Latest news with #JasonAbrams
Newsweek
6 hours ago
- Business
- Newsweek
New Trains Set For High-Speed Route Linking Washington D.C. And Boston
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. 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.
Boston Globe
2 days ago
- Business
- Boston Globe
Could old Acelas be a providential opportunity?
After all, the 'FirstGen' Acelas can clearly handle the route, having served it for more than 20 years. Could Rhode Island or Massachusetts buy the soon-to-be-retired trainsets, slap some purple paint on them, and start a Providence-to-Boston shuttle? I emailed Amtrak's spokesperson, Jason Abrams, about the fate of the old Acelas. Here's what he said: 'Amtrak will decommission the FirstGen Acela trainsets per our current fleet decommissioning process, which includes disposing of the trainsets safely per all applicable regulations and allows for private organizations to acquire.' Advertisement As a great Rhode Islander once put it, that seems to mean Go ahead, tell me how dumb an idea it is seems so sensible for both states. Advertisement More, faster commuter rail service would help workers and businesses in Boston if Providence, with its lower-cost housing, was more accessible. And it would boost Rhode Island's economy to connect it with the economic engine of Boston. Amtrak trains do provide that speedy service now, but the timetable isn't very convenient for someone who wants to live in Providence and commute to Boston. Tickets are also often much more expensive than the T's $12.25 one-way fare. For instance, when I checked on Friday, the cheapest seat on Amtrak's 8:41 a.m. departure — the only one that gets you to South Station before 10 a.m. — was $53. And if you want to get to Boston before 9 a.m. on Amtrak, forget it — your only choice leaves Providence at 12:26 a.m. The downside of express commuter rail trains is that if they replace current Providence Line departures, the result would be fewer trains for commuters in suburban Massachusetts local stops. Trains that used to stop in Attleboro and Mansfield would speed through them instead. Adding new express departures on top of the existing schedule would solve that problem, but run into a different one — South Station's So Providence commuters probably shouldn't hold their breath. But hey, in another 20 years or so, when the new Acelas are nearing retirement… This is an excerpt from , a Globe Opinion newsletter about the future of transportation in the region. Sign up to . Advertisement Alan Wirzbicki is Globe deputy editor for editorials. He can be reached at
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Yahoo
Metro-North and Amtrak in heavy delays after power line failure in Connecticut
Commuters in New York and Connecticut were experiencing heavy delays Friday morning, after a Thursday evening outage hampered Amtrak and Metro-North Railroad service through Connecticut. The overhead catenary power lines for all four tracks east of Westport failed shortly before 5 p.m. Thursday night, a transit source told the Daily News, bringing service on Metro-North's New Haven Line and Amtrak's Northeast Corridor to a halt. An MTA spokesman said crews worked through the night, enabling operation on at least one track in the overnight hours. By morning, service had been restored on two tracks, according to Amtrak spokesman Jason Abrams. The first Metro-North train of the day, Train 1188 bound for NYC from New Haven, departed 15 minutes late and did not make all stops, an MTA spokesman said, and residual 15 minute delays had continued throughout the morning. Amtrak was reporting continued heavy rail congestion after the morning rush as repair work was ongoing. 'All services operating between Stamford and New Haven are currently experiencing a delay due to an electrical system outage, resulting in heavy rail congestion and speed restrictions in the area,' the federal railway said in a statement 'Our rail partner's track maintenance team is currently working to restore the electrical system.' The cause of the outage is still under investigation.
