Avelia Liberty

In 2000, Amtrak introduced the Acela service along the Northeast Corridor between Boston and Washington, D.C., via New York City and Philadelphia. The service uses a dedicated Acela Express trainset that was built by a consortium of Alstom and Bombardier between 1998 and 2001.{{Cite web |date=December 11, 2015 |title=Happy 15th Anniversary, Acela Express! — Amtrak: History of America's Railroad |url=https://history.amtrak.com/blogs/blog/happy-15th-anniversary-acela-express |access-date=May 31, 2023 |website=history.amtrak.com}}

In August 2016, Amtrak announced a $2.4 billion loan from the United States Department of Transportation for the purchase of new high-speed train sets for the Acela service from Alstom. Alstom will also provide long-term technical support and supply spare components and parts.{{Cite news |last=Vantuono |first=William C. |date=August 27, 2016 |title=Alstom lands Amtrak next-gen NEC trainset contract |url=https://www.railwayage.com/passenger/intercity/alstom-lands-amtrak-next-gen-nec-trainset-contract/ |access-date=August 29, 2016 |work=Railway Age |publisher=Simmons-Boardman Publishing Inc.}} These next generation train sets would replace the 20 existing trainsets that were nearing the end of their useful service life.{{Cite news |last=Chase |first=Randall |title=Biden announces new funding for Amtrak Northeast Corridor |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/ap-biden-announces-new-funding-for-amtrak-northeast-corridor-2016-8 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310203015/https://www.businessinsider.com/ap-biden-announces-new-funding-for-amtrak-northeast-corridor-2016-8 |archive-date=March 10, 2021 |access-date=January 27, 2020 |work=Business Insider}}{{Cite press release |title=Amtrak Invests $2.4 Billion for Next-Gen High-Speed Trainsets and Infrastructure Upgrades |date=August 26, 2016 |publisher=Amtrak |url=https://media.amtrak.com/2016/08/amtrak-invests-2-4-billion-for-next-gen-high-speed-trainsets-infrastructure-upgrades/ |access-date=April 8, 2018}}{{Cite press release |title=Alstom to provide Amtrak with its new generation of high-speed trains |date=August 26, 2016 |publisher=Alstom |url=http://www.alstom.com/press-centre/2016/8/alstom-to-provide-amtrak-with-its-new-generation-of-high-speed-train/}} The 28 train sets ordered would allow for more frequent service on the Northeast Corridor, including half-hourly peak service between New York City and Washington, D.C.{{Cite web |title=Next-Generation High Speed Trains |url=https://nec.amtrak.com/project/next-generation-high-speed-trains/ |access-date=June 30, 2020 |website=Amtrak |language=en-US}}

File:Avelia Liberty Kearny Junction.jpg in Kearny, New Jersey during testing in 2020]]U.S. assembly of the train sets is taking place at Alstom's plants in Hornell and Rochester, New York.{{Cite web |last=Sneider |first=Julie |date=December 2016 |title=Amtrak's 'Liberty' will be the latest of Alstom's high-speed Avelia trains |url=https://www.progressiverailroading.com/amtrak/article.aspx?id=50291 |access-date=April 8, 2018 |publisher=Progressive Railroading}} Initial construction of car bodies and major components began at Hornell in October 2017.{{Cite news |date=October 11, 2017 |title=Production of next-generation Acela Express fleet underway |url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/traction-rolling-stock/single-view/view/production-of-next-generation-acela-express-fleet-underway.html |url-access=limited |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112031431/https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/traction-rolling-stock/single-view/view/production-of-next-generation-acela-express-fleet-underway.html |archive-date=November 12, 2020 |access-date=October 20, 2017 |work=Railway Gazette International}} The first prototype set was sent to the Transportation Technology Center (TTC) in Pueblo, Colorado in February 2020 for testing on the high-speed test track.{{Cite news |last=Briginshaw |first=David |date=February 18, 2020 |title=Next-Gen Acela Enroute to TTCI |url=https://www.railwayage.com/passenger/high-performance/next-gen-acela-enroute-to-ttci/ |access-date=June 30, 2020 |work=Railway Age |language=en-US}} During the nine months of expected trials, the train sets were tested at speeds up to {{Convert|165|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}.{{Cite news |last=Corselli |first=Andrew |date=May 22, 2020 |title=Amtrak Continues Testing on New Acela Fleet |url=https://www.railwayage.com/passenger/amtrak-continues-testing-on-new-acela-fleet/ |access-date=June 30, 2020 |work=Railway Age |language=en-US}} A second prototype was delivered in March 2020 to Amtrak for testing along the service tracks in the Northeast which began in May 2020.{{Cite web |date=February 22, 2019 |title=Amtrak Procurement and Program Updates |url=http://www.highspeed-rail.org/Documents/Amtrak%20Procurement%20and%20Program%20Update.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304014429/http://www.highspeed-rail.org/Documents/Amtrak%20Procurement%20and%20Program%20Update.pdf |archive-date=March 4, 2021 |access-date=March 15, 2019 |website=Next Generation Equipment Committee – 2019 Annual Meeting |publisher=American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials}} The first test run up to Boston South Station occurred on September 28, 2020.{{Cite news |last=Gaffin |first=Adam |date=September 28, 2020 |title=Acela replacement makes first trip to Boston |url=https://www.universalhub.com/2020/acela-replacement-makes-first-trip-boston |access-date=December 8, 2020 |work=Universal Hub}}

By 2020, the first train set was expected to enter revenue service in early 2022, with all train sets in service by late 2022, at which point Amtrak would retire the previous Acela fleet.{{Cite news |title=First Amtrak Avelia emerges |url=https://www.railwaygazette.com/high-speed/first-amtrak-avelia-emerges/55182.article |url-access=limited |access-date=January 27, 2020 |work=Railway Gazette International |language=en}}{{Cite press release |title=New Acela Fleet fact sheet |publisher=Amtrak |url=https://www.amtrak.com/content/dam/projects/dotcom/english/public/documents/corporate/for-acela-next-gen-fact-sheet.pdf |access-date=January 27, 2020}}{{Cite speech |last=Jagodzinski |first=Chris |event=Massachusetts Bay Railroad Enthusiasts Third Thursday |date=March 18, 2021 |title=An Inside Look at the Next Generation Acela |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ssC7B-MIps}} By February 2022, full high-speed testing was not expected to begin until later that year.{{Cite web |last=Ruppert |first=Daniel P. |date=February 25, 2022 |title=Update on Acquisitions And Capital Programs |url=http://www.highspeed-rail.org/Documents/9.b.%20NGEC%20Annual%20Mtg%2002252022%20%20Ruppert.pdf/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220302181120/http://www.highspeed-rail.org/Documents/9.b.%20NGEC%20Annual%20Mtg%2002252022%20%20Ruppert.pdf/ |archive-date=March 2, 2022 |publisher=PRIIA Section 305 Next Generation Corridor Equipment Pool Committee (NGEC) |page=6}} In May 2022, 15 of the 28 trainsets were in "some phase of production".{{Cite web |last=Cupper |first=Dan |date=May 24, 2022 |title=Amtrak invites press to inspect new-generation Acela |url=https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/amtrak-invites-press-to-inspect-new-generation-acela/ |access-date=February 5, 2023 |website=Trains |language=en-US |quote=Fifteen of the 28 sets are in “some phase of production,” he said.}}

Testing at up to {{convert|165|mph}} took place in 2022. As of May 2023, the first trainsets were expected to enter revenue service in 2024, three years behind schedule. Testing has revealed incompatibility issues due to the lack of tracks built to accommodate high-speed trains—Acela shares tracks with commuter lines and freight lines—and the age of infrastructure in the Northeast, some of which dates back almost two centuries.{{Cite news |last=Lazo |first=Luz |date=May 27, 2023 |title=Testing 'difficulties' delay launch of faster Acela trains, Amtrak says |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2023/05/27/amtrak-acela-trains-delayed/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230527121230/https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2023/05/27/amtrak-acela-trains-delayed/ |archive-date=May 27, 2023 |access-date=May 27, 2023 |work=The Washington Post}}{{Cite news |last=Mann |first=Ted |date=May 30, 2023 |title=Amtrak's New $2 Billion High-Speed Acela Fleet Slowed by Century-Old Tracks |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/amtrak-acela-high-speed-train-2024-a7d8f2ca?mod=hp_lista_pos2 |access-date=May 30, 2023 |work=Wall Street Journal}}

In October 2023, a report from the Amtrak Office of Inspector General disclosed that the Avelia Liberty would likely go into service in the second half of 2024. The report cited several previously undisclosed issues with the trainsets, including spontaneously shattering window glass on some trains. {{Cite news |last=Fitzgerald |first=Thomas |date=October 4, 2023 |title=Amtrak's inspector general says first of new $2 billion Acelas don't meet federal standards |url=https://www.inquirer.com/transportation/amtrak-new-acelas-alstom-safety-standards-defects-inspector-general-report-20231004.html |access-date=October 5, 2023 |work=Philadelphia Inquirer |language=en}}

On January 13, 2024, Amtrak announced that after thirteen previous failures, the Avelia Liberty had passed a series of computer simulations of running the trains over the Northeast Corridor tracks. Having passed the simulation, the trainsets were approved by the Federal Railroad Administration for on-track testing between Washington and Boston.{{Cite news |last=Walker |first=Mark |date=January 13, 2024 |title=After Years of Delays, Amtrak Moves Toward Faster Trains in the Northeast |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/13/us/politics/acela-amtrak-avelia.html |access-date=January 14, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}} By December 2024, 14 of the 28 trainsets had been delivered and revenue service was expected to begin in Spring 2025.{{Cite news |last=Johnston |first=Bob |date=December 4, 2024 |title=Amtrak public board meeting addresses equipment timelines |url=https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/amtrak-public-board-meeting-addresses-equipment-timelines/ |access-date=December 8, 2024 |work=Trains News Wire |language=en-US}}

Although Amtrak initially favored a New Pendolino derivative, the train set trailers are based on the AGV and the power car design is based on that of the Avelia Horizon, designed for the French high-speed rail network (TGV),{{Cite web |date=October 11, 2017 |title=Production of next-generation Acela Express fleet underway |url=https://www.railwaygazette.com/traction-and-rolling-stock/production-of-next-generation-acela-express-fleet-underway/45300.article |access-date=June 27, 2022 |website=Railway Gazette International |language=en}} but adapted to conform with North American railroad standards, including the U.S. Federal Railroad Administration (FRA)'s Tier III crashworthiness standards.

Besides containing more train sets than the prior generation, the new fleet will have train sets that each have 378 seats and 8 wheelchair locations for a total capacity of 386 passengers, allowing for 25% greater passenger capacity per train set. They will be equipped with an active tilt system, dubbed Tiltronix by Alstom and based on Pendolinos, that will allow higher speeds on curved portions of the corridor track at a maximum tilt angle of 6.3°.{{Cite web |title=More than providing tracks |url=https://www.unlv.edu/sites/default/files/page_files/27/More-Than-Providing-Trains-Providing-Transportations-Solutions.pdf |access-date=November 27, 2023 |website=unlv.edu}}

Each Avelia Liberty train set has power cars at each end of the train, and (initially) nine articulated passenger cars. An additional three passenger cars can be added if demand grows. The power cars include a Crash Energy Management system to help meet the FRA's Tier-III standards while allowing a 30 percent reduction in train weight.{{Cite web |date=August 26, 2016 |title=Amtrak awards Northeast Corridor high speed train contract |url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/high-speed/single-view/view/amtrak-awards-northeast-corridor-high-speed-train-contract.html |url-access=limited |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919034729/https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/high-speed/single-view/view/amtrak-awards-northeast-corridor-high-speed-train-contract.html |archive-date=September 19, 2020 |access-date=August 29, 2016 |website=Railway Gazette International |publisher=DVV Media UK Ltd.}}{{Cite news |last=Luczak |first=Marybeth |date=April 1, 2022 |title=Acela Trainsets: Amtrak Reveals Interiors, New Revenue Service Date (UPDATED) |url=https://www.railwayage.com/passenger/high-performance/look-inside-amtrak-acela-trainsets/ |publisher=Railway Age}} These trains will also have USB ports, power sockets, Wi-Fi, accessibility features, touchless bathroom facilities, trip information displays, a café car, improved HVAC, and other conveniences.{{Cite news |last=Barrow |first=Keith |date=August 8, 2018 |title=A look inside Alstom's Avelia Liberty |url=https://www.railwayage.com/passenger/high-performance/a-look-inside-alstoms-avelia-liberty/ |access-date=March 26, 2021 |work=Railway Age |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Lazo |first=Luz |date=April 13, 2022 |title=Amtrak's faster, higher-tech Acela trains are delayed again |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2022/04/13/amtrak-acela-trains-delay/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220413192155/https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2022/04/13/amtrak-acela-trains-delay/ |archive-date=April 13, 2022 |access-date=January 26, 2023 |work=The Washington Post |department=Transportation}}

The new train sets, along with track and signaling improvements, will allow for an initial improvement in maximum regular service speed to {{Convert|160|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} on some portions of the route.{{Cite web |last=Alstom |date=2016 |title=Case Study: Amtrak Avelia Liberty |url=http://www.alstom.com/Global/Transport/Resources/Documents/brochure2014/Avelia%20Liberty%20-%20Amtrak%20-%20Case%20study%20-%20English.pdf?epslanguage=en-GB |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011225150/https://www.alstom.com/Global/Transport/Resources/Documents/brochure2014/Avelia%20Liberty%20-%20Amtrak%20-%20Case%20study%20-%20English.pdf?epslanguage=en-GB |archive-date=October 11, 2016}} Many infrastructure upgrades are underway or completed, allowing for more frequent service and faster speeds.{{Cite web |title=New Jersey High-Speed Rail Improvement Program |url=https://nec.amtrak.com/project/new-jersey-high-speed-rail-improvement-program/ |access-date=December 2, 2020 |website=Amtrak |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Jacobs |first=Jennifer |last2=Sink |first2=Justin |date=January 30, 2023 |title=Amtrak Bottleneck Turns Biden's Focus to His Favorite Rail Route |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-01-30/biden-to-kick-off-work-to-relieve-east-coast-amtrak-bottleneck |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230131030930/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-01-30/biden-to-kick-off-work-to-relieve-east-coast-amtrak-bottleneck |archive-date=January 31, 2023 |access-date=February 4, 2023 |work=Bloomberg}}{{Cite news |last=Kanno-Youngs |first=Zolan |last2=McGeehan |first2=Patrick |date=January 31, 2023 |title=Biden Offers Millions for New York Rail Tunnel, Courtesy of His Infrastructure Bill |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/31/us/politics/biden-hudson-gateway-penn-station-amtrak.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230131203748/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/31/us/politics/biden-hudson-gateway-penn-station-amtrak.html |archive-date=January 31, 2023 |access-date=February 4, 2023 |work=New York Times}}{{clear}}

{{Portal|Trains|United States}}

• Alstom Avelia Horizon, a French bilevel high-speed train manufactured by Alstom
• Pendolino, a European family of high-speed tilting trains, currently manufactured by Alstom
• High-speed rail in the United States

{{Reflist}}

{{external media|model1=[https://www.alstom.com/sites/alstom.com/files/styles/related_media_cover/public/2018/07/12/20180712-avelia_liberty_for_amtrak-avelia_liberty_solution_page.jpg?h=49ab6177&itok=kBXrFgja Avelia Liberty 3D model on alstom.com]|video1=[http://cdn.streamlike.com/uc/getCode?swfskin=11&colorskin=11&player=3&code=1&controlbar=bottom&object=1&width=900&height=506&bw_mode=1&subtitle=false&mod1=22&med_id=d3c84de22fb5a9a7&width=900&height=506&t=2.926884&width=100%&autostart=true 'Avelia Liberty' on alstom.com]}}

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• [https://www.amtrak.com/next-generation-acela-express Amtrak - The Next Generation of Acela] - official page
• [http://www.alstom.com/products-services/product-catalogue/rail-systems/trains/products/avelia-liberty-high-speed-train/ Avelia Liberty high-speed-train] on Alstom's website.
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9ZoWqIXd4M Footage of high-speed testing in Pueblo, CO] from Amtrak's YouTube channel.
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMMkVQ3PWqw New Acela Interior Preview] from Amtrak's YouTube channel.

{{Amtrak rollingstock}}

{{TGV navbox}}

{{High-speed rail}}

{{High-speed rail in the United States}}

{{Pendolino}}

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Category:High-speed trains of the United States

Category:Electric multiple units with locomotive-like power cars

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