Avelia Liberty

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Avelia Liberty
NextGen Acela / Acela II
Amtrak Avelia Liberty on its inaugural revenue run (cropped).jpg
Avelia Liberty in New Jersey on August 28, 2025, the first day of service
Manufacturer Alstom
Built at Hornell, New York
Family name Avelia
Constructed2017–present
Entered serviceAugust 28, 2025
Number under construction28 trainsets
Predecessor Acela Express (trainset)
Formation11 cars (2 power cars, 9 passenger cars)
Fleet numbers2100–2155 (power cars)
Capacity386
Operators Amtrak
Depots
Specifications
Train length698.5 ft (212.9 m)
Maximum speed
  • Service: 160 mph (257 km/h)
  • Design (with tilting): 187 mph (300 km/h)
  • Design (without tilting): 220 mph (355 km/h)
Axle load 17 tons
Traction system IGBT–VVVF inverter control
Traction motors 3-phase AC induction motors
Power output7,000 kW (9,400 hp) total
TransmissionAC-DC-AC
Electric system(s)
Current collection Pantograph (1 per power car, 1 in use per train)
Braking system(s)
Safety system(s) Advanced Civil Speed Enforcement System
Track gauge 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Notes/references
Specifications: [1]

Avelia Liberty, marketed by Amtrak as the NextGen Acela [2] and previously referred to as Acela II [3] during the procurement phase, is a tilting high-speed passenger trainset built for the North American market by French manufacturer Alstom and assembled in the United States. Amtrak has ordered 28 train sets for use on its flagship Acela service along the Northeast Corridor between Boston, New York, and Washington, promising higher capacity than the first-generation Acela trainset.

Contents

Part of Alstom's Avelia family of high-speed trains, the Avelia Liberty is adapted for Federal Railroad Administration Tier III crashworthiness standards and other North American requirements.

Trains began testing in 2020, with a planned entry into service for 2022. After several delays, the first five train sets entered passenger service on August 28, 2025. [4] [5] [6]

History

In 2000, Amtrak introduced the Acela service along the Northeast Corridor between Boston and Washington, D.C., via New York City and Philadelphia. The service uses a dedicated Acela Express trainset that was built by a consortium of Alstom and Bombardier between 1998 and 2001. [7]

In August 2016, Amtrak announced a $2.4 billion loan from the United States Department of Transportation for the purchase of new high-speed train sets for the Acela service from Alstom. Alstom will also provide long-term technical support and supply spare components and parts. [8] These next generation train sets would replace the 20 existing trainsets that were nearing the end of their useful service life. [9] [10] [11] The 28 train sets ordered would allow for more frequent service on the Northeast Corridor, including half-hourly peak service between New York City and Washington, D.C. [12]

Construction and testing

The second train set on the Sawtooth Bridges in Kearny, New Jersey during testing in 2020 Avelia Liberty Kearny Junction.jpg
The second train set on the Sawtooth Bridges in Kearny, New Jersey during testing in 2020

U.S. assembly of the train sets is taking place at Alstom's plants in Hornell and Rochester, New York, [13] with parts supplied by over 180 companies in 29 states. [6] Initial construction of car bodies and major components began at Hornell in October 2017. [14] The first prototype set was sent to the Transportation Technology Center (TTC) in Pueblo, Colorado in February 2020 for testing on the high-speed test track. [15] During the nine months of expected trials, the train sets were tested at speeds up to 165 mph (266 km/h). [16] A second prototype was delivered in March 2020 to Amtrak for testing along the service tracks in the Northeast which began in May 2020. [17] The first test run up to Boston South Station occurred on September 28, 2020. [18]

By 2020, the first train set was expected to enter revenue service in early 2022, with all train sets in service by late 2022, at which point Amtrak would retire the previous Acela fleet. [19] [20] [21] By February 2022, full high-speed testing was not expected to begin until later that year. [22] In May 2022, 15 of the 28 train sets were in "some phase of production". [23]

Testing at up to 165 miles per hour (266 km/h) took place in 2022. As of May 2023, the first train sets were expected to enter revenue service in 2024, three years behind schedule. Testing has revealed incompatibility issues due to the lack of tracks built to accommodate high-speed trains—Acela shares tracks with commuter lines and freight lines—and the age of infrastructure in the Northeast, some of which dates back almost two centuries. [24] [25]

In October 2023, a report from the Amtrak Office of Inspector General disclosed that the Avelia Liberty would likely go into service in the second half of 2024. The report cited several previously undisclosed issues with the train sets, including spontaneously shattering window glass on some trains. [26]

On January 13, 2024, Amtrak announced that after thirteen previous failures, the Avelia Liberty had passed a series of computer simulations of running the trains over the Northeast Corridor tracks. Having passed the simulation, the train sets were approved by the Federal Railroad Administration for on-track testing between Washington and Boston. [27] By December 2024, 14 of the 28 train sets had been delivered and revenue service was expected to begin in spring 2025. [28] The first five train sets entered service on August 28, 2025. [5] [6] Its top speed during commercial service is around 160 miles per hour (260 km/h). [6]

Features and production

The first in-service train departing Boston South Station on August 28, 2025 First in-service Avelia Liberty departs Boston August 2025 (cropped).jpg
The first in-service train departing Boston South Station on August 28, 2025

Although Amtrak initially favored a New Pendolino derivative, the train set trailers are based on the AGV and the power car design is based on that of the Avelia Horizon, designed for the French high-speed rail network (TGV), [29] but adapted to conform with North American railroad standards, including the U.S. Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)'s Tier III crashworthiness standards.

Besides containing more train sets than the prior generation, the new fleet will have train sets that each have 378 seats and 8 wheelchair locations for a total capacity of 386 passengers, allowing for 25% greater passenger capacity per train set. [10] [13] They will be equipped with an active tilt system, dubbed Tiltronix by Alstom and based on Pendolinos, that will allow higher speeds on curved portions of the corridor track at a maximum tilt angle of 6.3°. [13] [30]

Each Avelia Liberty train set has power cars at each end of the train, and (initially) nine articulated passenger cars. An additional three passenger cars can be added if demand grows. The power cars include a crash energy management system to help meet the FRA's Tier III standards while allowing a 30 percent reduction in train weight. [31] [32] These trains will also have USB ports, power sockets, Wi-Fi, accessibility features, touchless bathroom facilities, trip information displays, a café car, improved HVAC, audio and visual announcements in every rail car, and other conveniences. [6] [33] [34] Train rides are reportedly smoother than the previous generation. [6]

The new train sets, along with track and signaling improvements, will allow for an initial improvement in maximum regular service speed to 160 miles per hour (260 km/h) on portions of the route previously cleared for 150 mph (240 km/h) operations. [35] Many infrastructure upgrades are underway or completed, allowing for more frequent service and faster speeds. [10] [36] [37] [38]

Formation

Each train set consists of two power cars, one at each end, and nine passenger cars. The passenger cars include a 43-seat First Class end car; a 39-seat Business Class car with a galley for attendants serving First Class passengers; three 49-seat Business Class cars; a Café (food service) car; two additional 49-seat Business Class cars; and a 59-seat Business Class end car designated as a quiet car. There are a total of 386 seats per train set. [39] [40]

Car no.123456789Total
DesignationPowerFirst ClassBusiness ClassCaféBusiness ClassBusiness Class
(quiet car)		Power—
Capacity—4339494949—494959—386

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Avelia Liberty press kit". Alstom Transport. July 26, 2016. Archived from the original on July 26, 2020. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
  2. ↑ "NextGen Acela". Amtrak. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
  3. ↑ Vantuono, William (May 23, 2022). "First Look: Amtrak/Alstom Acela II". Railway Age. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  4. ↑ "NextGen Acela | Amtrak". www.amtrak.com. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
  5. 1 2 Franz, Justin (August 8, 2025). "New Acela Trains to Enter Service August 28". Railfan & Railroad Magazine. Retrieved August 8, 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Castro-Root, Gabe; Masuike, Hiroko (August 29, 2025). "Sleeker, Comfier, a Tiny Bit Faster: Riding Amtrak's New Acela". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 30, 2025. Retrieved August 31, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Happy 15th Anniversary, Acela Express! — Amtrak: History of America's Railroad". history.amtrak.com. December 11, 2015. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  8. ↑ Vantuono, William C. (August 27, 2016). "Alstom lands Amtrak next-gen NEC trainset contract". Railway Age. Simmons-Boardman Publishing Inc. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
  9. ↑ Chase, Randall (August 26, 2016). "Biden announces new funding for Amtrak Northeast Corridor". Business Insider. Archived from the original on March 10, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  10. 1 2 3 "Amtrak Invests $2.4 Billion for Next-Gen High-Speed Trainsets and Infrastructure Upgrades" (Press release). Amtrak. August 26, 2016. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  11. ↑ "Alstom to provide Amtrak with its new generation of high-speed trains" (Press release). Alstom. August 26, 2016.
  12. ↑ "Next-Generation High Speed Trains". Amtrak. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  13. 1 2 3 Sneider, Julie (December 2016). "Amtrak's 'Liberty' will be the latest of Alstom's high-speed Avelia trains". Progressive Railroading. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Production of next-generation Acela Express fleet underway". Railway Gazette International. October 11, 2017. Archived from the original on November 12, 2020. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
  15. ↑ Briginshaw, David (February 18, 2020). "Next-Gen Acela Enroute to TTCI". Railway Age. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  16. ↑ Corselli, Andrew (May 22, 2020). "Amtrak Continues Testing on New Acela Fleet". Railway Age. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  17. ↑ "Amtrak Procurement and Program Updates" (PDF). Next Generation Equipment Committee – 2019 Annual Meeting. American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. February 22, 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2021. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  18. ↑ Gaffin, Adam (September 28, 2020). "Acela replacement makes first trip to Boston". Universal Hub. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  19. ↑ "First Amtrak Avelia emerges" . Railway Gazette International. November 20, 2019. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  20. ↑ "New Acela Fleet fact sheet" (PDF) (Press release). Amtrak. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  21. ↑ Jagodzinski, Chris (March 18, 2021). An Inside Look at the Next Generation Acela (Speech). Massachusetts Bay Railroad Enthusiasts Third Thursday.
  22. ↑ Ruppert, Daniel P. (February 25, 2022). "Update on Acquisitions And Capital Programs". PRIIA Section 305 Next Generation Corridor Equipment Pool Committee (NGEC). p. 6. Archived from the original on March 2, 2022.
  23. ↑ Cupper, Dan (May 24, 2022). "Amtrak invites press to inspect new-generation Acela". Trains. Retrieved February 5, 2023. Fifteen of the 28 sets are in "some phase of production," he said.
  24. ↑ Lazo, Luz (May 27, 2023). "Testing 'difficulties' delay launch of faster Acela trains, Amtrak says". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on May 27, 2023. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  25. ↑ Mann, Ted (May 30, 2023). "Amtrak's New $2 Billion High-Speed Acela Fleet Slowed by Century-Old Tracks". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
  26. ↑ Fitzgerald, Thomas (October 4, 2023). "Amtrak's inspector general says first of new $2 billion Acelas don't meet federal standards". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  27. ↑ Walker, Mark (January 13, 2024). "After Years of Delays, Amtrak Moves Toward Faster Trains in the Northeast". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  28. ↑ Johnston, Bob (December 4, 2024). "Amtrak public board meeting addresses equipment timelines". Trains News Wire. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  29. ↑ "Production of next-generation Acela Express fleet underway". Railway Gazette International. October 11, 2017. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  30. ↑ "More than providing tracks" (PDF). unlv.edu. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  31. ↑ "Amtrak awards Northeast Corridor high speed train contract". Railway Gazette International . DVV Media UK Ltd. August 26, 2016. Archived from the original on September 19, 2020. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
  32. ↑ Luczak, Marybeth (April 1, 2022). "Acela Trainsets: Amtrak Reveals Interiors, New Revenue Service Date (UPDATED)". Railway Age.
  33. ↑ Barrow, Keith (August 8, 2018). "A look inside Alstom's Avelia Liberty". Railway Age. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  34. ↑ Lazo, Luz (April 13, 2022). "Amtrak's faster, higher-tech Acela trains are delayed again". Transportation. The Washington Post. Archived from the original on April 13, 2022. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  35. ↑ Alstom (2016). "Case Study: Amtrak Avelia Liberty" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 11, 2016.
  36. ↑ "New Jersey High-Speed Rail Improvement Program". Amtrak. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  37. ↑ Jacobs, Jennifer; Sink, Justin (January 30, 2023). "Amtrak Bottleneck Turns Biden's Focus to His Favorite Rail Route". Bloomberg. Archived from the original on January 31, 2023. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  38. ↑ Kanno-Youngs, Zolan; McGeehan, Patrick (January 31, 2023). "Biden Offers Millions for New York Rail Tunnel, Courtesy of His Infrastructure Bill". New York Times. Archived from the original on January 31, 2023. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  39. ↑ Warner, David; Sutton, Harry (September 1, 2025). "Amtrak Trainset Roster". On Track On Line. Retrieved September 1, 2025.
  40. ↑ Alan, David Peter (August 28, 2025). "NextGen Acela Inaugural Run Impressions". Railway Age. Retrieved August 31, 2025.
External 3D model
Cube NoEdges RGBfaces 64px.png Avelia Liberty 3D model on alstom.com

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