Amtrak’s NextGen Acela started passenger service

updated on 13th Sep 2025 21:04 posted on 1st Sep 2025 06:59

On 28 August 2025, nine years after signing of the contract, debuted Amtrak's high-speed NextGen Acela on the Northeast Corridor. Built by Alstom in the United States, the Class 21 trains will operate at speeds up to 160 mph (257 km/h), making it the fastest train in America at present and modernizing one of the busiest and economically vital rail lines in the country. Each of the 28 Avelia Horizon trains offers 27 % more seating than Amtrak’s previous Acelas and will provide a faster, elevated and more comfortable service to more passengers.

In August 2025, five units were ready for regular passenger operation. The whole fleet of the new trains is envisaged to enter service through 2027.

A history of the contract

On 26 August 2016 Alstom and Amtrak announced they had signed a contract for Alstom to design and build 28 new high speed trains, brand-named Avelia Liberty, for the Northeast Corridor (NEC) between Boston and Washington D. C. They also signed a contract under which Alstom will provide Amtrak with long-term technical support, components and spare parts for the maintenance of the new trains. Together both contracts are worth 2 billion USD.

On the 735 km NEC patronage is rising fast, from 2.4 million in 2002 to 3.5 million in 2014. There are needs to both increase train capacity and provide a more frequent service. Amtrak thus decided to acquire more new trains, which are envisaged to replace the fleet of 20 Acela trains, built by a consortium formed of Alstom and Bombardier and put into service in 2000.

The first signs of overcrowding appeared on some services in 2008, and plans were made to increase train capacity from six to eight cars. The first „stretched“ Acela train was originally planned to enter service in 2014, but a decision was subsequently taken to replace, rather than expand the onboard capacity of the existing fleet.

The 28 triple-voltage (25 kV 60 Hz, 12.5 kV 60 Hz, 12 kV 25 Hz), 212 m long Avelia Liberties will belong to the same Avelia family as the Euroduplex, AGV and Pendolino. The trains will be fitted with Alstom’s Tiltronix tilting technology. They will be formed of two Bo’Bo’ power cars, each rated at 3,500 kW and incorporating Alstom’s Crash Energy Management system.

There will be nine passenger intermediate trailers, with 381 seats, resulting in a 33 % greater capacity than on board the Acela EMUs. In the event of increasing demand it will be possible to later lengthen each train up to 12 intermediate trailers, giving a seating capacity of up to 518. Top design speed will be 300 km/h (186 mph), but the trains will at first be limited to 257 km/h (160 mph) on account of current NEC line speed maxima. A possible upgrading for 350 km/h (220 mph) running could be realised in the future if required, though this would not involve the use of tilting technology.

The passenger accommodation will feature electric and USB sockets, individual reading lights, broadband WiFi reception, infotainment systems, a passenger information system with real-time travel information, luggage stowage areas, facilities for changing babies’ nappies, and eight wheelchair harness points, these designed to be ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)-compliant, together with ADA-compliant WC cubicles. Each train will have a bistro/buffet area.

Deliveries initially expected in 2016...

The prototype Avelia Liberty is scheduled for completion in 2019, entering commercial service in 2021, with the rest following by the end of 2022, replacing the entire first-generation Acela fleet. Most of the new trains are to be built in the USA at Alstom’s factory in Hornell, in New York State. Maintenance over an initial 15-year period, with an option for a further 15-year extension, will be realised in Amtrak’s depots in Boston, New York and Washington D. C. under a specific Technical Support and Spare Supply Agreement with additional support from Alstom’s factories in New York, Delaware and Illinois.

However, by 2022 the original Acela trains will have only covered around half their service lifespan. This seems to be a parallel with the situation regarding the 15 triple-voltage Class HHP-8 Acela locomotives, built in 1996 also by Alstom and Bombardier, used on the NEC, and retired from service in 2014 on account of reliability problems. Amtrak stated that „it continues to review potential opportunities for the possible reuse of the trainsets given their unique design and the increasing challenges associated with maintaining this equipment. At this time, however, Amtrak anticipates returning the equipment to the lessors at the end of the leases.“ The owner trustee of the Acela EMUs is the Wilmington Trust, the Equity Investor is BNY Capital Funding, and the Lender is the Export Development Corporation of Canada.

In addition to the Avelia Liberty HSTs, Amtrak is also investing in infrastructure needed to improve the onboard and station customer experience that will accommodate the increased high-speed rail service levels. Amtrak will invest in significant station improvements at Washington Union Station, Moynihan Station New York, as well as track capacity and ride quality improvements to the NEC that will benefit both Acela Express riders and other Amtrak and commuter passengers.

Amtrak will also modify fleet maintenance facilities to accommodate the new trains. Amtrak is funding the Avelia Liberty trains and infrastructure improvements through the FRA’s Railroad Rehabilitation & Improvement Financing program that will be repaid through growth in NEC revenues.

We asked Alstom what is the reason for the delay in delivery of almost five years? What was problematic with the homologation? The manufacturer answered us as follows:
"The delay was due to several reasons. The NextGen Acela is the first high-speed train assembled in the U.S. and 95 % of its components are made in America. In order to achieve those goals, Alstom had to put together a U.S.-based supply chain from scratch that spanned 180 business across 29 states. The supply chain challenges were further complicated by product shortages and logistics hurdles caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. But in return, the project stimulated hundreds of millions of dollars in investment and created an estimated 15,000 jobs across the U.S.
In addition, after Alstom secured the NexGen contract from Amtrak, the Federal Railroad Administration developed a new level of safety standards - Tier III - in order to ensure the safety of trains traveling up to 220 mph. The new standards, in turn, required Alstom to undertake new modeling and simulations. Alstom is proud that its U.S-produced high-speed trainsets meet these strict safety standards.
We have completed production of all passenger cars and anticipate completion of the final power cars soon, after which they will prepped for delivery. We expect that all 28 trainsets will be accepted and put into revenue service by the end of 2027. Two pre-series units were built. They have returned to our Hornell plant where they are being retrofitted with the latest version of systems and components to fully conform to the rest of the fleet."

The four traction bogies have the power at wheel 7,300 kW. The trainset length is 212 m for current composition of two power cars and nine passenger cars, its weight is 495 t. Each unit offers 378 seats plus 8 locations for wheelchairs (ADA spaces). The café car does not have seats.

The present information from the Alstom and Amtrak sources:

Henri Poupart-Lafarge, CEO of Alstom, said: “We thank Amtrak for their trust and partnership, the Federal Railroad Administration and USDOT for their leadership, our suppliers, designers, engineers and especially the hard-working men and women at Alstom around the world who contributed, especially those in Hornell who are building these high-speed trains in America, for America.”

The NextGen Acela high-speed trains, part of Alstom’s Avelia product line, build on the company’s extensive global experience in high-speed rail, with more than 1,000 Avelia units sold in 25 countries. The Avelia Liberty model, developed specifically for the U.S., shares its technology platform with the next generation of France’s Avelia Horizon trains. A top speed of 160 mph is higher than today's Class 20 Acela fleet which has a top speed of 150 mph.

Specifically adapted for the Northeast Corridor, the NextGen Acela will connect major cities from Washington, D.C. to New York to Boston. The trains are fitted with Alstom’s Tiltronix active bodyshell tilting system, and also integrates innovative features that enhance Amtrak's operational performance and energy efficiency, like improved aerodynamics, traction drive efficiency and eco-driving technology.

The interiors are thoughtfully designed to enhance the passenger experience. They feature expansive windows that allow in natural light, high-quality ergonomically designed seats for maximum legroom and comfort, and winged headrests for extra support. Additional features include free high-speed Wi-Fi, individual USB ports, power outlets, reading lights and a modern cafe car.

Amtrak’s purchase of 28 units will allow it to run 40 % more Acelas than it does currently, responding to the record-setting ridership on the Northeast Corridor. The Avelia Liberty trains were manufactured by American labor in the historic rail hub of Hornell, NY, where Alstom invested over 87 million USD and leveraged millions in federal and state grants to build the largest dedicated passenger rail manufacturing facility in the United States to complete this project.

At its peak, the project employed more than 800 people in Hornell, approximately 40 % of which were part of the International Association of Machinists (IAM) union, as well as another 400 employees in Rochester, NY. To complete the Avelia Liberty project, Alstom also created an extensive supply chain of 180 businesses across 29 states, creating an estimated 15,000 jobs nationwide. The project not only reinforced Upstate New York’s legacy as a center for American rail excellence, but helped strengthen America’s domestic manufacturing capacity in rail, with 95 % of the Avelia Liberty’s components sourced from U.S. suppliers.

Alstom's French, Italian and Indian sites were also involved in the design and manufacturing of the Avelia Liberty trainsets:
- Belfort, for power cars;
- La Rochelle, for the 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, for bogies;
- Saint-Ouen, for the train design (before handing over design to La Rochelle);
- Tarbes, for the traction system;
- Valenciennes, for interiors;
- Villeurbanne, for passenger information systems and on-board electronics;
- Savigliano, for bodyshell design, manufacturing and painting, tilting and bogie monitoring system (BMS);
- Sesto San Giovanni, for tilting electronics;
- Bangalore, for the TCMS software.

Alstom’s commitment extends beyond the delivery of the trains. To help Amtrak optimize the total lifecycle costs of the trains and ensure top-performing trains for passengers, Alstom will continue to work with Amtrak under a Technical Support and Spares Supply Agreement that runs for 15 years with an option to renew for another 15 years. Under this agreement, Alstom will provide parts for preventative and corrective maintenance, component overhauls, training, maintenance and support to maximize fleet availability.

Equipped for condition-based and predictive maintenance, Alstom has embedded each train set 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 needed.

Amtrak’s NextGen Acela started passenger service

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