Amtrak's next-generation Acela trains gear up for big debut
It's been years in the making, and it's nearly here.
Amtrak's next-generation Acela trainsets are officially hitting the rails Aug. 28, the company announced Thursday.
It's a major upgrade for passengers, and a milestone for Amtrak after years of delays and anticipation for the new, state-of-the-art Acela product.
From the outset, it will be a bit of a limited rollout.
Amtrak on Thursday said it plans to debut five of its next-generation trainsets at launch, later this month. That means you'll still see some Acela frequencies operated by the existing equipment over the coming months, as more of the new trains are introduced to the fleet.
In all, the company has 28 of its brand-new Acela trains slated to enter revenue service through 2027.
Amtrak stopped short of sharing the deployment schedule for the new trains, but noted that travelers will be able to tell which Acela departures are operated by the new trainsets during the booking process.
As such, you'll want to pay particularly close attention to your seat assignment on the Amtrak app to determine if you're traveling on one of the new trains.
These next-generation Acela trains will offer Amtrak's top-of-the-line premium experience in the Northeast Corridor between Washington, D.C., and Boston.
Travelers can expect modernized seats and cabins, as well as high-speed 5G Wi-Fi, individual power outlets and reading lights.
Furthermore, the new trains will offer 27% more seats per departure than the existing fleet, and Amtrak says that will allow it to expand more weekday and weekend schedules.
TPG got a preview of the new trains back when they first hit the rails for testing in 2022, but mum's been the word from Amtrak since the train's introduction was indefinitely delayed.
As recently as last year, Amtrak had hoped for a spring 2025 deployment of the new Acela trains as it wrapped up testing.
Despite the delays, this is exciting news for travelers who frequently ride the rails of the Northeast Corridor.
Stay tuned to TPG for more updates, including the initial deployment schedule, in the coming days.
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