Latest news with #NortheastCorridor
Condé Nast Traveler
3 days ago
- Business
- Condé Nast Traveler
Amtrak's New Acela Trains Are Finally Debuting This Month
This Labor Day Weekend, Amtrak is rolling out brand new high-speed trains along its most popular route. Starting Thursday, August 28, the train company will debut its long-awaited NextGen Acela, a reimagined high-speed train that runs along the Northeast Corridor between Boston and Washington DC. The much-anticipated trains were first slated to go into service in 2022, but their debut was delayed as Amtrak faced several hurdles to deploying them. Nonetheless, the momentous launch will be a significant milestone for the train line. 'NextGen Acela is more than a new train—it's an evolution of travel,' Amtrak President Roger Harris said in a statement. '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.' Here's everything travelers need to know about Amtrak's new era of high-speed train travel. What to expect Amtrak's NextGen Acela trains will reach speeds of up to 160 mph (current Acelas go 150 mph at top speed). However, this may not immediately translate to shorter travel times come August, as the new trains will still be operating on old tracks. Eventually, NextGen Acela trips between Washington DC and Boston could be about 20 minutes faster than the current Acelas, according to Amtrak's 2040 plan. Instead, the most noticeable difference off the bat will be the onboard rider experience. The new Acela trains will feature a redesigned café car with a new grab-and-go section containing pre-packaged meals and soft drinks—making long-distance journeys all the more bearable. Excitingly, Amtrak is also bringing back its food and beverage cart service, so travelers in business class will be able to purchase refreshments right from their seats. First-class passengers will still be served full meals.
CBS News
3 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Amtrak's new high-speed Acela trains are coming soon to Boston, New York, D.C. and the Northeast Corridor
Amtrak's newest high-speed trains are coming soon to the Northeast Corridor. The "NextGen" Acela trains will start serving riders between Boston, New York and Washington, D.C. on Aug. 28. Five of the new trains will be hitting the rails initially. Amtrak says 28 NextGen Acela trains will be in service by 2027. Other cities that will be served by the NextGen trains include Baltimore, Wilmington, Delaware; Philadelphia; New Haven, Connecticut and Providence, Rhode Island. The NextGen trains can reach top speeds of 160 mph, which is 10 mph faster than the current Acela fleet. They feature a "tilt system" that will help the trains navigate curves at high speeds. The new trains have plugs on every seat for riders to charge their devices, free high-speed Wi-Fi, reading lights, winged headrests for privacy and larger bathrooms. "It's a smoother, gentler, more comfortable ride" Amtrak Executive Vice President Eliot Hamlisch said. The new trains will allow for 27% more seats per departure, Amtrak says. Adding the NextGen trains will also allow for more weekday and weekend service. Other cities that will be served by the NextGen trains include Baltimore, Wilmington, Delaware; Philadelphia; New Haven, Connecticut and Providence, Rhode Island. In 2019, CBS News got a first look at the NextGen trains that Amtrak said would shave about 15 to 20 minutes off the busy route between New York and D.C. At the time, the company said it hoped to have the trains running by 2021. A 2023 watchdog report from the Amtrak Office of Inspector General on the years-long delay found that vendor's designs had not yet met federal safety requirements and the trainsets had defects that needed to be fixed.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Next-generation trains to enter service this month
Amtrak 's new 160mph Acela trains are scheduled to begin service on 28 August. These next-generation trains will operate on the Northeast Corridor, connecting Washington DC 's Union Station to Boston via cities including New York and Philadelphia. How much time the new trains shave off hasn't been revealed yet. The new Acela fleet offers 27 per cent more seating capacity, upgraded interiors with increased legroom, high-speed 5G Wi-Fi, and in-seat charging ports. Key features include an enhanced 'anticipative' tilting system for smoother and faster travel through curves, improved cafe cars, and an upgraded first-class meal service. Five new trainsets will be introduced initially, with the number rising to 28 through 2027; they were assembled in New York using components from across the United States.
CBS News
3 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Amtrak's new high-speed Acela trains are coming soon to Boston, New York and Washington, D.C.
Amtrak's newest high-speed trains are coming soon to the Northeast Corridor. The "NextGen" Acela trains will start serving riders between Boston, New York and Washington, D.C. on Aug. 28. Five of the new trains will be hitting the rails initially. Amtrak says 28 NextGen Acela trains will be in service by 2027. The NextGen trains can reach top speeds of 160 mph, which is 10 mph faster than the current Acela fleet. They feature a "tilt system" that will help the trains navigate curves at high speeds. The new trains have plugs on every seat for riders to charge their devices, free high-speed Wi-Fi, reading lights, winged headrests for privacy and larger bathrooms. "It's a smoother, gentler, more comfortable ride" Amtrak Executive Vice President Eliot Hamlisch said. The new trains will allow for 27% more seats per departure, Amtrak says. Adding the NextGen trains will also allow for more weekday and weekend service. Other cities that will be served by the NextGen trains include Baltimore, Wilmington, Delaware; Philadelphia; New Haven, Connecticut and Providence, Rhode Island. In 2019, CBS News got a first look at the NextGen trains that Amtrak said would shave about 15 to 20 minutes off the busy route between New York and D.C. At the time, the company said it hoped to have the trains running by 2021. A 2023 watchdog report from the Amtrak Office of Inspector General on the years-long delay found that vendor's designs had not yet met federal safety requirements and the trainsets had defects that needed to be fixed.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Amtrak reveals launch date for new 160mph tilting trains on the East Coast
Amtrak's new 160mph tilting trains serving stations on the Northeast Corridor will enter service on August 28, it has been announced. The next-generation Acela trains will run from Washington DC's Union Station to Boston via Philadelphia, New York Penn Station, New Haven, and Providence, a total distance of 457 miles. The current end-to-end journey time with the tilting Acela trains introduced in 2000 is typically six hours and 40 minutes. How much time the new trains shave off that hasn't been revealed yet, but they do have a top service speed that's 10mph faster — though this can only be achieved on certain sections of the mostly 110mph route — and an enhanced "anticipative" tilting system that not only allows for a smoother ride, Amtrak claims, but for faster speeds through curves. Amtrak also points out that the new Acela offers 27 percent more seating capacity per departure and upgraded interiors in standard, business, and first-class cars with more legroom. Features include onboard cafe cars, high-speed 5G-enabled Wi-Fi, in-seat USB ports and plug sockets, individual reading lights, winged headrests that Amtrak says "provide more comfort and separation," and seat covers made out of recycled leather. In first class, there are solo seats and an improved at-seat meal service featuring dishes by the current Acela meal provider — James Beard award-winning restaurateur Stephen Starr. New to Cafe Acela, meanwhile, is the addition of a grab-and-go self-service for "quick and easy checkout." A cart service will also travel the aisles on select departures. To book, passengers can use an interactive reservation system using the Amtrak app. Five new trainsets will be in service initially, with the number rising to 28 through 2027. Though the trains are designed by French firm Alstom, which makes France's famed 200mph TGVs, Amtrak revealed that the NextGen Acela fleet was assembled at Alstom's facility in Hornell, New York, using components from over 180 suppliers across 29 states, creating approximately 15,000 jobs. "NextGen Acela is more than a new train — it's an evolution of travel," said Amtrak President Roger Harris. "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."
