Amtrak yesterday unveiled a $7.3 billion plan to purchase new passenger-rail cars and locomotives, upgrading a fleet that’s nearly 50 years old.

Siemens Mobility Inc. will manufacture up to 83 multipowered modern trains that will be leveraged for state and northeast services, with further options for up to 130 additional trains to support growth plans, Amtrak officials said in a press release.

"These new trains will reshape the future of rail travel by replacing our aging 40-to-50-year old fleet with state-of-the-art, American-made equipment," said Amtrak Chief Executive Officer Bill Flynn. "This investment is essential to preserving and growing our Northeast Regional and state-supported services and will allow our customers to travel comfortably and safely, while deeply reducing criteria pollutants."