Bi-Level Auto Rack

Prototype Information

Railroads introduced the 89-foot bi-level enclosed autorack in the 1970s to handle the growing demand for moving larger automobiles like station wagons, vans, pickups, and later SUVs. Built on the standard 89-foot flatcar, the bi-level design used two decks instead of three, giving taller vehicles the clearance they needed while still protecting them with steel sides, a roof, and lockable end doors.

TTX and major freight car builders supplied the racks, with the flatcar usually painted TTX yellow and the racks wearing the colors and logos of owning railroads. By the late 1970s and 1980s, bi-level enclosed racks joined tri-levels in dedicated auto trains, giving railroads flexibility to load both standard cars and larger vehicles efficiently.

The bi-level enclosed autorack became increasingly important in the 1990s and 2000s as SUVs and pickups dominated the auto market. Today, long cuts of 89-foot bi-levels remain a backbone of rail auto transport across North America.