Overview

• Amtrak placed five NextGen Acela trainsets into revenue service this week, with a phased rollout to the full 28-train fleet by 2027.
• The new sets add about 27% more seats and amenities such as 5G Wi‑Fi, power and USB at every seat, a revamped café model, and expanded accessibility features.
• Although certified for 160 mph, operating speeds remain constrained on much of the route, including sub‑100 mph limits in Connecticut, so initial schedules show little or no time savings.
• The fleet was assembled by Alstom in Hornell, New York using parts from roughly 180 U.S. suppliers, a program reported to have supported around 15,000 jobs.
• USDOT moved to retake management of Washington Union Station as service launched, and federal partners set a goal to start New York Penn Station construction by the end of 2027.