Just after sunrise on Thursday, the NextGen Acela accelerated to speeds up to 160 miles per hour, its electric hum fading as travelers watched the coastal New England landscape blur past their windows.
Inside the train, every detail gleamed — spotless windows, pristine seats, and a subtle new-train scent filled the air as it headed southbound.
This moment marked the culmination of a decade-long, $2.35 billion collaboration between Amtrak and French manufacturer Alstom to replace the aging Acela fleet serving the Northeast Corridor. As the inaugural commercial journey departed Boston’s South Station bound for Washington, passengers were visibly excited despite the early hour.
Ben Wang, a transit enthusiast who traveled cross-country from San Jose, California to board the first run, described the experience as "quiet, smooth, and truly special" — a rare opportunity to be part of a high-speed rail milestone.
The NextGen Acela offers several upgrades for riders, including larger windows, enhanced Wi-Fi, convenient grab-and-go dining options, and power outlets available at every seat. Upcoming features like live location tracking displayed on overhead screens and self-checkout options in the café car are expected to debut soon.
Although the new trains can reach a top speed of 160 miles per hour—10 mph faster than their predecessors—the overall schedule remains unchanged. In fact, the fastest scheduled trip on the launch day was 7 hours and 4 minutes, 24 minutes longer than the quickest original Acela service, a variance typical throughout the day. Acela still maintains a substantial speed advantage over Amtrak’s standard Northeast Regional trains.
Many passengers appeared content with the slightly extended travel time.
Elodia Garnett Perry, en route to her high school reunion in Delaware, said, "If I were in a rush, I might mind, but everything looks so nice. I’m hoping to convince my grandchildren to ride with me."
Multiple travelers noted that while the speed difference between 150 and 160 mph was imperceptible from the window, the journey itself felt much smoother.
The train’s velocity is limited more by infrastructure than by its own capabilities. Curves, outdated signaling, track congestion, and aging bridges and tunnels restrict the Acela from hitting top speed on all but about 71 miles of the 457-mile route.
Rail officials anticipate updating schedules as engineers optimize the new trains’ systems, though any time savings will likely be measured in minutes. Infrastructure projects planned over the next several years may further reduce travel times.
The NextGen Acela made a public debut the day before the commercial launch with a non-revenue trip from Washington to Boston. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy participated in a news conference at Washington’s Union Station before joining Amtrak’s president for a ceremonial ride.
Upon arrival in Boston, a celebratory event featured a performance of “Uptown Funk” played on a helicon, a type of tuba, welcoming the train to South Station.
Philip Palombi, an Amtrak engineer with more than two decades of experience, piloted the new train to Boston. He noted that the advanced controls would require some adjustment due to the increased technology involved.
"The technology we use to operate this train is completely different," Palombi said.
The inaugural passenger trip on Thursday proceeded smoothly aside from a briefly stuck door and the need to clear an unusually large bird from the windshield.
Train aficionados onboard exchanged information and recorded the journey, with Wang attaching a camera to his first-class window to capture a time-lapse of the entire trip.
The train’s modern design impressed some passengers.
Shannon Duescher, returning to Washington from a New Jersey concert, remarked, "When it arrived, I thought, ‘This looks like something straight from Europe.’"
Manav Shah, traveling from Boston to visit family in New Jersey, similarly praised the train, saying, "It feels like Amtrak has really raised its standards."
The NextGen trains incorporate technology shared with France’s high-speed TGV trains, both produced by Alstom.
During the journey, the train made ten stops, including New Haven, New York, and Philadelphia, where several other NextGen units gleamed in a nearby rail yard.
The original Acela fleet, introduced in December 2000, has surpassed its service prime. Increasing maintenance demands have led to some trains being cannibalized for spare parts to keep the remainder operational.
Reduced maintenance times with the NextGen fleet could allow for an additional daily departure, while the increased capacity of 82 extra seats per train will better accommodate projected ridership growth, expected to reach 50 percent by fiscal year 2030.
Upgrades to the corridor were long overdue, a reality acknowledged by Amtrak officials. Delays in the NextGen Acela program were influenced by regulatory disagreements and supply chain issues during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Manufactured at Alstom’s Hornell, New York facility, the trains include components sourced from over 180 suppliers across 29 states. Service begins with five NextGen trains, with 28 more scheduled for delivery by 2027.
Amtrak board chair Anthony Coscia emphasized that the onboard experience would be pivotal in changing public perceptions about the railroad.
"Everyone who rides this train will sense that we’re moving in the right direction," Coscia said.
Accessibility has been improved with fully wheelchair-accessible restrooms and, once configured, audio and visual announcements in every car.
After traveling just over seven hours, the inaugural train arrived in Washington with a quieter reception than the previous day’s festivities in Boston. Some passengers posed for photos beside the sleek electric locomotive and peeked into the operator’s cabin before leaving the station.
Shortly afterward, new passengers boarded for the return trip. Amtrak staff lined the platform, waving signs and sounding the train horn in celebration.
On schedule, the train departed, its bell ringing as it rounded the bend and gained speed.
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