripes of equal width on the side. The stripes narrow and angle downwards on the front under the black-painted cab area.
File:Viewliner diner Atlanta on the Capitol Limited, November 2017.jpg|Viewliner II diner in 2017|alt=A stainless steel passenger rail car with red, white, and blue stripes of equal width on the side
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===Phase IV===
Beginning in 1993, Phase IV was introduced as a striking departure from the traditional red, white, and blue style seen previously. Brought into service with the delivery of the newer Superliner II cars, Phase IV has two thin red stripes and a thick dark blue stripe.<ref name="official" /> In 1997, Amtrak extended the scheme to locomotives, initially [[GE Genesis|GE P42DC]] diesel locomotives on [[Northeast Corridor]] services.<ref name="numbers" />{{rp|7}} Locomotives for the Northeast Corridor services were light gray with a darker gray stripe at top; locomotives outside the Northeast Corridor did not have the top stripe.<ref name="official" />{{rp|17}}<!-- unsourced information: Small variations were applied to equipment depending on their use, such as ''[[Northeast Regional|NortheastDirect]]'' logos on P42DC locomotives and [[Amfleet]] cars used for those services, and window stickers with a star field for Viewliner sleepers used on the''[[Twilight Shoreliner]]''.{{citation needed|date=April 2018}} -->
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File:19980321 07 Amtrak Galesburg, IL (6355692509).jpg|alt=A stainless steel bilevel passenger rail car. A blue stripe and two thinner red stripes are on the side between the two levels of windows.|Superliner passenger cars in 1998
File:Hiawatha Service in Chicago, September 2001.jpg|alt=A light gray diesel locomotive with a blue stripe and two thinner red stripes on the side. The stripes narrow and angle downwards on the front.|P42DC locomotive in 2001
File:Ethan Allen Express at Rutland, May 2001.jpg|alt=A light gray diesel locomotive with a dark gray top stripe, a middle blue stripe, and two thinner red stripes on the side. The stripes narrow and angle downwards on the front.|P32AC-DM locomotive with the Northeast Corridor scheme in 2001
File:Amfleet cars in Harrisburg.jpg|alt=Stainless steel passenger rail cars with a thick blue stripe across the windows and two thinner red stripes above|Amfleet I passenger cars in 2002
File:Amtrak NortheastDirect train at Wilmington, 1990s.jpg|alt=A stainless steel passenger rail car with a thick blue stripe across the windows and two thinner red stripes above. A logo within the blue stripe reads "Amtrak NortheastDirect Service".|''NortheastDirect'' branding in the 1990s
File:Amtrak downeaster ocean park 2005 cropped.jpg|alt=A depowered diesel locomotive with gray paint and a black roof. A wide blue stripe and two thinner red stripes are on the sides and front.|[[Non-Powered Control Unit#Converted locomotives|NPCU]] in 2005
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===Phase V===
Phase V was introduced with the arrival of the ''[[Acela Express]]'' high-speed train sets in 2000 and is currently used on most locomotives.<ref name=official /> Locomotives are painted light gray, with a blue stripe (darker than Phases I–III, but lighter than IV) at the top and a thin red reflective sill stripe at the bottom. The blue stripe has a wavy bottom on [[GE Genesis|Genesis]] locomotives and ''Acela Express'' power cars, and a flat bottom on other locomotives and ex-[[EMD F40PH|F40PH]] [[Non-Powered Control Unit#Converted locomotives|non-powered control units]] (NPCUs). The Amtrak "Travelmark" logo is painted near the front or rear of the unit.<ref name=official />

''Acela Express'' trainsets have grey and stainless steel bodies with the lower red stripe, with the blue roof and Acela logo on the power cars only. The Acela passenger cars have no blue stripe; colored shapes called "[[Mobile (sculpture)|mobiles]]", based on the shape of the Acela logo, are used to indicate the type of car (Business Class, Cafe Bistro, or First Class).<ref name=official /> A similar scheme was created for Amfleet coaches used on the ''[[Northeast Regional#History|Acela Regional]]'', with a window stripe (light blue for Coach Class and baggage cars, blue for Business Class and cafe cars) and mobiles to indicate the type of service.<ref name="official" /> The [[Turboliner#RTL-III|rebuilt Turboliners]] also had a version of the Phase V livery, with similar window stripes and mobiles.<ref name=official /><ref name=solomon />{{rp|153}}

Non-passenger cars such as ''[[Auto Train]]'' auto racks are all-gray except for the logo and red stripe; Express Box Cars had blue stripes on top and bottom.<ref name="official" />

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File:ACELA Express.JPG|''Acela Express'' trainset in 2012|alt=Stainless steel passenger trainset with a blue roof and a thin red sill stripe
File:Hhp8 661.jpg|HHP-8 locomotive (with Acela logo) and Amfleet I passenger cars in Phase V livery in 2002|alt=Stainless steel electric locomotive with a blue roof and a thin red sill stripe. Behind it are stainless steel passenger cars with a mottled blue window stripe and a thin red sill stripe.
File:Amtrak 181 with the Capitol Limited at Martinsburg, July 2007.jpg|P42DC locomotive in 2007|alt=A gray diesel locomotive with a blue roof and a thin red sill stripe
File:Amtrak 605 on northbound Northeast Regional at Wilmington.JPG|ACS-64 locomotive in 2014|alt=A gray electric locomotive with a blue roof and a thin red sill stripe. The cab window is surrounded by black and blue areas, with a red stripe at the bottom.
File:AMTK71103 ExpressBoxcar LakeSt Chicago 20010600D20060520P0009.jpg|Express Box Cars in 2001|alt=A gray boxcar with blue stripes at top and bottom. A dotted red stripe is above the lower blue stripe.
File:Amtrak 592 at 14th Street Coach Yard, October 2018.jpg|MP14B switcher in 2018|alt=A gray diesel switcher locomotive with a blue roof
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===Phase VI (Phase IVb)===
Phase VI (also called Phase IVb) was introduced in 2002, and is currently used on most passenger cars.<ref name="official" /> It retains the same stripe style as Phase IV: wide window stripes on single-level cars, and narrow stripes on Superliners. The red reflective sill stripe and mid-tone blue on Phase V are used. Single-level cars have white logos within the blue stripe, while Superliners have blue logos below the stripes.<ref name="official" /> Five of the first six [[Siemens Charger|Siemens Charger ALC-42]] locomotives have a Phase VI scheme consisting of a mostly blue body with red and black around the windshield, with red and silver [[Chevron (insignia)|chevrons]] at the rear.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://media.amtrak.com/2020/08/amtrak-prepares-for-new-diesel-locomotive-fleet/ |title=Amtrak Prepares for New Diesel Locomotive Fleet: Transitional paint scheme on the first ALC-42 Siemens Chargers |publisher=Amtrak |date=August 2020}}</ref> 
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File:Auto Train lounge.jpg|Superliner I dining car in 2006|alt=Stainless steel bilevel passenger rail cars with a blue stripe and two thinner red stripes between levels, plus a red sill stripe
File:Eastbound Keystone Service train stopped at Paoli station, July 2007.jpg|Amfleet I passenger cars in 2007|alt=Stainless steel passenger rail cars with a blue stripe and two thinner red stripes at window level, plus a red sill stripe
File:Amtrak Viewliner Sleeping Car 62044.jpg|Viewliner I sleeping car in 2008|alt=Stainless steel passenger rail car with a blue stripe and two thinner red stripes at window level
File:Siemens ALC-42 Union Station.jpg|Siemens ALC-42 locomotive in 2022|alt=A blue diesel locomotive with red and silver chevrons at the rear
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===Phase VII===
Phase VII, introduced in 2022, is the latest livery for most Amtrak equipment, debuting on the Siemens Charger ALC-42 locomotives. The design features two tones of blue on the sides, divided by a curved white stripe. The black cab window area is flanked by red and white stripes, with matching red and white sill stripes running the length of the locomotive.<ref name="Amtrak Paint Scheme and Livery History video" /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/amtrak-unveils-new-locomotive-paint-scheme/ |title=Amtrak unveils new locomotive paint scheme (corrected) |date=April 15, 2022 |newspaper=Trains Newswire |access-date=April 18, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.railwayage.com/mechanical/locomotives/first-look-amtrak-phase-vii-locomotive-livery/ |title=First Look: Amtrak 'Phase VII' Locomotive Livery |newspaper=Railway Age |date=April 18, 2022 |first=Marybeth |last=Luczak |access-date=May 18, 2023}}</ref> In January 2024, Amtrak began repainting Genesis locomotives in the Phase VII livery, prompted by the depletion of Phase V paint supplies at the Beech Grove Shops.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 30, 2024 |title=News photo: New paint for an Amtrak veteran |url=https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/news-photo-new-paint-for-an-amtrak-veteran/ |newspaper=Trains News Wire |access-date=January 31, 2024}}</ref> Passenger cars began to receive the new Phase VII design in December 2024.<ref name="Railfan Phase VII" /><ref>{{cite news |title=News photo: Viewliner sleeper returns in new paint scheme |url=https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/news-photo-viewliner-sleeper-returns-in-new-paint-scheme/ |access-date=December 15, 2024 |work=Trains News Wire |publisher=Firecrown Media |date=December 15, 2024}}</ref> Amtrak announced in March 2025 that it will use different accent colors on Phase VII passenger cars to indicate service levels: red for first class, light blue for business class, and green for coach class.<ref name="Railfan Phase VII">{{cite web |url=https://railfan.com/amtrak-releases-first-passenger-car-in-phase-vii/ |title=Amtrak Releases First Passenger Car in Phase VII |date=December 13, 2024 |website=Railfan and Railroad Magazine |publisher=White River Productions|access-date=December 13, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/amtrak-adds-color-coding-to-railcar-paint-scheme/ |title=Amtrak adds color coding to railcar paint scheme |date=March 6, 2025 |newspaper=Trains News Wire |access-date=March 8, 2025}}</ref> With this new livery, Amtrak will include the name of the car fleet type on the sill stripe and will reintroduce names on First Class Sleeper cars.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qlUwzWXAp8 |title=Amtrak’s Phase VII Livery for Passenger Cars |date=2025-04-07 |last= |type=Video |publisher=Amtrak |time=2:42 |access-date=2025-04-09 |quote=Another cool feature of this livery is the reintroduction of names for our first class sleepers. Viewliners are named after rivers east of the Mississippi and Superliners are named after states and National Parks, adding a bit of Americana into our fleet. Another feature of the livery is the inclusion of the fleet type on the sill stripe itself. |via=YouTube}}</ref>

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File:Coast Starlight refueling at Portland, June 2023.jpg|alt=A blue diesel locomotive with a curved white stripe, red nose, and a red sill stripe|ALC-42 locomotives in 2023
File:Borealis in Welch Township, May 2024 (cropped).jpg|alt=A blue diesel locomotive with an angular white stripe, red nose, and a red sill stripe pulling a train|P42DC locomotive in 2024
File:Amtrak Amfleet II coach 25107 in Phase VII paint at Boston South Station March 2025.jpg|Amfleet II coach in 2025|alt=A silver railroad car with a blue stripe over the windows. At one end, an angular green shape covers the stripe.
File:Amtrak Viewliner I sleeper 62019 in Phase VII paint at Boston South Station March 2025.jpg|Viewliner I sleeper in 2025|alt=A silver railroad car with a blue stripe over the windows. At one end, an angular red shape covers the stripe.
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==Route-specific paint schemes==
Thirteen Amtrak-operated, [[List of Amtrak routes#Current routes|state-funded corridor routes]] — eight Midwest routes, three [[Amtrak California]] routes, and the ''[[Amtrak Cascades|Cascades]]'' and ''[[Piedmont (train)|Piedmont]]'' — are operated by Amtrak using equipment that is largely owned by the states in which they operate, and painted in custom schemes that deviate from the national Amtrak livery. Several other route-specific paint schemes have been used in the past.

===Amtrak California===
The three routes under the [[Amtrak California]] brand — the {{lnl|Amtrak|Capitol Corridor}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Pacific Surfliner}}, and {{lnl|Amtrak|San Joaquin}} — use equipment painted in several custom schemes. The ''Capitol Corridor'' and ''San Joaquin'' largely use [[California Car (railcar)|California Cars]], F59PHI locomotives, and Charger SC-44 locomotives painted with the state colors of blue and yellow. F59PHI locomotives are gray with a navy blue underside, yellow bottom stripe, black roof, and navy blue cab area; Caltrans and Amtrak California logos are prominent.<ref name=solomon />{{rp|116}} The California Cars are stainless steel with a black upper window stripe, a navy blue lower window stripe with a yellow pinstripe, and orange triangles next to boarding doors.<ref name=official /><ref name=solomon />{{rp|137}} Charger SC-44 locomotives are gray with navy blue curved shapes on the front and rear with yellow accents, a black cab area, and Amtrak California logos on the front and sides.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.capitolcorridor.org/uncategorized/news-release-siemens-charger-clean-diesel-electric-locomotives-begin-operation-capitol-corridor-month/ |title=News Release: Siemens Charger Clean Diesel-Electric Locomotives to Begin Operation on Capitol Corridor this Month |publisher=Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority |date=April 18, 2017}}</ref> Single-level [[Comet (railcar)#Amtrak California refurbishment|Comet IB]] and [[Horizon (railcar)|Horizon]] cars used on the ''San Joaquin'' have a yellow bottom stripe and a navy blue window stripe with orange, turquoise, and light blue accents<!-- (a nod to the former use of the Comet IB cars by [[NJ Transit]])-->. Several NPCUs used for the service are gray with turquoise and light blue stripes and a curve towards the top rear of the locomotive, red chevron stripes on the front (a nod to a 1985 [[Caltrain]] paint scheme), and yellow grab bars.<ref name="official" /><ref name=capitol />{{rp|68}} Siemens Venture passenger cars for the ''San Joaquins'' will be stainless steel with yellow doors, a dark blue stripe along the windows, and a multi-color stripe along the bottom with yellow plus several shades of blue.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/more-midwest-venture-cars-enter-service-california-still-waits/ |title=More Midwest Venture cars enter service; California still waits |newspaper=Trains News Wire |date=April 14, 2023 |first=Robert |last=Johnston |access-date=May 16, 2023}}</ref>

The ''Pacific Surfliner'' uses Charger SC-44 locomotives and [[Surfliner (railcar)|Surfliner]] cars in a deep blue and gray paint scheme. The upper half of the passenger cars are deep blue with a white pinstriping, plus a white pinstripe on the bottom of the cars. The stripes continue onto locomotives, with the blue stripe narrowing and curving under the black-painted cab area. Lettering is white and placed in the blue stripe.<ref name=official /><ref name=solomon />{{rp|114, 138}} The Charger locomotives are painted in the same shape as the Northern California units but using the ''Pacific Surfliner'' color scheme.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://blog.pacificsurfliner.com/2018/10/05/new-cleaner-locomotives-coming-soon-to-the-amtrak-pacific-surfliner-service/ |title=New, Cleaner Locomotives Coming Soon to the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner Service |publisher=Amtrak |date=October 5, 2018}}</ref> Amtrak-owned F59PHI locomotives previously used on the ''Pacific Surfliner'' were painted in a scheme to match the Surfliner cars, featuring a large sweeping blue arc running from the front to the top of the locomotive.<ref name=official /> Amtrak wrapped F59PHI {{Abbr|No.|Number}} 457 in a special scheme to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the ''Pacific Surfliner'' and the train's ridership surpassing 25 million. The locomotive's new scheme was released on May 8, 2010, for National Train Day.<ref>{{cite press release |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100923161355/http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/BlobServer?blobcol=urldata&blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobkey=id&blobwhere=1249210333895&blobheader=application%2Fpdf&blobhead |archive-date= September 23, 2010 |url=http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/BlobServer?blobcol=urldata&blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobkey=id&blobwhere=1249210333895&blobheader=application%2Fpdf&blobhead |title=Amtrak's ''Pacific Surfliner'' Celebrating Ten Easy Going Years |date=June 3, 2010 |publisher=Amtrak}}</ref>
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Capitol Corridor Pinole.jpg|''Capitol Corridor'' train in Amtrak California livery in 2011|alt=A passenger train along a shoreline. The diesel locomotive is gray with a navy blue underside, yellow bottom stripe, black roof, and navy blue cab area. The bilevel passenger cars are stainless steel with a black upper window stripe and a navy blue lower window stripe with a yellow pinstripe.
File:Amtrak surfliner santa barbara.jpg|''Pacific Surfliner'' train with an F59PHI locomotive in 2006|alt=A passenger train with bilevel passenger cars painted in gray and blue stripes. The blue stripe on each side tapers to a point on the nose of the locomotive.
File:San Joaquin at Jack London Square, May 2023.jpg|NPCU and Comet IB passenger cars in 2023|alt=A locomotive painted gray with turquoise and light blue stripes and a curve towards the top rear of the locomotive, with red chevron stripes on the front.
File:Amtrak locomotive 2102.jpg|Charger SC-44 locomotive in Amtrak California livery in 2019|alt=A diesel locomotive with navy blue curved shapes on the front and rear with yellow accents, a black cab area, and Amtrak California logos on the front and sides
File:Surfliner SC44 2022 Los Angeles.jpg|Charger SC-44 locomotive in Amtrak Pacific Surfliner livery in 2022|alt=A diesel locomotive with navy blue curved shapes on the front and rear with white accents, a black cab area, and Amtrak California logos on the front and sides
File:Siemens Venture Trainset California.jpg|Venture passenger car in ''San Joaquins'' livery in 2020|alt=A stainless steel passenger rail car with yellow doors, a dark blue stripe along the windows, and a multi-color stripe along the bottom with yellow plus several shades of blue
</gallery>

===''Cascades''===
The ''[[Amtrak Cascades|Cascades]]'' service currently uses two [[Talgo]] trainsets, Charger SC-44 locomotives, and ex-F40PH NPCUs painted in a brown, light tan, and dark green scheme – the only revenue equipment not painted in a blue-and-gray-based palette.<ref name=official /><ref name=solomon />{{rp|118, 140}} The scheme was created by industrial designer Cesar Vergara, who also styled the [[GE Genesis]] locomotive.<ref>{{cite news |title=High style, high tech; Putting style back on track |newspaper=Toronto Star |first=Greg |last=Gormick |date=November 21, 2005 |page=D01 |id = {{ProQuest|438900729}}}}</ref> [[Amtrak Airo]] trainsets for the ''Cascades'', expected to enter service in 2026, will have a primarily dark green paint scheme. The trainsets will have brown and white sill stripes and window accents, plus graphics of [[Mount Rainier]] and [[Mount Hood]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.progressiverailroading.com/amtrak/news/Amtrak-Cascades-train-renderings-unveiled--68210 |title=Amtrak Cascades train renderings unveiled |date=December 19, 2022 |newspaper=Progressive Railroading |access-date=December 24, 2022}}</ref>

On the newer Charger SC-44 locomotives, the green stripe is narrower and runs along the top and over the cab.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.railwayage.com/freight/class-i/siemens-turns-out-first-charger-locomotive/ |title=Siemens turns out first WSDOT Charger |newspaper=Railway Age |date=March 9, 2017 |first=Stuart |last=Chirls}}</ref> One trainset was originally painted in blue, silver, and white for a Los Angeles-Las Vegas service that was never implemented.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/1999/jul/18/la-vegas-high-speed-train-set-for-debut/ |title=L.A.-Vegas high-speed train set for debut |newspaper=Las Vegas Sun |date=July 18, 1999}}</ref> In 2016, one NPCU, #90250, was wrapped in [[Seattle Seahawks]] livery for several months.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/news/2016/10/12/new-seahawks-themed-amtrak-cascades-train-debuts-seattle |title=New Seahawks-themed Amtrak Cascades train debuts in Seattle |date=October 12, 2016 |publisher=Washington State Department of Transportation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161014105231/https://www.wsdot.wa.gov/news/2016/10/12/new-seahawks-themed-amtrak-cascades-train-debuts-seattle |archive-date=October 14, 2016}}</ref> The newer [[Talgo#Talgo VII|Series 8]] trainsets are painted similarly to the older sets. One end has a cab car, where the brown and green stripes come to a point, with the top of the cab also painted green.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://web.talgoamerica.com/about-us-menu/news/49-odot-purchases-talgo-passenger-trains |title=ODOT Purchases Talgo Passenger Trains |publisher=Talgo America |date=February 26, 2010}}</ref>
<gallery mode="packed">
File:AmtrakCascadesEdmonds.jpg|''Cascades'' trainset with NPCU in 2006|alt=A passenger train with white, dark brown, and dark green stripes. The green stripe curves up along the side of the diesel locomotive.
File:Union Station (12209479843).jpg|Cab end of a Series 8 trainset in 2012|alt=A passenger train with white, dark brown, and dark green stripes.
File:Amtrak Cascades 1401 - Siemens Charger engine at King Street Station, Seattle, WA - 02.jpg|Charger SC-44 locomotive in 2018|alt=A white diesel locomotive with a dark brown underside and dark green roof
</gallery>

=== Amtrak Midwest ===
The Charger SC-44 locomotives used on the nine [[Amtrak Midwest]] routes (''[[Borealis (train)|Borealis]]'', {{lnl|Amtrak|Hiawatha}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Illini}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Illinois Zephyr}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Lincoln Service}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Missouri River Runner}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Wolverine}}, {{lnl|Amtrak|Blue Water}}, and {{lnl|Amtrak|Pere Marquette}}) have a blue front with a [[halftone]] transition into the gray side, with a red sill stripe.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://media.amtrak.com/2017/08/new-locomotives-serving-amtrak-customers-state-sponsored-trains-midwest/|title=New Locomotives Serving Amtrak Customers on State-sponsored Trains in the Midwest|publisher=Amtrak|date=August 28, 2017|access-date=April 21, 2018|archive-date=October 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021171104/https://media.amtrak.com/2017/08/new-locomotives-serving-amtrak-customers-state-sponsored-trains-midwest/|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Siemens Venture]] passenger cars for the services have a matching gray scheme with halftone blue transitions at the end of the window level, with a wider red sill stripe.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.railwayage.com/passenger/intercity/watch-siemens-midwest-amtrak-ventures/ |title=Watch: Amtrak Midwest Siemens Ventures (Updated) |newspaper=Railway Age |date=January 26, 2021 |first=Marybeth |last=Luczak |access-date=March 16, 2021}}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed">
File:Amtrak 4610.jpg|Charger SC-44 locomotives in 2021|alt=Gray diesel locomotive with a red sill stripe. The area around the cab windows is black. The sides of the cab are blue, tapering with halftone dots onto the side of the body. 
File:Siemens Venture Joliet 2022.jpg|Siemens Venture cars in 2022|alt=Gray rail passenger cars with a thick red sill stripe and a thick blue window stripe flanked by thinner white stripes
</gallery>

=== ''Piedmont'' ===
The equipment used on the ''[[Piedmont (train)|Piedmont]]'' is painted in [[Flag of North Carolina|North Carolina state colors]], with wide blue stripes on the passenger cars and blue fronts on the locomotives.<ref name="solomon" />{{rp|113}}

<gallery mode="packed">

File:City of High Point with the Piedmont at Salisbury, August 2016.jpg|''Piedmont'' train in 2016|alt=A passenger train with a diesel locomotive. The cars are grey with a blue window stripe and a red sill stripe. The locomotive is blue and gray with a black roof and red sill stripe.
File:Piedmont arriving Raleigh 1.jpg|''Piedmont'' refurbished passenger cars in 2019|alt=Gray passenger rail cars with a wide blue window stripe
</gallery>

=== Other routes ===
* [[Avelia Liberty]] trainsets, planned for use on the {{lnl|Amtrak|Acela}}, have a white window stripe with blue above and below. The lower blue area dissolves into white on the power cars, which have gray noses. Red highlights include sill stripes, doors, and pantographs.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.alstom.com/press-releases-news/2017/10/reveal-of-the-livery-of-alstoms-avelia-liberty-high-speed-trainsets-for-northeast-corridor |title=Reveal of the livery of Alstoms Avelia Liberty high speed trainsets for Northeast Corridor |publisher=Alstom |date=October 19, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.phillymag.com/news/2017/10/06/amtrak-new-trains/ |first=Claire |last=Sasko |title=Here’s What Amtrak’s Fancy New Trains Will Look Like |date=October 6, 2017 |newspaper=Philadelphia Magazine |access-date=April 29, 2024}}</ref>
* From its 1974 introduction until 1977, the ''[[Adirondack (train)|Adirondack]]'' used [[Delaware and Hudson Railway]]-owned equipment painted in the railroad's blue and gold scheme.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://history.amtrak.com/blogs/blog/celebrating-40-years-of-adirondack-service | title=Celebrating 40 Years of the Adirondack | date=August 5, 2014 |publisher=Amtrak}}</ref>
* In the late 1990s, the ''Adirondack'', {{lnl|Amtrak|Ethan Allen Express}}, and ''[[Vermonter (train)|Vermonter]]'' each had a baggage car painted with a mural dedicated to the route.<ref name="solomon">{{Solomon-Amtrak}}</ref>{{rp|104}}<ref name=numbers>{{Amtrak By the Numbers}}</ref>{{rp|176}}<!--If source needed for the Adirondack specifically: http://www.railpictures.net/photo/449084/ -->
* The single [[RTL Turboliner#RTL-II|RTL Turboliner]] rebuilt in 1995 for the ''[[Empire Service]]'' had a one-off paint scheme with grey sides, a red stripe below the window, and white fronts.<ref name="solomon" />{{rp|150}}
* Two Talgo [[Talgo#Talgo 8|Series 8]] trainsets were [[Hiawatha (Amtrak train)#Equipment|bought for use in Wisconsin]] on the ''Hiawatha'', but never operated. They were painted white with red stripes to match the signature colors of the [[Wisconsin Badgers]] sports teams.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.Iml?Article=209651 |title=Talgo trains to sport Badger colors, traditional locomotives |first=Kay |last=Nolan |date=September 9, 2010 |work=WisBusiness}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/blog/real_estate/2016/09/talgo-will-return-to-milwaukee-to-refurbish-trains.html |title=Talgo will return to Milwaukee to refurbish trains for Los Angeles |newspaper=Milwaukee Business Journal |first=Sean |last=Ryan |date=September 26, 2016}}</ref>
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Avelia Liberty Slocum RI.png|Avelia Liberty test train in 2021|alt=A passenger trainset with a white window stripe and blue above and below. The end car has a gray nose and red sill stripe.
File:Amtrak Adirondack at Rouses Point 1974 postcard.jpg|The ''Adirondack'' with Delaware and Hudson Railway equipment in 1974|alt=A passenger train with diesel locomotives. The locomotives have blue paint with gold accents and silver undersides. The passenger cars are light gray with blue and gold window stripes.
File:Adirondack baggage car at Albany-Rensselaer station, December 2004.jpg|''Adirondack'' baggage car in 2004|alt=A railway baggage car painted with a mural of mountains
File:Amt Turboliner-2139.jpg|RTL-II trainset in 2006|alt=A passenger trainset with a geometric red, white, and black color scheme
File:Eastbound Talgo Special in Shawnee, Kansas (5), February 2018.jpg|Talgo Series 8 trainset in 2018|alt=A white passenger trainset with a red window stripe and black cab roof
</gallery>

==Special paint schemes==
==="Day 1" livery===
[[File:AMTK 4316 (24378516746).jpg|thumb|right|EMD E8 No. 4316 in August 1971|alt=A black diesel locomotive with the Amtrak "pointless arrow" logo on the side. The blue stripes of the logo wrap around the front, where they are checked with white.]]
EMD E8 No. 4316 and coach 1589 were painted for display in New York when Amtrak began service in May 1971; they saw later use on the ''[[Broadway Limited]]''. The locomotive was painted black; the Chevron "pointless arrow" logo on each side wrapped around the front with blue and white safety stripes.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.transportation.northwestern.edu/docs/2011/2011.07.22.Phillips_RoadtoRescue.pdf |magazine=Classic Trains |via=Northwestern University Transportation Center |title=The Road to Rescue |date=July 22, 2011 |first=Don |last=Phillips |pages=22–31 |access-date=March 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160901232545/http://www.transportation.northwestern.edu/docs/2011/2011.07.22.Phillips_RoadtoRescue.pdf |archive-date=September 1, 2016 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> The coach has a wide blue window stripe with a large Amtrak logo near one end.<ref name=numbers />{{rp|152}} Amtrak has retroactively referred to this paint scheme as the "Day 1" livery.<ref name="Amtrak Paint Scheme and Livery History video" />

===40th anniversary heritage units===
For Amtrak's 40th anniversary in 2011, the railroad painted four P42DC Genesis locomotives with special [[heritage unit]] liveries honoring the Phase I through Phase IV paint schemes. From January through April 2011, Amtrak's [[Beech Grove Shops]] outside Indianapolis repainted the units and sent them north on the ''[[Hoosier State (train)|Hoosier State]]'' to Chicago, where they were cycled into regular service on other routes. The Anniversary locomotives were selected from units scheduled for repainting or recent wreck rebuilds. The first repainted locomotive was No. 145 in Phase III paint, which led the ''[[Capitol Limited (Amtrak train)|Capitol Limited]]'' on January 30, 2011. Three other locomotives followed: Nos. 156 in Phase I, 66 in Phase II, and 184 in Phase IV.<ref name=40thlocomotives>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170901030127/https://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/214/369/Amtrak%20Locomotives.pdf |archive-date=September 1, 2017 |url=https://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/214/369/Amtrak%20Locomotives.pdf |title=Amtrak Locomotives |publisher=Amtrak |year=2011}}</ref> Other locomotives, beginning with P42DC No. 130 in Phase II livery in 2016, were repainted to replace heritage units that were damaged in collisions.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://csanders429.wordpress.com/2018/04/12/amtrak-p42-no-66-back-in-the-day/ |title=Amtrak P42 No. 66 Back in the Day |work=Amtrak in the Heartland |date=April 12, 2018 |first=Craig |last=Sanders}}</ref>
	
The 40th Anniversary Exhibit Train consisted of P40DC locomotive No. 822, NPCU No. 406, modified Budd 10-6 heritage sleeper/Crew Dorm No. 10020 ''Pacific Bend'', three heritage baggage cars used to house exhibits, and [[Amfleet]] cafe car No. 85999, used as a gift shop.<ref name="ExhibitTrain">{{cite web|url=http://www.amtrak40th.com/exhibit-train/restoring-the-exhibit-train |title=Exhibit Train Equipment History |publisher=Amtrak |access-date=June 5, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430234633/http://www.amtrak40th.com/exhibit-train/restoring-the-exhibit-train |archive-date=April 30, 2011 }}</ref> The whole train was painted in Phase III.<ref name=rollsign2017>{{cite magazine |title=New England Transit News |page=9 |magazine=Rollsign |publisher=Boston Street Railway Association |date=July–August 2017}}</ref>
<gallery mode="packed">
File:The Coast Starlight Train 11 (12136773554).jpg|P42DC 156 in Phase I paint|alt=A gray diesel locomotive with black cab area, red on the lower front end, black underside, and Amtrak logo on the side
File:Amtrak 66 leading the Reno Fun Train, February 2012.jpg|P42DC 66 in Phase II paint|alt=A gray diesel locomotive with a black cab area. Red and blue stripes separated by thin white stripes run along the sides and wrap across the front, where they pinch slightly
File:Amtrak 822 Phase III Paint Scheme (6121787717).jpg|P40DC 822 in Phase III paint|alt=A gray diesel locomotive with a black cab area. Red, white, and blue stripes run along the sides and wrap across the front, where they pinch slightly
File:Amtrak 406 at Strasburg.jpg|NPCU 406 in Phase III paint|alt=A gray diesel locomotive with a black cab area. Red, white, and blue stripes run along the sides and wrap across the front
File:Amtrak 184 with the Heartland Flyer at Norman, June 2021.jpg|P42DC 184 in Phase IV paint|alt=A gray diesel locomotive with a blue stripe and several thinner white stripes. The stripes run along the sides and wrap across the front, where they pinch slightly
</gallery>

===50th anniversary heritage units===
[[File:Amtrak 100 at 50th Anniversary event, June 2021.jpg|thumb|right|P42DC 100 in "Midnight Blue" 50th anniversary livery|alt=A diesel locomotive in dark blue paint]]
On March 16, 2021, Amtrak announced the release of six heritage paint schemes, all with an "Amtrak 50" logo on the side, to be applied to five Genesis locomotives and one Charger ALC-42 locomotive. The liveries include heritage versions of the black [[#"Day 1" livery|"Day 1" livery]] on ALC-42 No. 301, a Phase I livery on P42 No. 161, a Phase III "Pepsi Can" livery on P42 No. 160, a Phase V livery on P42 No. 46, and a Phase VI livery on P42 No. 108 that is similar to the first ALC-42 units.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A Brief History of Amtrak Paint Schemes and Liveries |url=https://www.amtrak.com/livery-paint-scheme-history |access-date=July 26, 2021 |website=Amtrak |language=en}}</ref> The sixth scheme was "Midnight Blue," a dark blue livery on P42 No. 100 celebrating employees who "keep passengers moving across the nation all throughout the night".<ref name="Amtrak Paint Scheme and Livery History video">{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOZdzbDpftI  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/TOZdzbDpftI |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|title=Amtrak 50th - Paint Scheme and Livery History |date=March 16, 2021 |last=Donnelly |first=Matt |type=Video |language=en |access-date=March 16, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Johnston |first=Bob  |date=March 18, 2021 |title=Behind Amtrak's new locomotive designs |language=en-US |work=[[Trains (magazine)|Trains]] |url=https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/behind-amtraks-new-locomotive-designs/ |access-date=March 31, 2021}}</ref> On December 9, 2021, Amtrak announced that ACS-64 locomotive No. 662 had been wrapped in modified Phase III livery as a promotion for [[Train Sim World|Train Sim World 2]].<ref>{{cite tweet |number=1468988889717260293 |title=Dovetail Games surprised us with a 50th birthday present by wrapping an ACS-64 locomotive that will also be released as a free add-on for the Boston Sprinter route in Train Sim World 2! Locomotive 662 is planned to make its first run on train 176 today. #Amtrak50 |user=Amtrak |author=Amtrak}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |url=https://live.dovetailgames.com/live/train-sim-world/articles/article/celebrate-50th-anniversary-of-amtrak-with-tsw2 |title=Celebrate 50th Anniversary of Amtrak with Train Sim World 2 |publisher=Dovetail Games |date=December 9, 2021}}</ref>

===Other special paint schemes===
* The Amtrak California routes have wrapped locomotives to promote the [[Operation Lifesaver]] safety campaign. The decals featured bright designs with slogans about being safe around railroad tracks.<ref>{{cite web |last=Farago |first=Zoltan |date=January 9, 2009 |url=http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=266645 |publisher=RailPictures.Net |title=AMTK 455 Amtrak California EMD F59PHI at San Diego, California}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2008/11/28/slide-show-coastal-trail-is-improving-safety-on-rails-san-clemente-says/ |title=Slide show: Coastal Trail is improving safety on rails, San Clemente says |newspaper=Orange County Register |date=November 11, 2008 |first=Fred |last=Swegles}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Welch |first=Steven M. |date=November 16, 2010 |url=http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=345517 |publisher=RailPictures.Net |title=CDTX 2007 Amtrak California EMD F59PHI at Oakland, California}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=2835164 |title=AMTK 457 |publisher=RR Picture Archives |date=December 4, 2011 |first=Craig |last=Walker}}</ref>
* The first three [[Siemens ACS-64|ACS-64]] units released from [[Siemens Mobility|Siemens]] in 2013 had special decals applied. Locomotive Nos. 600 and 601 received a large American flag on the sides as well as smaller logos for Siemens & Amtrak.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://blog.amtrak.com/2013/05/new-amtrak-locomotives-the-facts/ |title=New Amtrak Locomotives: The Facts |publisher=Amtrak |date=February 2014}}</ref> Locomotive No. 602 had a "Reliability - Efficiency - Mobility" promotional graphic on the sides.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=3533842 |title=Martinez 6/27/13 w/a new ACS-64 & NPCU |publisher=RailPictures.Net |date=June 27, 2013 |first=Ben |last=Margherone}}</ref> All three were later repainted with a conventional Phase V scheme before entering service.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/02/07/amtrak-launches-first-fleet-new-locomotives/0jnspY0DUIHfTd4Tvv2DdM/story.html |title=First of new Amtrak locomotives launches in Boston |newspaper=Boston Globe |date=February 7, 2014 |first=Jacqueline |last=Tempera}}</ref>
*In June 2013, P42DC #42 was painted in a red, white, black, and dark blue scheme with a large logo on the side saying "America's Railroad Salutes our Veterans". A blue band near the wheelbase contains 50 white stars.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/761/589/Amtrak-Ink-July-2013.pdf |date=July 2013 |volume=18 |issue=6 |magazine=Amtrak Ink |title=Amtrak Salutes Our Veterans: Custom painted locomotive honors those who have served |pages=10–11}}</ref> ACS-64 No. 642 and NPCUs Nos. 90208 and 90221 received similar paint schemes in 2015 and 2016.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://blog.amtrak.com/2015/06/amtrak-welcomes-new-veterans-acs64-locomotive/ |title=Amtrak Commissions New Veterans Locomotive |publisher=Amtrak |date=June 29, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2015/05/second-amtrak-veterans-locomotive-in-transit-to-northeast |title=Second Amtrak veterans' locomotive in-transit to Northeast |newspaper=Trains Newswire |url-access=subscription  |date=May 18, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.highspeed-rail.org/Documents/Amtrak-State_EQ_CAPEX_CIP_2016_FINAL_20151027.pdf |title=Capital Investment Plan for Amtrak Equipment Deployed in State Corridor Service FY2016 – FY2020 |date=October 27, 2015 |author=Equipment Capital Subcommittee of the Next Generation Equipment Committee |no-pp=yes |page=Front cover |access-date=April 21, 2018 |archive-date=November 9, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151109134842/http://www.highspeed-rail.org/Documents/Amtrak-State_EQ_CAPEX_CIP_2016_FINAL_20151027.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.railpictures.net/photo/589573/ |title=AMTK 90221 Amtrak NPCU at Beech Grove, Indiana |date=September 15, 2016 |first=Emily |last=Moser |publisher=RailPictures.Net}}</ref>

==Non-revenue equipment==
[[File:Amtrak catenary maintenance unit.jpg|thumb|left|An Amtrak [[catenary maintenance vehicle]] in 2004-introduced lime paint|alt=A railway work vehicles in bright yellow paint with a blue Amtrak logo]]
Beginning in 1976, Amtrak work train equipment was painted [[safety orange]] with black undersides. Light grey livery with a red bottom stripe, similar to Phase V non-passenger cars, was introduced for work train cars in 2004.<ref name=official /> [[Yellow#Safety yellow|Safety yellow]] livery was introduced for [[Maintenance of way#Track maintenance|maintenance of way]] equipment and roadway vehicles in 2001; it was replaced with a pale lime around 2004, and a brighter lime around 2013.<ref name=official /> Non-revenue locomotives typically use variations of the Phase paint schemes to make them visually distinct from revenue locomotives while maintaining consistent styles.<ref name=official />

In 1997, Amtrak bought 50 rebuilt {{convert|50|ft|adj=on}} boxcars to supplement its newly built {{convert|60|ft|adj=on}} Express Box Car fleet. The rebuilt cars arrived in their original Southern Pacific Olive Green paint scheme, rather than the Phase V scheme of the newer cars, though some were later repainted.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/amtrak-builds-non-passenger-revenue.html |title=Amtrak builds non-passenger revenue |newspaper=Railway Gazette |date=July 1, 1998}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hebners.net/Amtrak/amtEXPRESS.html |title=The Express Box Cars |work=Amtrak Photo Archive: an unofficial amtrak site |access-date=March 21, 2017}}</ref>
{{clear}}

==Advertising==
[[File:19990205 01 USPS CTC Express, Washington, DC.jpg|thumb|right|The ''Century Express'' at [[Union Station (Washington, D.C.)|Union Station]] in Washington, D.C., in 1999|alt=A diesel locomotive in tan paint. Lettering includes "Amtrak" and "Celebrate the Century Express". A United States Postal Service logo and a stamp logo reading "100 Celebrate the Century" are on the front.]]
Since the late 1990s, Amtrak has occasionally rented advertising space on the exterior of its passenger equipment. The ads sometimes take the form of [[Wrap advertising|wraps]] rather than true paint schemes. Customers have included fast food restaurants, auto manufacturers, television networks, and politicians.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Trains-could-become-major-advertising-platform-685756.php |title=Trains could become major advertising platform |newspaper=Stamford Advocate |date=October 3, 2010 |first=Martin B. |last=Cassidy |access-date=March 20, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.nationalcorridors.org/df/df12062004.shtml#Toyota |title=Toyota takes to Amtrak tracks for ad campaign |magazine=Destination:Freedom |date=December 6, 2004 |volume=5 |issue=46 |publisher=National Corridors Initiative |access-date=March 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060406093142/http://www.nationalcorridors.org/df/df12062004.shtml#Toyota |archive-date=April 6, 2006 |url-status=usurped }}</ref> In some cases, the advertisements were on equipment rented for private use, rather than on equipment in normal revenue service. Notable temporary advertisements have included:
* In 1999 and 2000, a four-car train including P42DC locomotive No. 100, a [[baggage car]], a 1926 [[railway post office]] car, a business car, and an exhibit car was used for the [[United States Postal Service]]'s "[[Celebrate the Century]] Express Educational Train Tour". The scheme consisted of an elaborate collection of enlarged stamps and postmarks from 1900 to the 1990s.<ref name="CTC\">{{cite web|url=http://www.usps.com/cpim/ftp/bulletin/2000/pb22024.pdf |title=All Aboard! Celebrate The Century Express Education Train Tour |publisher=USPS |pages=Page 1 of 104 |date=May 18, 2000 |access-date=March 25, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090509044543/https://www.usps.com/cpim/ftp/bulletin/2000/pb22024.pdf |archive-date=May 9, 2009 }}</ref>
* In October 2003, P42DC No. 203 and five Amfleet cars were wrapped in a scheme featuring [[Monopoly (game)|Monopoly]] game pieces and money. The train was used as the "Reading Railroad", a special train from Chicago to [[Atlantic City, New Jersey]] upon which the first rounds of the [[Monopoly (game)#U.S. National Championship|2003 U.S. National Championship]] were held.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2003/10/16/monopoly-tournament-beckons/ |title=Monopoly tournament beckons |newspaper=Baltimore Sun |date=October 16, 2003 |first=Aron |last=Davidowitz |access-date=March 20, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aYs3BAAAQBAJ&pg=PA155 |title=Monopoly: The World's Most Famous Game -And How It Got That Way |page=155 |first=Philip E. |last=Orbanes |publisher=Da Capo Press |year=2007 |isbn=9780306815928 |via=Google Books}}</ref>
* In August 2004, [[John Kerry presidential campaign, 2004|presidential candidate John Kerry]] traveled on the "Kerry-Edwards Special", which used P42DC No. 138 wrapped with a "BELIEVE IN AMERICA TOUR" as the lead unit.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www2.gwu.edu/~action/2004/demconv04/roadout.html |title=John Kerry's Post-Convention Tour |work=Democracy in Action |publisher=George Washington University |year=2004 |first=Eric M. |last=Appleman}}</ref>
* In November and December 2007, a full [[Acela Express]] trainset was wrapped to promote [[History (U.S. TV channel)|The History Channel]]'s show ''1968 with [[Tom Brokaw]]''.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?c=AM_Content_C&pagename=am%2FLayout&cid=1241267387279 |title=Amtrak Acela Express Wrapped for The History Channel® Promotion for Special "1968 with Tom Brokaw" |publisher=Amtrak |date=November 6, 2007}}</ref> The wrap was criticized by passengers for impeding the view from inside the train. A similar wrap was used in 2010 to promote the [[TLC (TV channel)|TLC]] show ''[[Cake Boss]]''.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.amtrak.com/ccurl/875/222/ATK-10-105%20Cake%20Boss%20Amtrak%20Press%20Release%20Updated.pdf |title=Amtrak Wraps Acela Express With Image Of TLC "Cake Boss" Buddy Valastro  |publisher=Amtrak |date=August 2, 2010}}</ref>

==Test train schemes==
Amtrak has tested a number of types of off-the-shelf equipment on the [[Northeast Corridor]] and short corridors. Some of these have been painted fully in Amtrak livery:
* Bombardier [[LRC (train)|LRC]] cars received a variation of the Phase III scheme very similar to the RTL Turboliners.<ref name=solomon />{{rp|154}}
* The Swedish [[Rc locomotive|Rc4]] (numbered X995) and the French [[SNCF Class CC 6500|CC 21000]] (X996), used for testing during the design of the [[EMD AEM-7|AEM-7]] locomotives in the late 1970s, used a Phase II scheme similar to the [[GE E60|E60]] locomotives the AEM-7 would replace.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://history.amtrak.com/archives/amtrak-x995-test-locomotive-late-1970s |title=Amtrak No. X995 test locomotive, late 1970s. |publisher=Amtrak |date=June 13, 2013}}</ref>

Other equipment largely retained their paint schemes from usage elsewhere:
* A [[Siemens]] [[ICE 1]] trainset and a [[Kalmar Verkstad]] [[X 2000|X2000]] trainset were tested on the Northeast Corridor and several other routes in 1992 and 1993. The X2000 retained its [[Statens Järnvägar]] livery of silver with blue stripes, although it did receive Amtrak lettering; it was pulled by Amtrak diesels on non-electrified routes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://history.amtrak.com/archives/x2000-in-the-chicago-yards-1993 |title=X2000 in the Chicago Yards, 1993. |publisher=Amtrak |work=Amtrak History Archives |date=June 24, 2014}}</ref><ref name=capitol />{{rp|16}} The ICE 1 retained its [[Deutsche Bahn]] livery of white with a two-tone red stripe, again with Amtrak lettering.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://history.amtrak.com/archives/ice-train |title=Intercity Express in Connecticut, 1993. |publisher=Amtrak |work=Amtrak History Archives |date=May 3, 2011}}</ref> On non-electrified routes, it was pulled by two Siemens [[EMD F69PHAC|F69PHAC]] diesel locomotives painted in the same red-on-white scheme.<ref name=capitol />{{rp|16}}
* After non-revenue testing on the Northeast Corridor in 1988, a [[Talgo 200]] trainset was tested in revenue service between Portland and Seattle in 1994 as the ''[[Northwest Talgo]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://web.talgoamerica.com/history |title=History: Talgo North America |publisher=Talgo America |year=2015}}</ref> The [[AVE]] paint scheme of white with a thick blue window stripe was modified with a thin Phase III red, white, and blue stripe below the windows.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.nasg.org/Dispatch/1994/NASG_DISPATCH_1994_06.pdf |title=GO WEST - or whatever - for S |magazine=Dispatch |date=June 1994 |volume=18 |issue=3 |page=16 |publisher=National Association of S-Gaugers |first=Gil |last=Hulin |access-date=March 27, 2017 |archive-date=March 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170328195515/https://www.nasg.org/Dispatch/1994/NASG_DISPATCH_1994_06.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* In 1996, two [[Adtranz]] [[DSB Class MF|IC3]] "Flexliner" trainsets were tested on several Amtrak routes in California, as well as the [[Metrolink (California)|Metrolink]] [[Antelope Valley Line]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://boardarchives.metro.net/BoardBox/Box03/00000754.pdf |title=SUMMARY OF ALTERNATE RAIL TECHNOLOGY (ART) ANALYSIS |publisher=Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority |date=May 30, 1997 |page=9 |first=James L. |last= de la Loz}}</ref><ref name=capitol>{{Vurek-Capitol Corridor |pages=16, 30, 68}}</ref> They retained their [[Israel Railways]] livery of white with red, black, and blue sections, with some Amtrak lettering added.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://original.trainlife.com/magazines/pages/277/20614/september-1996-page-8 |title=Expediter |magazine=[[Pacific RailNews]] |date=September 1996 |issue=394 |page=8 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170328105757/http://original.trainlife.com/magazines/pages/277/20614/september-1996-page-8 |archive-date=March 28, 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Amtrak X995 at Wilmington Shops, August 1976.jpg|X995 in Phase II paint in 1976|alt=A gray electric locomotive with a black roof and red and blue side stripes
File:Amtrak X996 at Wilmington 1977 postcard.jpg|X996 in Phase II paint in 1977|alt=A gray electric locomotive with a black roof and red and blue side stripes
File:Amtrak LRC loco 38.jpg|Bombardier LRC in Phase III variant in 1980|alt=A white locomotive with black cab area, blue underside, and red stripe
File:X2000 demonstrator at Ticonderoga station, May 14, 1993.jpg|X2000 in Statens Järnvägar livery in 1993|alt=A silver passenger trainset with "Amtrak" written below the cab windows
File:Northwest Talgo at Portland Union Station, August 1994.jpg|Talgo 200 in modified AVE paint scheme in 1994|alt=A white passenger rail car with a wide black stripe and thin red, white, and blue stripes
File:IC3 running as an Amtrak San Diegan in Del Mar, July 19, 1996.jpg|IC3 in Israel Railways livery in 1996|alt=A passenger train with blue and black stripes and red ends
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category-inline}}

{{Amtrak}}

[[Category:Rail liveries]]
[[Category:Amtrak rolling stock]]