Acela II (Alstom Avelia Liberty): Design, Production, Delivery, Acceptance

Well, that explains where one of the six trainsets went this week, but I saw on Thurs, 8/31 there were 6 Acela II trainsets in PHL. Not sure if a "new" one arrived or what is going on. The current Acela I trainsets are starting to look (and ride) a bit rough, so we need these new ones to get moving.

Trainset 5 went back and trainset 8 went to philly. 5 is going for retrofits according to what I read on facebook.

"Building on Amtrak’s expertise as the only high-speed rail operator in the U.S. and Alstom’s record of delivering world class, proven, high speed trainsets — Amtrak and Alstom have partnered to introduce the next generation of Acela.

The contract is part of a $2.45 billion investment in the heavily traveled Northeast Corridor (NEC) as part of a multifaceted modernization program to renew and expand Acela service. With 95% of the trainset components being made in America, our new Acelas have generated over 1,300 new jobs in over 90 cities across the United States.

With the introduction of the new Acela fleet, Amtrak is reimagining the future of rail and setting the stage for the next generation of train travel in America and on the NEC. Elevating the travel experience, the new Acela offers enhancements in comfort, technology, innovation, and safety on Amtrak’s most environmentally sustainable fleet of trains to date. Designed with the customer in mind, the new Acela has nearly 25% more seats with plenty of leg room, personal outlets and USB ports, complimentary WiFi, sophisticated onboard information systems, and spacious restrooms with contactless features

The new Acela will operate at top speeds of 160 mph vs. today’s fleet, which operates at top speeds of 150 mph.

Amtrak’s new Acela fleet is scheduled to enter service on the NEC in late 2024."

https://www.amtrak.com/next-generation- ... eed-trains

Looks like late 2024 is the new target.

Related article from Politico's E&E News site: New bullet trains misfire on old U.S. railroad tracks

https://www.eenews.net/articles/new-bul ... ad-tracks/

The first U.S.-made high-speed “bullet” trains will start running as early as 2024 between Boston, New York and Washington, with the promise of cutting transportation emissions by attracting new rail passengers who now drive or fly.

But Amtrak’s plan to run high-speed rail service on its Northeast Corridor faces a major obstacle — the 450-mile route does not have modern tracks that can handle the speed.

Amtrak, a federally owned passenger-rail company, will have to operate the new trains on tracks that were built more than a century ago for much slower commuter and freight service. The bullet cars will be forced to run slower than 110 mph in most segments.

As of Friday 9/8/23, the most recently assembled/released Avelia Liberty train set was towed by a pair of WNY&P Alco Centuries 50 miles west from the Alstom plant at Hornell NY to be temporarily stored at the shortline's yard at Olean NY. I guess Amtrak has run out of storage room at Race St yard Philadelphia where the previously built Avelias now slumber, awaiting what I don't know?

johnpbarlow wrote: ↑Sat Sep 09, 2023 6:17 am As of Friday 9/8/23, the most recently assembled/released Avelia Liberty train set was towed by a pair of WNY&P Alco Centuries 50 miles west from the Alstom plant at Hornell NY to be temporarily stored at the shortline's yard at Olean NY. I guess Amtrak has run out of storage room at Race St yard Philadelphia where the previously built Avelias now slumber, awaiting what I don't know?

Someone to fix the hundreds of issues currently wrong with each set. Why take a new set when you can not get one of the original delivery to run correctly.

Whoever dreamed that the "weary ERIE" would ever see an HSR train on its rails

An Avelia Liberty train set in storage at Philadelphia has been reported as departing Albany/Rensselaer as of 0635 Friday 9/14/23 on its way to Alstom at Hornell. Anyone know if the wheel tracking and pantograph issues seen in the testing done so far have resolutions?

Olean Times Herald

New passenger train parked in Allegany

It's got a snout on it! For eating or sniffing the track. Didn't notice that before

Yes - between the paint scheme and the position/shape of the cab window, it does look somewhat snake-like - you almost expect a long tongue to come flicking out from the front coupler...

They never should have towed it over the Eerie.

https://www.wcvb.com/amp/article/amtrak ... s/45331406

Amtrak's next-generation Acela trains, which were originally scheduled to enter service two years ago, took a test run through Massachusetts and the Northeast Corridor on Tuesday afternoon.
...

https://htv-streaming.hearst.io/efc07f7 ... _51241.mp4

Well that’s a small step forward.