New Trains Set For High-Speed Route Linking Washington D.C. And Boston
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Amtrak will begin rolling out NextGen Acela trains on August 28, launching five trainsets that will operate on the Northeast Corridor between Boston and Washington, D.C.
The new trains offer up to 160 mph top speeds, more seats per departure and upgraded onboard amenities, according to Amtrak.
Newsweek contacted Amtrak for more information via email.
Why it Matters
Amtrak is the largest high-speed rail provider in the United States, carrying over 30 million passengers annually. It is supported by state and federal subsidies, much of which is focused on maintaining the Northeast Corridor, which is the busiest part of its network. Amtrak has long-term plans to double the number of passengers it carries in the next three decades. If these construction works go to plan, the route could transport 66 million people a year by 2040.
What To Know
The NextGen Acela will operate along the Northeast Corridor between Boston and Washington, D.C, stopping at major stations including Providence, New York City, Stamford, New Haven's Union Station, Philadelphia and Baltimore.
A map of the new route that Amtrak's NexGen Acela trains will run on.
A map of the new route that Amtrak's NexGen Acela trains will run on.
Amtrak
Next-gen Acela offers roughly 27 percent more seating per departure compared with the prior Acela sets, along with ergonomic seating, larger windows, individual USB ports, power outlets and complimentary 5G-enabled Wi‑Fi, according to Amtrak.
The new NextGen fleet was assembled at Alstom's Hornell, New York, facility using components from suppliers across multiple states.
Amtrak has not released final pricing for the NextGen Acela seats or definitive, companywide changes to scheduled trip times on the corridor at the time of writing.
What People Are Saying
Jason Abrams, Amtrak senior public relations manager, told NBC Connecticut: "We're very excited about the new Acela trains, they are the biggest thing we're doing as a company in the past 25 years.
"It's more frequencies, more seats, more opportunities to ride, we'll have more service on weekdays and weekends and there's also more trains on the fleet so more opportunities to travel."
Amtrak President Roger Harris, in a news release quoted by CTNewsJunkie on Aug. 12, 2025: "NextGen Acela is more than a new train—it's an evolution of travel. In just a few weeks, history will be made with the debut of NextGen Acela as we launch a new standard for American train travel."
What Happens Next
Amtrak plans to continue phased deliveries through 2027 to reach 28 NextGen Acela train sets and to operate both legacy Acela and NextGen trains during the transition.
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