AMTRK’s Nextgen Essella.
Courtesy: Emitrack
Amtrack roll out Its Nextgen Alela On Thursday, trains mark the next phase for the US’s effort in high-speed rail.
Dubbing itself as a “American’s only high-speed rail service”, the new trains will run with a top speed of 160 mph between Washington, DC and Boston. It is an extension of the existing Acela trains of the emetrack, which runs through the busy northeast corridor and works at a speed of up to 150 mph on some sections of the route.
According to EMTRAK, over 69 million passengers have traveled on Acela trains since the service started at the end of 2000. In the financial year 2024, AMTRAK stated that customers rode more than 3 million Acela trips, born about $ 530 million in ticket revenue.
New trains contracted with French manufacturer Elstom will replace the current Acela devices. Emetrack stated that Nextgen Essella trains will accommodate 27% more customers and increase features such as free, high-speed Wi-Fi, as well as broad seats, a tilt system, enabling a smooth ride and more daily departure.
At the time of its launch, AMTRK said that it would start with five new trains, which aims to deploy all 28 by 2027.
AMTRK’s Nextgen Essela inside the train.
Courtesy: Emitrack
“I think the US deserves high-speed rail,” Transport Secretary Sean Dafi said at an event with AMTRK in Washington, DC on Wednesday, “It is at a distance of 160 mph, a great step in that process.”
Like their predecessor, Acela fleet offers only first class and business class seating. The railway company will operate both old trains and new models in the next few months as Nextgen trains will be added more.
“These trains are beautiful, they are glory, they are state -of -the -art, and they are American -made,” AMTRK President Roger Harris said at Wednesday’s program. “There has never been a better way to travel by train in America.”
Parts for new trains were manufactured in 29 states, producing 95% within the US, AMTRK said, “Manufacturing generated more than 1,200 new jobs.
By 2024, Ametrack had 16 Acela train assets.
A rocky track record
AMTRC employees run from AMTRK NextGen Esella, a new high speed train running between Washington, DC, and Boston, Washington, DC, DC, Union Station in 27 August, 2025, before AMTRK NextGen Esella.
Saul Loaib | AFP | Getty images
New trains are not without struggle. Ametrack originally planned to debut him in 2022, but faced several delays.
In May, AMTRK said it was Far away 450 roles to save $ 100 million at annual cost. Who came after the White House Allegedly forced CEO Stephen Gardner to resign in March as President Donald Trump Called for change. AMTRK has not yet received the name of a new CEO.
The railway company has also lost money for years. In financial year 2024, entrack Informed Revenue of $ 3.6 billion compared to $ 8.8 billion in capital and operational expenses. It recovered 84% of its operating costs with ticket sales and other revenue, said AMTRK.
New trains are much slower than their high -speed counterparts in Europe and Asia, with Japanese bullet trains running at a top speed of 200 mph.
This is not the first attempt by America in high-speed rail.
California has built a bullet train for more than a decade that may travel between Los Angeles and San Francisco in less than three hours. That vision has since PruningNow the goal is to connect with questions around its viability at just 170 miles of land.
Last month, Duffy Formally finished After a federal railway administration, all of the federal funding of California High-speed Rail Association Prescribed report The project was unable to meet its goals, and on Tuesday, she Drawn An additional $ 175 million from the project. California is the state Filed for suit It is called “illegal” action with federal funding canceled by the government.
Private railway company Brightline High-speed rail formula has also been tried in Florida. The company aims to privatize the railway system and has welcomed millions of passengers on its vehicles, which Travel At 125 mph.
But Brightline has its own proper share of financial struggles. The company is facing debt loans and reported a net loss of about $ 549 million in 2024, furthering an uncertain road.
