Amtrak’s NextGen Acela started passenger service

On 27 August 2025 debuted Amtrak's high-speed NextGen Acela on the Northeast Corridor. Built by Alstom in the United States, the train 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.

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.

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.