Alstom has celebrated the debut of Amtrak’s new high-speed NextGen Acela trains on the United States’ Northeast Corridor.

The Avelia Liberty trains, which were built by Alstom in its hub in Hornell, NY, are capable of operating at speeds of up to 160 mph, positioning them as the fastest trains in America.

The new trains will operate along the Northeast Corridor

© Alstom

Each of the new 28 trains offers an additional 27% seating space than Amtrak’s previous Acelass.

CEO of Alstom, Henri Poupart-Lafarge, said:

The NextGen Acela trains are the first high-speed trains built in America. The team at Alstom has brought nearly five decades of global experience in high-speed rail to the United States to deliver the fastest and most technologically advanced trains in the nation.

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.

Part of Alstom’s Avelia line, the NextGen Acela will connect major cities from Washington DC to New York to Boston, and shares its technology platform with the new generation of France’s Avelia Horizon trains.

The trains have been specifically adapted for the Northeast Corridor, with wheel-and-axle frames located underneath the gangways between cars, forming a single, connected trainset which supports Alstom’s own Tiltronix active-tilt system.

Each unit also incorporates lighter-weight components, brake-energy regeneration, improved aerodynamics, traction drive efficiency and eco-driving technology.

The units feature expansive windows, winged headrests, free Wi-Fi, USB ports, power outlets, reading lights and ergonomically designed seating, as well as a cafe car.

The purchase of the 28 trains will allow Amtrak to run 40% more Acela services than it currently offers.

Alstom enlisted the help of workshops across the globe for the design and manufacturing of the Avelia Liberty trainsets, with services coming from France, Italy and India.

The company has also committed to a 15 year-long Technical Support and Spares Supply Agreement to aid in the optimisation of the total lifecycle costs of the trains, as well as ensuring full maintenance.

Under the Agreement; Alstom will provide parts for preventative and corrective maintenance, component overhauls, training, maintenance and support to maximise fleet availability. Each trainset has been embedded with almost 100 sensors to monitor wear and tear, as well as predict when critical parts must be services or replaced, with Alstom guaranteeing spare part replacement within eight hours when needed.

Amtrak President Roger Harris, said:

Acela is synonymous with American high-speed trains, and today marks a new era of next-generation service.

On behalf of everyone at Amtrak, I’m proud to welcome you aboard NextGen Acela. The future of high-speed rail starts now.

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