Acela Express (trainset)
| Acela Express | |
|---|---|
Amtrak Acela Express train, led by power car #2009, at Old Saybrook, Connecticut | |
Business Class car interior | |
| Manufacturer | Bombardier, Alstom |
| Constructed | 1998–2001 |
| Entered service | 2000 |
| Number built | 20 sets |
| Number in service | 20 sets |
| Successor | Avelia Liberty |
| Formation | 8 cars (two power cars, six coaches) |
| Fleet numbers | 2000–2039 (power cars) |
| Capacity | 304 (44 in First Class, 260 in Business Class) |
| Operators | Amtrak |
| Depots |
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| Lines served | Northeast Corridor |
| Specifications | |
| Car body construction | Stainless steel |
| Train length | 663 ft 8+3⁄4 in (202.30 m) |
| Car length |
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| Width |
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| Height |
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| Floor height | 4 ft 3 in (1.30 m) |
| Entry | Level |
| Doors | Single leaf sliding plug doors:
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| Wheel diameter |
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| Wheelbase |
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| Maximum speed |
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| Weight |
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| Axle load |
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| Traction system | Alstom GTO–VVVF inverter control |
| Traction motors | 4 × Alstom 4-FXA-4559C 1,540 hp (1,150 kW) 3-phase AC induction motor |
| Power output | 6,200 hp (4,600 kW) |
| Tractive effort | 49,500 lbf (220.2 kN) (per power car, starting) |
| Transmission | AC–DC–AC |
| Power supply | 2850 V DC (PWM rectified) voltage regulated from mains re-inverted to three-phase, frequency and voltage controlled AC waveform |
| Electric system(s) | Overhead line; |
| Current collector(s) | Pantograph, 2 per power car |
| UIC classification | Bo′Bo′+2′2′+2′2′+2′2′+2′2′+2′2′+2′2′+Bo′Bo′ |
| AAR wheel arrangement | B-B+2-2+2-2+2-2+2-2+2-2+2-2+B-B |
| Braking system(s) |
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| Safety system(s) | Advanced Civil Speed Enforcement System (ACSES) |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Notes/references | |
| Specifications: | |
The first-generation Acela Express trainset is a unique set of vehicles used on the Acela, Amtrak's flagship high-speed service along the Northeast Corridor (NEC) in the Northeastern United States. When they debuted in 2000, the sets were the fastest in the Americas, reaching speeds of up to 150 miles per hour (240 km/h) on 33.9 miles (54.6 km) of the route. Built between 1998 and 2001 by a consortium of Alstom and Bombardier, each set consists of two power cars derived from units that Alstom built for the TGV and six passenger cars based on the LRC design Bombardier created for Via Rail.
Although based on TGV technology, the Acela equipment is substantially heavier to meet Federal Railroad Administration crashworthiness standards, resulting in a lower power-to-weight ratio of about 22.4 horsepower (16.7 kW) per tonne (2,200 lb), compared to 30.8 hp (23 kW) for a SNCF TGV Réseau set. Unlike the TGV, the Acela incorporates active tilt technology, which mitigates lateral centrifugal force and allows higher speeds through the NEC's sharp curves without discomforting passengers.
The current Acela Express fleet is slated to be replaced by new Avelia Liberty trainsets, similar to the SNCF TGV M, beginning in spring 2025, though a firm start date has not yet been announced. The new trains will offer increased passenger capacity and an enhanced active tilt system to allow faster speeds on curved sections of the route.