Avelia Liberty

Avelia Liberty, also known as the Acela II, is a high-speed passenger train built for the North American market by French manufacturer Alstom and assembled in the United States. Amtrak has ordered 28 trainsets for use on its flagship '' Acela'' service along the Northeast Corridor between Boston and Washington, D.C., via New York City and Philadelphia.

It is part of the Avelia family of high-speed trains, which also includes the Avelia Horizon (now known as TGV M) designed for the TGV, but adapted to conform with North American railroad standards, including U.S. Federal Railroad Administration crashworthiness standards. Amtrak says that compared to the prior generation, these trainsets would allow for improved frequency and greater capacity on the ''Acela'' service.

, two prototype trainsets were undergoing testing and construction of the other trainsets was ongoing. Trains are expected to enter passenger service in the fall of 2023.

History

In August 2016, Amtrak announced a $2.4 billion loan from the United States Department of Transportation for the purchase of new high-speed trainsets for the '' Acela'' service from Alstom. Alstom will also provide long-term technical support and supply spare components and parts. These next generation trainsets would replace the 20 existing Bombardier-Alstom trainsets that were nearing the end of their useful service life.

Amtrak said that the Avelia Liberty trainsets would allow for improved frequency and greater capacity on the ''Acela'' service. The 28 trainsets ordered (compared to the 20 older trainsets) would allow for more frequent service on the route, including half-hourly peak service between New York City and Washington, D.C. Each of the new trainsets will also have 378 seats and 8 wheelchair locations for a total capacity of 386 passengers (25% more than the current trainsets), allowing for greater passenger capacity.

U.S. assembly of the trainsets is taking place at Alstom's plants in Hornell and Rochester, New York. Initial construction of car bodies and major components began at Hornell in October 2017. 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. During the nine months of expected trials, the trainsets were tested at speeds up to . A second prototype was delivered in March 2020 to Amtrak for testing along the service tracks in the Northeast which began in May 2020. The first test run up to Boston South Station occurred on September 28.

By 2020, the first trainset was expected to enter revenue service in early 2022, with all trainsets in service by late 2022, at which point Amtrak would retire the previous ''Acela'' fleet. However, , full high-speed testing is not expected to begin until late 2022.

Features and production

Although Amtrak initially favoured a New Pendolino derivative, the trainset trailers are based on the AGV and power car design is based on Avelia Horizon. The trainsets 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°.

Each Avelia Liberty trainset 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 Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Tier-III standards while allowing a 30% reduction in train weight. These trains will also have USB ports, power sockets, Wi-Fi, accessibility features, and other conveniences.

The new trainsets, along with track and signaling improvements, will allow for an initial improvement in maximum regular service speed to on some portions of the route. Many investments into track and signaling upgrades are currently underway or completed.

See also

* Avelia Horizon
* Pendolino

References

External links

Amtrak - The Next Generation of Acela
- official page

Avelia Liberty high-speed-train
on Alstom's website.

Footage of high-speed testing in Pueblo, CO
from Amtrak's YouTube channel.

New Acela Interior Preview
from Amtrak's YouTube channel.

{{Pendolino

High-speed rail in the United States
High-speed trains
Pendolino
Alstom high-speed trains
High-speed trains of the United States
Electric multiple units with locomotive-like power cars
Amtrak rolling stock
Northeast Corridor
Train-related introductions in 2023
25 kV AC multiple units