Kustom Seating Unlimited Inc. (KSU) of Bellwood, Ill., developed its PRIIA intercity seat design to be utilized on the bi-level cars, which will be manufactured by Nippon Sharyo.

The seats conform to Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act (PRIIA) Section 305 requirements, which were developed to promote the creation of standardized, interoperable equipment for Amtrak and states to use in various state-sponsored corridors to improve maintainability, as well as lower design and acquisition costs.  

KSU was selected to produce many of the interior components including the seats. The company’s new coach and business class seat designs are slim, lightweight with folding armrests, auto-latching tray tables, in place cradle reclines, footrests, magazine/personal pouches, and ADA-compliant hand holds.

Funding for the railcars comes from grants originated in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), which provided for improvements in high-speed intercity rail transportation as a way to stimulate economic activity. As a stipulation of the ARRA, the railcars covered in the award will be manufactured under a “100% Buy America” plan, which sharply aims to increase the amount of domestic content.