On 28 August, Amtrak will finally begin a new era in rail transport between Boston and Washington, DC.
After almost four years of delay, the new NextGen Acela, the new generation of high-speed trains that will connect the main cities of the Northeast corridor, will enter service.
Although they were scheduled to enter service between 2021 and 2022, their commissioning has been delayed.
These delays were caused, among other reasons, by technical defects in the trains that required correction and compatibility problems with the railway infrastructure. In addition, congestion and priority passage of freight trains caused additional delays.
On the other hand, being an entirely new model with unproven technology and some innovations, it has made the homologation more exhaustive. Among the innovations is the fact that it is the first tilting train manufactured by Alstom capable of reaching 300 km/h. Unlike the Pendolino, this train is articulated and has concentrated traction.
During this time, the manufacturer and Amtrak have worked to adapt and certify the operation of the NextGen trains, which feature the compact tractor heads that will also be used on the Avelia Horizon (TGV-M for SNCF).
Alstom trains made in the USA
The trains have been manufactured in the United States at Alstom’s Hornell plant in New York, with components sourced from more than 180 suppliers in 29 states. Amtrak points out that its manufacturing has generated close to 15,000 direct jobs.
Although 28 trains have been procured, it will start with the introduction of five units. The plan is to complete the commissioning of the rest progressively over the next two years.
The new trains offer several improvements over the current trains. These include a higher maximum speed of 187 mph (ca. 301 km/h) and a tilting system that will increase the speed in curves without affecting passenger comfort. However, they’ll only reach 160 mph /ca. 257 km/h) due to track limitations.
In addition, the capacity of the trains is increased by 27%, they have free 5G Wi-Fi connection, individual sockets and reading lights.
Amtrak president Roger Harris noted that NextGen Acela “is more than a new train, it’s an evolution in the way we travel”.
This launch is part of a larger transformation of Amtrak’s fleet, which also includes the addition of Amtrak Airo trains on various routes, refurbishment of long-distance locomotives and comprehensive interior upgrades in dining cars, sleeping rooms and panoramic lounges.