Amtrak’s Acela service on its Boston to Washington routes, the closest the U.S. has so far to a real TGV, will soon get a bit faster and a bit nicer thanks to new trainsets being built for the line and one hundred miles of infrastructure upgrades.
The 28 new trains, which will take 378 passengers each and have a bunch more amenities, including power at every seat, reading lights and airplane-style individual AC outlets, are being built in upstate New York by Alstom, the French company that supplies France’s TGV trains. They will replace Acela’s original 20 trainsets, now approaching 20 years old. The old trains have seats for 304. Cost for the trains totals about $2.4 billion.
In addition to the trains, Amtrak is investing in serious upgrades along a 100+ mile stretch of track, with modern overhead power and upgraded electric substations. Together with roadbed and signal improvements, Amtrak expects to be able to run the new trains at 160 mph for significant stretches; if the line were up to it, they are capable of 186 mph. Reaching higher speeds and longer stretches would require straightening long sections of the route, laid out over 100 years ago with different requirements.
