Avelia Liberty
| Avelia Liberty NextGen Acela / Acela II | |
|---|---|
Avelia Liberty testing in Claymont, Delaware | |
| Manufacturer | Alstom |
| Built at | Hornell, New York |
| Family name | Avelia TGV |
| Constructed | 2017–present |
| Entered service | TBA |
| Number under construction | 28 trainsets |
| Predecessor | Acela Express (trainset) |
| Formation | 11 cars (2 power cars, 9 passenger cars) |
| Fleet numbers | 2100–2155 (power cars) |
| Capacity | 386 |
| Operators | Amtrak |
| Depots |
|
| Specifications | |
| Train length | 698.5 ft (212.9 m) |
| Maximum speed |
|
| Axle load | 17 tons |
| Traction system | IGBT–VVVF inverter control |
| Traction motors | 3-phase AC induction motors |
| Power output | 7,000 kW (9,400 hp) total |
| Transmission | AC-DC-AC |
| Electric system(s) | |
| Current collector(s) | Pantograph (1 per power car, 1 in use per train) |
| Braking system(s) |
|
| Safety system(s) | Advanced Civil Speed Enforcement System |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Notes/references | |
| Specifications: | |
Avelia Liberty, also known as NextGen Acela and Acela II, is a tilting high-speed passenger trainset built for the North American market by French manufacturer Alstom and assembled in the United States. Amtrak has ordered 28 train sets for use on its flagship Acela service along the Northeast Corridor between Boston, New York, and Washington, promising higher capacity than the first-generation Acela trainset.
Part of Alstom's Avelia family of high-speed trains, the Avelia Liberty is similar to the SNCF TGV M but adapted for Federal Railroad Administration Tier III crashworthiness standards and other North American requirements.
The trains, two of which were delivered and began testing in 2020, have experienced years of delays and have not yet entered commercial service despite multiple claims by Amtrak that the trains would begin service in 2022, 2023, and 2024. As of December 2024, the trains were undergoing testing and were expected to enter passenger service in spring 2025. However, a firm start date has not yet been announced and units are not currently in revenue service.