Amtrak unveils NextGen Acela — ‘premium ride’ – Business News
Five new Amtrak trains will start rolling out between Washington, DC, New York and Boston at high speeds of 160 mph beginning Thursday.
The inaugural NextGen Acela experience is taking off from Washington’s Union Station, the place the Department of Transportation is planning to reclaim management to “restore this federal asset to its former glory,” to New York’s Penn Station.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy demanded Amtrak improve public security on the practice station earlier this 12 months, which aligns with President Trump’s administration’s broader push to crack down on crime within the nation’s capital.
Amtrak’s NextGen Acela is taken into account a “premium ride” for vacationers, offering free high-speed Wi-Fi, particular person USB ports, energy retailers and studying lights.
Fares for one-way business class service between Washington and New York on Friday, Aug. 29, ran $498 per traveler, in accordance with Amtrak’s reserving web site.
“NextGen Acela is more than a new train — it’s an evolution of travel,” Amtrak President Roger Harris mentioned in an Aug. 7 assertion. “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.”
A complete of 28 trains will enter service by 2027.
Amtrak’s NextGen Acela is taken into account a “premium ride” for vacationers, offering free high-speed Wi-Fi, particular person USB ports, energy retailers and studying lights. AFP by way of Getty Images
They offer 27% more seats per departure and more service, with expanded weekday and weekend schedules, Amtrak mentioned.
“The NextGen Acela fleet was assembled at Alstom’s facility in Hornell, NY by skilled Machinists Union workers, using components from over 180 suppliers across 29 states—creating approximately 15,000 U.S. jobs,” Amtrak mentioned in a media release.
Acela first launched on Dec, 11. 2000 in what Amtrak calls “the nation’s busiest rail corridor.”
Fares for one-way business class service between Washington and New York on Friday, Aug. 29, ran $498 per traveler, in accordance with Amtrak’s reserving web site. AFP by way of Getty Images
A complete of 28 trains will enter service by 2027. They offer 27% more seats per departure and more service, with expanded weekday and weekend schedules, Amtrak mentioned. AFP by way of Getty Images
The first-edition trains solely reached speeds of 150 mph, which is 10 mph much less than the new ones.
Trump, during his first time period, repeatedly sought to cut funding to Amtrak, which acquired about $2.4 billion in annual federal assist in 2023.
Congress in March permitted $2.42 billion for Amtrak by Sept. 30 in annual funding.
The railroad company, which has been run since March by its president, Harris, has not named a new CEO. It set a new passenger document final 12 months.
FOX Business’ Lydia Hu and Reuters contributed to this report.
