How Much Does A Railroad Car Cost?
Cost of the cars ranges from $25,000 to more than $800,000, depending on the condition. Renovating and restoring cars at the highest end can cost more than $1 million. To travel, owners pay Amtrak $2.90 per mile, plus additional fees for services.
Leasing and owning railcars is a serious legal and financial commitment. Enforcement of terms tends to favor the lessor – which may be a bank, a third-party or the railcar manufacturer. Storing excess railcars when there is a downturn in the nation's economy can be expensive as well.
Commentary: The complexity of owning or leasing freight cars
How much does an old railroad car cost?
Typical prices for steel-bodied boxcars and cabooses run between $2,000 and $4,000.
Life Aboard Your Own Caboose: How to Buy a Train Car
How much does it cost to build a passenger train car?
According to the AAPRCO, you can expect to pay $25,000 or more for a sleeper, $85,000 for a dome car. The refurbishing of such cars can run another $150,000 to $500,000 and way, way more if you choose to upgrade it beyond its original state.
Privately Owned Train Cars -- A Better Way to see America
How much does it cost to buy a boxcar?
Boxcars cost $135,000 each, and they have higher dwell times and lower turns than much more profitable unit trains—large trains with similar equipment that go point to point without stopping.
What is a Railroad Boxcar & Why Are Their Numbers Declining?