Five new Amtrak trains will begin rolling out between Washington, D.C., New York and Boston at top speeds of 160 mph starting Thursday.
The inaugural NextGen Acela ride is taking off from Washington’s Union Station, where the U.S. 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 safety at the train station earlier this year, which aligns with President Donald Trump’s administration’s broader push to crack down on crime in the nation’s capital.
Amtrak’s NextGen Acela is considered a “premium ride” for travelers, offering free high-speed Wi-Fi, individual USB ports, power outlets and reading lights. Fares for one-way business class service between Washington and New York on Friday, Aug. 29, ran $498 per traveler, according to Amtrak’s booking website.
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“NextGen Acela is more than a new train—it’s an evolution of travel,” Amtrak President Roger Harris said in an Aug. 7 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.”
A total 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 said.
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“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 said in a media release.
Acela first launched on Dec, 11. 2000 in what Amtrak calls “the nation’s busiest rail corridor.” The first-edition trains only reached speeds of 150 mph, which is 10 mph less than the new ones.
Trump, during his first term, repeatedly sought to cut funding to Amtrak, which received about $2.4 billion in annual federal support in 2023. Congress in March approved $2.42 billion for Amtrak through 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 record last year.
FOX Business’ Lydia Hu and Reuters contributed to this report.
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