Photo: Amtrak After more than two decades, Amtrak has launched its new flagship trains - the NextGen Acela, in the northeast corridor of the United States.
For the first time since 2000, entirely new trains will enter this corridor, offering upgraded service, increased capacity, and a modern travel experience between Washington, New York, and Boston.
After a long anticipation, the first train departed yesterday morning at 5:00 AM from Washington and at 6:00 AM from Boston, thus opening a new chapter in American public transportation history. In the inauguration ceremony at Union Station in Washington, Amtrak's President, Roger Harris, stated: “Acela is synonymous with American high-speed rail, and today marks the beginning of a new era of next-generation service.” Chairman Tony Coscia added that passengers will immediately notice a more modern and advanced service.
Photo: Amtrak
Photo: Amtrak
U.S. Transportation Secretary, Sean Duffy, underlined that the new service enables Amtrak to offer more affordable prices while improving the company’s profitability, and also announced that Union Station itself, which has been neglected in recent years, will undergo renovation. Deputy Secretary Steve Bradbury linked the initiative to the current administration's policy: “The launch of the new Acela is a critical starting point on our journey to make Washington a global transportation hub.”
A New Travel Experience for Passengers
Amtrak's next-generation trains offer passengers significant upgrades: free 5G internet, charging outlets and personalized lighting at every seat, alongside an enhanced dining experience at Acela's café and trolley service in the business class. A fleet of 28 new trains will gradually enter service by 2027 with 27% more seating and increased travel frequency throughout the week.
The trains were assembled at Alstom's plant in Hornell, New York, employing thousands of machinists and utilizing components from 180 suppliers across 29 states—a project that created approximately 15,000 jobs in the U.S. NextGen Acela is a key component of Amtrak's modernization program, which also includes the new Amtrak Airo fleet, advanced locomotives for long-haul routes, and a comprehensive refurbishment of existing passenger cars.
In the U.S., it is noted that the launch of NextGen Acela signifies not just a technological upgrade but also a broad strategic move aimed at bringing American high-speed rail back to the forefront and transforming the travel experience in the country's busiest corridor.