Latest news with #highspeedtrains
CBS News
4 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.
CBS News
4 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.
CNN
5 days ago
- Business
- CNN
Amtrak announces debut date for new Acela trains
Amtrak's NextGen Acela highspeed trains are set to debut this month after years of delays. New faster Acela trains will begin revenue service on August 28 along the Northeast Corridor between Washington, New York and Boston, Amtrak announced on Thursday. '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,' said Amtrak President Roger Harris, in a statement. Five of the new trainsets will be part of the initial launch, with a total of 28 expected to enter service by 2027. Amtrak says the new trains will allow for 27% more seats per departure. The seats will feature individual power outlets, reading lights and winged headrests for comfort and privacy. The trains will be equipped with free, high-speed 5G-enabled Wi-Fi. The new trains can reach a maximum speed of 160 miles per hour, 10 miles per hour greater than current Acela models. A tilt system will provide a smoother, quieter ride on the new trains, Amtrak says. 'It's a fundamentally better experience than anything Americans have been able to travel on to date in this country,' said Amtrak executive vice president Laura Mason in a video introducing the new trains. The maximum speed of the NextGen Acela is still considerably slower than the world's fastest trains in Asia and Europe, some of which can travel at more than 200 miles per hour. Amtrak first introduced its Acela product in 2000. The NextGen trains were outlooked to enter service in 2022, but experienced numerous hurdles delaying their introduction. Amtrak said it would provide more information as the launch approaches about how passengers can locate and select NextGen Acela trains. Both the current and NextGen models will be in operation in the coming months.
CNN
5 days ago
- Business
- CNN
Amtrak announces debut date for new Acela trains
FacebookTweetLink Amtrak's NextGen Acela highspeed trains are set to debut this month after years of delays. New faster Acela trains will begin revenue service on August 28 along the Northeast Corridor between Washington, New York and Boston, Amtrak announced on Thursday. '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,' said Amtrak President Roger Harris, in a statement. Five of the new trainsets will be part of the initial launch, with a total of 28 expected to enter service by 2027. Amtrak says the new trains will allow for 27% more seats per departure. The seats will feature individual power outlets, reading lights and winged headrests for comfort and privacy. The trains will be equipped with free, high-speed 5G-enabled Wi-Fi. The new trains can reach a maximum speed of 160 miles per hour, 10 miles per hour greater than current Acela models. A tilt system will provide a smoother, quieter ride on the new trains, Amtrak says. 'It's a fundamentally better experience than anything Americans have been able to travel on to date in this country,' said Amtrak executive vice president Laura Mason in a video introducing the new trains. The maximum speed of the NextGen Acela is still considerably slower than the world's fastest trains in Asia and Europe, some of which can travel at more than 200 miles per hour. Amtrak first introduced its Acela product in 2000. The NextGen trains were outlooked to enter service in 2022, but experienced numerous hurdles delaying their introduction. Amtrak said it would provide more information as the launch approaches about how passengers can locate and select NextGen Acela trains. Both the current and NextGen models will be in operation in the coming months.
CNN
5 days ago
- Business
- CNN
Amtrak announces debut date for new Acela trains
FacebookTweetLink Amtrak's NextGen Acela highspeed trains are set to debut this month after years of delays. New faster Acela trains will begin revenue service on August 28 along the Northeast Corridor between Washington, New York and Boston, Amtrak announced on Thursday. '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,' said Amtrak President Roger Harris, in a statement. Five of the new trainsets will be part of the initial launch, with a total of 28 expected to enter service by 2027. Amtrak says the new trains will allow for 27% more seats per departure. The seats will feature individual power outlets, reading lights and winged headrests for comfort and privacy. The trains will be equipped with free, high-speed 5G-enabled Wi-Fi. The new trains can reach a maximum speed of 160 miles per hour, 10 miles per hour greater than current Acela models. A tilt system will provide a smoother, quieter ride on the new trains, Amtrak says. 'It's a fundamentally better experience than anything Americans have been able to travel on to date in this country,' said Amtrak executive vice president Laura Mason in a video introducing the new trains. The maximum speed of the NextGen Acela is still considerably slower than the world's fastest trains in Asia and Europe, some of which can travel at more than 200 miles per hour. Amtrak first introduced its Acela product in 2000. The NextGen trains were outlooked to enter service in 2022, but experienced numerous hurdles delaying their introduction. Amtrak said it would provide more information as the launch approaches about how passengers can locate and select NextGen Acela trains. Both the current and NextGen models will be in operation in the coming months.
