Avelia Liberty

Avelia Liberty is a model of high-speed passenger train marketed by French train producer Alstom. It is related to the TGV family of high-speed trains, but adapted for North American railroad standards, including U.S. Federal Railroad Administration crashworthiness standards.

Amtrak

Avelia Liberty will be used on the electrified Acela Express route between Boston and Washington, shown in dark red.

On August 26, 2016, U.S. passenger rail operator Amtrak and Alstom announced that the Avelia Liberty trainset had been chosen to replace the existing Bombardier-Alstom Acela Express trainsets on the Northeast Corridor between Boston and Washington via New York.[1][2] The new trainsets, along with track and signaling improvements, will allow for an initial improvement in maximum regular service speed to 160 miles per hour (257 km/h) on some portions of the route. with a maximum possible speed of (300km/h - 350km/h)[3] if future investments in track and signaling upgrades are made.[1] Amtrak will acquire 28 trainsets to replace the existing 20 units, allowing for more frequent service on the route, including half-hourly peak service between New York and Washington; in addition, the new trains will have approximately one-third greater passenger capacity. "Tiltronix" active tilt technology will allow higher speeds on curved portions of the corridor track, which are common in New England.

The initial formation of the new trains will have two power cars and nine passenger trailers. The trains will feature articulated coaches, and an additional three vehicles can be added if demand grows. The power cars, one at each end, include an Alstom Crash Energy Management system to help meet FRA standards while allowing a 30% reduction in train weight.[4]

U.S. assembly of the trainsets will take place at Alstom's plants in Hornell and Rochester, New York. A prototype trainset is scheduled to be completed in 2019 to allow for test running. The trains are scheduled to enter service beginning in 2021, with final delivery of all 28 trainsets to be completed in 2022, at which point Amtrak will retire the previous Acela fleet.

Alstom will provide long-term technical support and supply spare components and parts.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 Amtrak (August 26, 2016). "AMTRAK INVESTS $2.4 BILLION FOR NEXT-GEN HIGH-SPEED TRAINSETS AND INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES". Amtrak Media. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
  2. ↑ Alstom (August 26, 2016). "Alstom to provide Amtrak with its new generation of high-speed trains" (Press release).
  3. ↑ Alstom (2016). "Case Study: Amtrak Avelia Liberty" (PDF).
  4. ↑ Railway Gazette International (August 26, 2016). "Amtrak awards Northeast Corridor high speed train contract". RailwayGazette.com. DVV Media UK Ltd. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
  5. ↑ Vantuono, William C. (August 27, 2016). "Alstom lands Amtrak next-gen NEC trainset contract". RailwayAge.com. Simmons-Boardman Publishing Inc. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 9/20/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.