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

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.
Click to expand...
 
I'm concerned the old train sets will be phased out over time rather than all at once but we'll see...
Click to expand...

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.
Click to expand...
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.
Click to expand...
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
Click to expand...

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.
 
Its still in crew testing but they seem to be doing that more aggressively over the last few months, so hopefully sometime in the fall.
 
I asked a crew member on the Acela I took on Friday last week when to expect the new trainsets and he said he’d been told August but that he doesn’t have too much faith it will be in August and he’ll believe it when he sees it 💀
 
themissinglink said:
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
Click to expand...
I'm so sick to death of him & this crap!!!!!!!! We need the equipment!! The old Acelas are breaking down & have served their useful life. They are ready for the boneyard!!!!! Let's work toward getting the new trains in service now!!!!!! :mad:
 
Last edited:
awood91 said:
I asked a crew member on the Acela I took on Friday last week when to expect the new trainsets and he said he’d been told August but that he doesn’t have too much faith it will be in August and he’ll believe it when he sees it 💀
Click to expand...

I think that it's just another tease!!!!They are promising that the new trains will go into service, then nothing!!!! I'd be surprised if they do, but then again, I'm from Missouri!!!!!!! Born at night, NOT LAST NIGHT!!!!! Hah!!!!!!! :mad: :eek:
 
Ok guys it’s a happy day! I just spotted a new Acela train set in the wild in revenue service 🙌🏼

It was traveling southbound and I saw it at the Wilmington, DE station traveling northbound on an old train set.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_7487.jpeg
    3.1 MB · Views: 144
awood91 said:
Ok guys it’s a happy day! I just spotted a new Acela train set in the wild in revenue service 🙌🏼

It was traveling southbound and I saw it at the Wilmington, DE station traveling northbound on an old train set.
Click to expand...
Are you positive it was in revenue service and not just testing? If so, that's awesome! I've seen a few of these (as recently as last Thursday) on tracks between Boston and Providence, but I assumed they were test trains.
 
PVD this afternoon. Sitting on track one with a lot of crew and no passengers. Presumably training?
IMG_8665.jpeg
 
awood91 said:
Yeah passengers were boarding/exiting and it had its external display saying Washington as the destination so I am sure it was in service 💪🏼
Click to expand...
Not yet. They're doing training and qualifying runs this week so there's lots of staff on board and they are making simulated station stops, but...no...they have not carried any passengers yet.

Apparently 3 trainsets have been officially accepted for service, per Amtrak employee posts on RR.net. They need 5 sets accepted to start blocking out timeslots for official revenue service starts. So it could be any week now.
 
F-Line to Dudley said:
Not yet. They're doing training and qualifying runs this week so there's lots of staff on board and they are making simulated station stops, but...no...they have not carried any passengers yet.

Apparently 3 trainsets have been officially accepted for service, per Amtrak employee posts on RR.net. They need 5 sets accepted to start blocking out timeslots for official revenue service starts. So it could be any week now.
Click to expand...
Damn, I was thoroughly convinced it was the real deal! Either way, making progress in the right direction 🫡
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top