
From staff sporting designer knee-high boots and hot pants to its vibrant red and purple dining cars, when Amtrak trains launched in 1971 it offered ordinary Americans an exciting new travel experience on a network of 23 routes spanning 43 states.

In 1970 President Richard Nixon introduced the Rail Passenger Service Act to launch the United States' first national 'modern, efficient, intercity railroad passenger service’, with Amtrak born the following year.

Amtrak inherited a number of different historic locomotives from its predecessors but by 1973 unveiled its own models and offered customers a fleet of new or refurbished all-electric passenger cars.

With taglines in the 1970s encouraging travellers to ‘get off your wheels and on to ours’ Amtrak showcased a series of vibrant adverts depicting the freedom of the network. It also took the TurboTrain on a national tour for the public to see it up close, according to Amtrak's archives.

Interiors were modernised with dazzling colourful flourishes and guests could enjoy food and beverages served with signature blue China. In first class, travellers had reclining swivel chairs and all passengers onboard could make use of a phone booth.

Amtrak’s attempt at revitalising rail road journeys is most visible in photos of its staff’s contemporary, designer uniforms of bold red mini-skirts or hot pants and sweaters emblazoned with the company’s inverted arrow logo. The attendant’s look was created to reflect the travel aspiration of their counterparts in the skies. All aboard for a tour of Amtrak's archives.

Passenger service representative Patty Saunders speaks with travellers in a first-class Metroliner club car - known as Metroclub. In her role, Saunders assisted customers on the train and served them food and beverages at their seat. The first class Metroclub had roomy, individually reclining swivel parlour chairs and there was also a phone booth available to passengers

In this photo (left) a passenger service representative and engineer sport new uniforms created by fashion designer Bill Atkinson. According to an article in the February 1972 issue of Penn Central Post (the Penn Central company magazine) '[Amtrak] wanted [the uniforms] to be modern in spirit but yet to retain the colourful traditions of American railroading. "Nostalgic newness" was the theme.' The uniforms, which were red with an inverted arrow logo, were meant to give staff the look of an air steward (right)

The eye-watering interior of a refurbished lunch counter-diner car in the early 1970s. According to early Amtrak promotional material, passengers could go to the car for 'tasty light meals and excellent beverage service in a casual, relaxed setting [and] may return to their seats with their selections, if they wish'. The cars included a crew room at one end, a small dining area with two tables each seating four persons (seen through the glass partitions at the back of the photo), a 13-seat lunch counter in the centre and a pantry and kitchen at the other end

A colour photograph showing the TurboTrain stopped at Petersburg, Virginia, during its 1971 national tour. This type of train was primarily used between New York and Boston until its retirement in 1976

The eastbound North Coast Hiawatha approaches the Bozeman Tunnel located in the Bozeman Pass between Bozeman and Livingston, Montana (left). Dining car attendant Julie Byrne pours coffee from an Amtrak blue coffee pot (right). To prepare for the arrival of the new bi-level Superliner cars, Amtrak in the mid-1970s redesigned the uniforms worn by on-board service employees. Female attendants such as Ms Byrne wore navy blue slacks with a navy blue blouse or turtleneck pullover, as well as a white vest trimmed in blue to match the jacket worn by men

In 1970 President Richard Nixon introduced the Rail Passenger Service Act to launch the United States' first national 'modern, efficient, intercity railroad passenger service’, with Amtrak born the following year. Pictured are passengers queueing for their tickets

When Amtrak trains launched in 1971 it offered ordinary Americans an exciting new travel experience on a network of 23 routes spanning 43 states. Here travellers buy their tickets

Amtrak attempted to revitalise rail road travel and the company took the TurboTrain on a national tour for the public to see it up close. Pictured is a bustling Amtrak station in the 1970s

When Amtrak took over the nation's intercity passenger rail service in 1971, it inherited locomotives and rolling stock obtained from the predecessor railroads. In this photo, the E8 wears Amtrak Phase II livery from 1975

Staff members known as Red Caps at Santa Fe Depot in Fort Worth, Texas, move sacks and parcels between the baggage car and depot. Red Caps helped passengers with baggage navigate through the station; here they wear a jumpsuit introduced in early 1972 and their trademark red hats. The baggage car features the Phase II paint scheme introduced in 1975

Amtrak inherited a number of different historic locomotives but by 1973 unveiled its own models and offered customers a fleet of new or refurbished all-electric passenger cars

President Ford on an Amtrak train in the 1970s surrounded by supporters and the press

With taglines in the 1970s encouraging travellers to ‘get off your wheels and on to ours’ Amtrak showcased a series of vibrant adverts depicting the freedom of the network

In posters from the era, trains were pitched to passengers as the most modern and aspirational way to travel with rail passes available (right) and a number of routes to choose from (left)

Amtrak modernised and launched its own locomotive throughout the decade such as the Superliner, which was illustrated on the ticket jacket (above)