AMTRAK officially launched commercial operation with the first five of its new fleet of 28 NexGen Acela high-speed trains on August 27. The inaugural services with the new trains on the Northeast Corridor departed Washington, DC, at 05.00 and Boston at 06.00.
The start of commercial service is more than four years later than planned following issues with the train’s design and securing approval from the Federal Railroad Administration. Amtrak confirmed the start of service earlier this month.
The remaining 23 tilting high-speed trains will steadily enter operation up to 2027, replacing the first-generation Acela trains, which entered service in 2000 and will continue to operate alongside the new fleet as it is introduced. The new trains offer 27% more capacity than their predecessors, and the introduction of the new fleet will enable Amtrak to increase its Acela service offer by 40%.
The new articulated trains are equipped with Alstom’s Tiltronix active-tilt system, which Alstom says offers up to 30% higher speeds through curves. They also use lightweight components and regenerative braking. Onboard, Alstom says expansive windows help to maximise natural light while high-quality ergonomically designed seats offer enhanced legroom and comfort, with winged headrests providing extra support to passengers.
The project
The $US 2.3bn project has created an estimated 15,000 jobs in the United States. The contract was originally awarded in 2016 under a process that began in 2014.
Alstom is assembling the fleet in New York, employing 800 people at its peak at its facility in Hornell and 400 at its plant in Rochester. It has used components from more than 180 suppliers from 29 states. Alstom says it invested $US 87m and “leveraged millions in federal and state grants to build the largest dedicated passenger rail manufacturing facility in the United States” to complete the project.
In addition, Alstom says Alstom's French, Italian and Indian sites were also involved in the design and manufacturing of the single-deck Avelia Liberty trains, which are based on the same technology used in the double-deck Avelia Horizon or TGV-M for French National Railway (SNCF), but adapted for operation on the Northeast Corridor:
- Belfort: power cars
- La Rochelle: train design (taking over from Saint-Ouen) as well as for the train control and management system (TCMS) and for the digital modelling of the train
- Le Creusot: bogies
- Saint-Ouen: train design (before handing over design to La Rochelle)
- Tarbes: traction system
- Valenciennes: interiors
- Villeurbanne: passenger information systems and on-board electronics
- Savigliano: car bodyshell design, manufacturing and painting, tilting and bogie monitoring system (BMS)
- Sesto San Giovanni: tilting electronics, and
- Bangalore: TCMS software.
Alstom will continue to work with Amtrak to maintain and service the trains under a 15-year technical support and spares supply agreement that has an option for a 15-year extension. Alstom says the trains are equipped for condition-based and predictive maintenance, with each train equipped with nearly 100 sensors to monitor wear and tear and predict when critical parts need to be serviced or replaced. Alstom has also guaranteed that it will supply any spare part within eight hours of when it is required.
Wider fleet
NextGen Acela is a key component of Amtrak’s broader fleet modernisation plan, which includes:
- new Amtrak Airo trains debuting on the Amtrak Cascades, Northeast Regional, and East Coast routes
- new, more efficient long-distance locomotives
- upgraded interiors in coaches, dining cars, sleepers, and sightseer lounges.
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