Acela & Amtrak NEC (HSR BOS-NYP-WAS and branches only)

RandomWalk said:
I rode the Acela this week. The trains are really showing their age. The trays are very temperamental and the bathrooms are really worn. However, I would still spring for first class Acela over any of the flights down to NYC.

I’m hoping that the Avelias don’t get caught up in politics and my next trip will be on them.
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Should be any day now that revenue service begins. I'm concerned the old train sets will be phased out over time rather than all at once but we'll see...
 
news.bgov.com

Amtrak Northeast Corridor Would Lose 25% of Funds in Trump Plan

Amtrak’s busy Northeast Corridor would see a drop in grant funding under President Donald Trump’s new proposed budget request, Lillianna Byington reports.
news.bgov.com news.bgov.com
The Trump administration is proposing that Congress give about $850 million to the Northeast Corridor in fiscal 2026, a roughly 25% decrease from $1.14 billion in fiscal 2025, according to budget documents posted on Friday. Amtrak’s national network, which operates rail lines across the country, would get $1.58 billion, up from $1.29 billion the previous year.
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I'm concerned the old train sets will be phased out over time rather than all at once but we'll see...
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FWIW, at the May 22 board meeting, a "Spring 2025" launch for was indicated. From what I've read elsewhere, the plan is to start with 5 trainsets, so it will be a phase-in. I'm eagerly anticipating the new trainsets but also preparing myself for the inevitable kinks (i.e. random issues & disruptions) that'll need to be worked out as part of the rollout.

As a weekly commuter from BOS<->NYP, I agree that the trains are definitely showing their age, but it's still a much more convenient option for me to go from a BOS suburb back-and-forth to Manhattan vs. flying.
 
Anyone have any idea when the new Acela trainsets will be in revenue service? I've seen many dates thrown out there that have come and gone. Also disappointing that the timetable hasn't seen any adjustments yet (in padding reduction or higher top speed) to reflect the new trains. Unfortunately with the current state of infrastructure it seems like this is purely a reliability, capacity, and comfort upgrade rather than a travel time one.
 
sneijder said:
Anyone have any idea when the new Acela trainsets will be in revenue service? I've seen many dates thrown out there that have come and gone. Also disappointing that the timetable hasn't seen any adjustments yet (in padding reduction or higher top speed) to reflect the new trains. Unfortunately with the current state of infrastructure it seems like this is purely a reliability, capacity, and comfort upgrade rather than a travel time one.
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Amtrak employees on RR.net are currently saying it's close, and that end of this month is not out of the question. There's been a surge in FRA official ride-alongs on the testing runs, which indicates that final fed approval could be imminent. I'd say sometime in August is probably a safer bet, but unlike during the false hope of the spring speculation they've lately been testing the sets at a rate like they're in a real hurry to go.

The Acela timetables are not going to improve until all of the Acela 1's are retired and no longer taking rotations. As long as any given slot could be taken up by an old set, all slots on the high-speed schedule have to be predicated on a top speed limit of 150 MPH instead of 160 MPH. It might be late-2026 before the old sets are completely purged and the schedules start to snap several minutes tighter from the higher speed limit.
 
F-Line to Dudley said:
Amtrak employees on RR.net are currently saying it's close, and that end of this month is not out of the question. There's been a surge in FRA official ride-alongs on the testing runs, which indicates that final fed approval could be imminent. I'd say sometime in August is probably a safer bet, but unlike during the false hope of the spring speculation they've lately been testing the sets at a rate like they're in a real hurry to go.

The Acela timetables are not going to improve until all of the Acela 1's are retired and no longer taking rotations. As long as any given slot could be taken up by an old set, all slots on the high-speed schedule have to be predicated on a top speed limit of 150 MPH instead of 160 MPH. It might be late-2026 before the old sets are completely purged and the schedules start to snap several minutes tighter from the higher speed limit.
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An arcticle on Reddit says that they are in service already, but so far, I've heard nothing. No news report, celebrations or anything. so far, I think that this info is faulse, generalization & just downright ridiculousness. Nothing has come fron Amatrak either. Nothing on Wikipedia. org either. :eek:
 
An arcticle on Reddit says that they are in service already
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I'm all over Amtrak stuff and haven't seen anything other than incorrect predictions. That said, the moment anyone puts their butt in a a revenue Avelia Liberty seat, I'm sure it'll be everywhere on social media.
 
I have Acela bookings to NYP for early September and I'm praying the new fleet is in service by then.
 
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