Train to travel from New York to Colorado ahead of 2021 launch
WASHINGTON – The first of Amtrak’s 28 new Acela trainsets, scheduled
to enter service throughout the Northeast Corridor (NEC) in 2021, will be leaving
from Alstom’s facility in Hornell, N.Y. on Monday, Feb, 17 for high-speed
testing at the Transportation Technology
Center near Pueblo, Colo. Nine months of dynamic testing will include the trainset’s
pantograph, railway dynamics, tilting, traction, slip/slide and wayside protection,
brakes, and train control management systems. Once complete, the trainset will return
to Alstom for installation of its interiors.
“Amtrak is proud to celebrate this major
achievement for the new Acela fleet program, as we are bringing customers
one step closer to enjoying the benefits of these new trains,” said Amtrak President and
CEO Richard Anderson. “With strong demand for Acela travel continuing to
grow, we will test the trains to ensure customers will have safe and reliable service
with modern amenities when these trains go into service next year.”
“Alstom
is immensely pleased to partner with Amtrak to deliver Acela high-speed
trainsets for service on the Northeast Corridor,” said Jérôme Wallut, Senior
Vice-President for Alstom in North America. “We would like to thank and
congratulate all of our employees, suppliers and partners who helped make this
important milestone a reality. This milestone is another step closer in the
realization of high-speed train manufacturing here in America.”
Amtrak
served more than 3.5 million Acela customers in FY19, a 4.3% increase
from FY18. In Dec. 2019, Acela had its best month ever, with a 16% ridership
increase over the previous year.
The new trains will
accommodate nearly 25 percent more customers while continuing the spacious,
high-end comfort of the current Acela
service. Each train will feature improved Wi-Fi access, personal
outlets, USB ports and adjustable reading lights and feature sustainable components,
including seating made from recycled leather.
Acela trains are also the country’s fastest, most comfortable and all-electric intercity trains, providing a more environmentally friendly way to travel. Amtrak will further reduce its carbon footprint by using 40 percent less energy per Acela customer when these trains enter service.
In
preparation for the new fleet, Amtrak is undertaking a record amount of track
and infrastructure work along the NEC aimed at improving ride quality,
increasing reliability, and increasing overall on-time performance. Additional
information about Amtrak’s support of the new Acela can be found at Amtrak.com/FutureofRail.
Alstom is building the next generation high-speed Acela trainsets using parts manufactured by nearly 250 suppliers in 27 states, with 95 percent of the components produced domestically. More than 1,300 new jobs are being generated in nearly 90 communities across the United States to support production, including the creation of new, sustainable, high-tech, engineering and manufacturing jobs. Alstom employs more than 800 people in Hornell, including members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.
The prototype set will travel from Buffalo, N.Y., to La Junta, Colo., via Chicago, from the 17– 19, on the route used by the Amtrak Lake Shore Limited and Southwest Chief trains. Those who want to see or take photos of this movement are reminded to stay well-away from the tracks and platforms, and should absolutely not trespass on private railroad property.
Alstom
has also completed the assembly of its second trainset, which is expected to
travel to Amtrak’s Penn Coach Yard in Philadelphia for testing in March 2020.
The construction of the third trainset began in November 2019 and is
tentatively scheduled to travel to Philadelphia for testing in September 2020.
To see photos of the new fleet under construction, on its way to Pueblo, and/or mockups of the interiors, please see our photo album here.