Tests of the first two Avelia Liberty high-speed train sets are underway in the Northeast Corridor and at a federal facility in Pueblo, Colo., and railroad crews have started training on the new technology in anticipation of a launch next spring, Amtrak officials said.

Transportation

In crisis, Amtrak focuses on testing and training for new trains to debut in 2021



A new high-speed Acela train pulls into Union Station in Washington on Monday. Testing for prototypes of the train is underway in the Northeast Corridor and at a federal facility in Pueblo, Colo. (Katherine Frey/The Washington Post)

By Luz Lazo
June 6, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. EDT

Manufacturing and testing of Amtrak’s new high-speed Acela trains, expected to debut next year in the Northeast, is on track despite interruptions to production and training during the coronavirus pandemic, officials said.

Testing of the first two Avelia Liberty high-speed train sets from French manufacturer Alstom, is underway in the Northeast Corridor and at a federal facility in Pueblo, Colo., and Amtrak said railroad crews have started training on the new technology in anticipation of a launch next spring.

The Acela prototype arrived at the Colorado Federal Railroad Administration site for nine months of testing in February. Officials said it recently exceeded performance expectations, traveling at 165 mph, above the 160 mph limit the trains would be allowed to travel once in service between Washington and Boston. The current Acela trains travel up to 150 mph.

“We are laser-focused on delivering this new fleet of trains,” said Caroline N. Decker, Amtrak’s vice president for the Northeast Corridor. “Looking at where we are in terms of the production, we have a high degree of confidence that a 2021 launch is very doable, and certainly we’re eager to introduce the new fleet to the Northeast Corridor as soon as possible.”

The $2.5 billion project, which also includes major infrastructure improvements to accommodate the new trains, is moving forward at a time when Amtrak is preparing to reduce staff by up to 20 percent and is requesting nearly $1.5 billion more in federal aid to keep afloat amid the unprecedented financial hardship from the pandemic. The health crisis that shut down much of the country in March devastated the passenger railroad’s ridership and revenue.

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Luz Lazo
Luz Lazo is a transportation reporter at The Washington Post covering passenger and freight transportation, buses, taxis and ride-sharing services. She also writes about traffic, road infrastructure and air travel in the Washington region and beyond. She joined The Post in 2011. Follow https://twitter.com/luzcita