Avelia Liberty
| Avelia Liberty NextGen Acela / Acela II | |
|---|---|
Avelia Liberty in Edison, New Jersey on its inaugural trip in August 2025 | |
Interior of the quiet car | |
| Stock type | High-speed trainset |
| Manufacturer | Alstom |
| Built at | Hornell, New York |
| Family name | Avelia |
| Constructed | 2017–present |
| Entered service | August 28, 2025 |
| Number under construction | 28 trainsets |
| Predecessor | Acela Express |
| Formation | 11 cars (2 power cars, 9 passenger cars) |
| Fleet numbers | 2100–2155 (power cars) |
| Capacity | 386 |
| Operator | Amtrak |
| Depots |
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| Specifications | |
| Train length | 698.5 ft (212.9 m) |
| Maximum speed |
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| 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 systems | |
| Current collection | Pantograph (1 per power car, 1 in use per train) |
| Braking systems |
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| Safety system | Advanced Civil Speed Enforcement System |
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Notes/references | |
| Specifications: | |
Avelia Liberty, marketed by Amtrak as the NextGen Acela and previously referred to as Acela II during the procurement phase, 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 and greater speeds than the first-generation Acela trainset.
Part of Alstom's Avelia family of high-speed trains, the Avelia Liberty is adapted for Federal Railroad Administration Tier III crashworthiness standards and other North American requirements.
Trains began testing in 2020, with a planned entry into service for 2022. After several delays, the first five train sets entered passenger service on August 28, 2025.