A new modern Amtrak fleet of 28 high-speed trains will enter service this spring on the popular Acela line from Boston to Washington, D.C. after nearly a decade of planning and design delays.
The sleek red, white and blue Avelia Liberty trains will replace the current aging Acela fleet that have operated on the Northeast Corridor since 2000. The new models come with modern touches, like plush seats, a more spacious cabin and free high-speed internet. They also accommodate up to 386 riders — an increase of 25% from the existing trains — which will help Amtrak keep up with increased passenger demand. In 2024, Amtrak ridership hit a record of 32.8 million travelers throughout its nationwide rail network.
“When we get the question of, why can’t we have trains like they have in Europe, the answer is, we’re getting them,” said Amtrak spokesman Jason Abrams, referring to the modern, high-speed trains that zip around Spain, France, Germany and other European countries. “And they’re built here so they help spur the economy and create local jobs.”
Abrams declined to share when precisely the new trains will go into service.
France-based Alstom manufactured the trains at its upstate facility in Hornell (near Rochester) as part of a $2.3 billion contract Amtrak inked with Alstom in 2016. The new trains are designed to travel up to 186 miles per an hour but will travel at a maximum of 160 miles per hour due to a limit imposed by the Northeast Corridor’s aging tracks — the speed is 10 miles faster than the current Acela trains. The fleet also includes technology that allows trains to tilt for a speedier and smoother ride around curves.
Alstom has so far shipped 20 out of the 28 trains to Amtrak for final testing, the company told Crain’s.
Each train set features one first-class car, seven business class cars and a cafe car. The dining experience for travelers will also be improved with a menu of items available exclusively for Acela travelers.
The precise dining lineup is still in the works, but will be along the lines of a refreshed Amtrak menu that debuted last spring with items including white cheddar mac and cheese, cheeseburgers, fresh deli sandwiches and more. A lounge area in the cafe car allows travelers to gather, whether that’s colleagues on a business trip or a family on vacation.
Amtrak received approval from the Federal Railroad Administration to begin testing the trains on the tracks that run from Boston to Washington, D.C. in January 2024. The trains passed after more than a dozen rounds of testing.
In a 2023 report, Amtrak’s Office of Inspector General found that the new trains featured defects, such as corroded components between train cars, windows that shattered and leaks in the hydraulic systems that allow the trains to tilt while traveling along curved tracks. Alstom has since corrected the issues and the trains have received federal safety certifications.
