New Acela (Avelia Liberty) at Union Station, Washington, D.C.

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  • Опубліковано 26 вер 2024
  • Decided to go to Union Station to record this beautiful beast.

КОМЕНТАРІ • 156

  • @benjaminaraya8073
    @benjaminaraya8073 2 роки тому +19

    This train looks beautiful! It is like an American fusion of the TGV and Shinkansen. Can’t wait to see the train in service.

  • @commodoresbank
    @commodoresbank 2 роки тому +63

    At first I thought to myself, “wait Avelia Liberty is in service??” considering the signs on the doors stating it has service from Washington to Boston. But upon further evaluation on a recent article, they’re once again pulling service back at Spring 2023. Even more ridiculously, considering they have to make a new simulation run and improvements to the trainsets, its sad we won’t be able to see AL in action.

    • @TheRailwayDrone
      @TheRailwayDrone  2 роки тому +35

      Ridiculous indeed. They announced they'd be getting new trains in 2016. And 6 years later, STILL not in service. This is apparently what happens when the country you live in does not invest on modernizing our railways. Companies have to make their trains backward-compatible. How ridiculous is that?

    • @DevonMopiedmont1143
      @DevonMopiedmont1143 2 роки тому +2

      I personally think it's a good thing as there still aren't too many sets around and by running through problems and long term testing now they can find issues and any future problems caused by wear and tear to the trainsets and what fixes they will need to make to the train and to the corridor itself.

    • @commodoresbank
      @commodoresbank 2 роки тому +2

      @@DevonMopiedmont1143 Can agree, only three were produced, but the rest will be much better after the next simulation run and the improvements needed for the rest of the 25 trainsets and the rest of the existing sets.

    • @towcat
      @towcat 2 роки тому

      Right now the holdup isn't our country, it's Alstom. Really should have gone with someone else to build this thing

    • @MrStark-up6fi
      @MrStark-up6fi 2 роки тому

      @@TheRailwayDrone cars are the main problem to that. A majority of Americans make driving their main form of transport and this is a big problem. Also, the US pays more attention to freight trains than passenger trains

  • @captainfordo3978
    @captainfordo3978 2 роки тому +39

    I feel like the Northeast Corridor is partly to blame for the CONSTANT delays of Avelia Liberty entering service because of how *OLD* the N.E.C. is and is in *DESPERATE* need for refurbishment, most train routes (mainly Amtrak, NJT, MARC, etc.) that have the capability to go over 100mph have to *stay under 100mph* just to keep the trains from derailing off the deteriorating tracks & tunnels.

    • @TheRailwayDrone
      @TheRailwayDrone  2 роки тому +20

      I COMPLETELY agree with you. Amtrak even reported that Alstom has had to make the trains backward compatible with the Northeast corridor. That has to be one of the most ridiculous statements I've read about a railway.

    • @bandvitromania9642
      @bandvitromania9642 2 роки тому +2

      @@TheRailwayDrone bruh the French had to *BUILD* entire new rails for the TGV

    • @TheRailwayDrone
      @TheRailwayDrone  2 роки тому +2

      @@bandvitromania9642 Right. If they can do it, there's no reason why this country can't.

    • @bandvitromania9642
      @bandvitromania9642 2 роки тому +4

      @@TheRailwayDrone agreed even though the French gov didn't initially tell anyone about this and just said that the French railways at that time could handle high speed trains

    • @qshrek
      @qshrek 2 роки тому +2

      until they fix my bridge (Susquehanna River) they still have to slow way down. One of the busiest train bridges around and nobody wants to fund its replacement

  • @BigNate5404
    @BigNate5404 2 роки тому +68

    It’s starting to get ridiculous that all of these high speed rail projects are facing so many delays, do to glitches, politics, environmental studies and underfunding.

    • @TheRailwayDrone
      @TheRailwayDrone  2 роки тому +34

      It just proves the point that America can no longer build infrastructure projects in a timely manner without all that stuff getting in the way.

    • @MSNWindows7
      @MSNWindows7 2 роки тому +23

      @@TheRailwayDrone Watching California HSR's progress is a masochist activity. While, Atlanta was able to rebuild their destroyed i85 bridge in just 6 weeks. Though they had to essentially bribe the construction company with a hefty sum of money to do so (So hmm...). But boy they needed too, since when one highway goes down, there's traffic jam hell with no transit system to pick up the slack. Rail could be built quicker, but it's a lack of interest/dollars and efficiency in the government. The traffic is bad in the Northeast, and the only way to fix it is to improve the NEC with higher speeds, more tracks, and most importantly: LIGHT RAIL, dedicated bike trails, and sidewalks, so we can eliminate at least some cars off the road. This is an urban area, treat it like such, don't pretend we're the midwest and just build an interstate here as a one-size-fits-all solution!

    • @TheRailwayDrone
      @TheRailwayDrone  2 роки тому +14

      @@MSNWindows7 Truer words have never been spoken. You hit the nail right on the head.

    • @955redavenger
      @955redavenger 2 роки тому +4

      @@MSNWindows7 You're absolutely right.

    • @ryandarko2115
      @ryandarko2115 2 роки тому +3

      Almost like they don’t want them to happen won’t you say

  • @ThePrissy11
    @ThePrissy11 2 роки тому +3

    Beautiful train to be! Thanks for posting👍

  • @copmoncur6131
    @copmoncur6131 2 роки тому +8

    Acela Express Trains Love ❤

  • @MicahtheDrumCorpsPseudoboomer

    I think I've found the perfect UA-cam channel: someone who marched Cadets in 2000 and who is a railroad enthusiast like me!

  • @ycd9491
    @ycd9491 2 роки тому +11

    How I can know if it will be a new Acela or just a normal one when booking the ticket?

    • @TheRailwayDrone
      @TheRailwayDrone  2 роки тому +13

      Well the new ones won't be in service until late 2023.

  • @wikitraincars6452
    @wikitraincars6452 2 роки тому +4

    Excellent video! my friend.👍

  • @railbuddy8372
    @railbuddy8372 Рік тому

    wow..amazing capture friend

  • @fugf1623
    @fugf1623 2 роки тому +10

    I don’t understand the point of buying high speed trains (which can go higher than 320kmph) when your rail network can’t even support 1/3 of the power of those engines. That’s like buying a Mercedes on a country where there is no highway, what’s the damn point ? The potential of those trains (latest version of the TGV, just a reminder) can’t even be used at 30%, this sucks. Either you guys build a REAL HSL on that corridor to run those trains, or you just upgrade your damn tracks and run common regional on it.
    Remember : HIGH SPEED TRAINS RUNS ON HIGH SPEED LINES. Cheers from France

    • @TheRailwayDrone
      @TheRailwayDrone  2 роки тому +9

      Trust me, I've been saying this for years. But Amtrak folks/supporters will shoot you down in a heartbeat the moment you DARE to criticize the company.

    • @racerlord2329
      @racerlord2329 2 роки тому +1

      @@TheRailwayDrone true and god damn is it sad if they want to improve things take the criticism and come up with solutions not just sweep everything under the rug but yet again this is also part of the NEC fault of it being as old as it is there isn’t exactly much Amtrak can do about it without either the NEC changing completely or Amtrak keep changing up their trains to fit along with the area

    • @racerlord2329
      @racerlord2329 2 роки тому

      @@jkeelsnc it’s owned mostly by Amtrak but they have to share it with others such as Septa and NJT if it was to be changed it would cause others who share it some massive problems it’s a little sad tho that even tho these trains are evolving to be more faster and more comfortable to travel the old system limits the true abilities of these trains heck the Acella we have rn can barely reach its top speed most of the time because of the age of the rail system I do hope they can do something to help improve the NEC as a whole otherwise rn the true abilities of the trains will be never used and they would just be there for I guess show and tell what ima call it

    • @TohaBgood2
      @TohaBgood2 2 роки тому

      In all fairness, people from countries that don't have highways still buy Mercedes cars all the time.
      With the tilting system on, the Avelia Liberty/Horizon trains can only do 186 mph (299 km/h), so the 160 mph (260 km/h) top operational speed of the new Acelas on the NEC is going to be pretty close to the best that the train can do in that configuration.
      The old Acelas were more bespoke and only went 150mph max in operation, i.e. as fast as the fastest sections of track on the NEC. Technically, the top speed was 165 mph, but that was more of a top design speed. Amtrak wants to run trains consistently at 160 mph on the sections that can support that. It's expensive to build an HSR trainset strictly to Amtrak's spec with exactly that speed. So they partnered with Alstom to use one of their existing models (Horizon) with adaptations for US rail standards as a replacement for the aging Acelas. It's just cheaper this way than designing a bespoke 160 mph trainset from scratch.
      Plus, Amtrak just got gobs of Federal money to upgrade the NEC. There are a few more sections where they want to increase speeds. Eventually, they want to bring all the sections that are at 125-150 mph now to around 160 mph. That's why this faster train is needed. The hope is that in the future it will have to run at close to its top speed for much of the NEC route and it needs to be able to handle that. All of this is with tilting on, of course.

  • @Angelus01
    @Angelus01 2 роки тому +9

    Abssolutely Beautiful Train, too bad is not in service already, the politics and the poor management from the DOT is causing so many delays.

    • @TheRailwayDrone
      @TheRailwayDrone  2 роки тому

      Here's an explanation (not sure how accurate it is though): www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/alstom-explains-latest-delay-for-new-acela-deployment/?fbclid=IwAR0li7rKIhU99p6X8IVFgxyb4kNSvInUbuSAfjZVapTrDwxb2gLXCLNFI3Q

    • @connecticutmultimodaltrans8226
      @connecticutmultimodaltrans8226 2 роки тому +2

      No it's because the NEC is ancient and falling apart; fancy new equipment built to run on perfectly smooth lines averaging, yes averaging, over 130 mph can't take the beating of the NEC.

  • @adventuresofamtrakcascades301
    @adventuresofamtrakcascades301 2 роки тому +2

    The train looks real nice, what I found ridiculous is the huge delay of the trains entering revenue service

  • @VojtovySumavskeVlakyCZ
    @VojtovySumavskeVlakyCZ 2 роки тому +1

    Wonderful video like and subscribed from Czech Republic 🙂👍👍👍👍🔔🇨🇿🇪🇺

  • @railfanpolska
    @railfanpolska 2 роки тому +1

    Nice footage 👍 Cheers from Poland 🇵🇱🖐️🙂

  • @chrisjct
    @chrisjct Рік тому +1

    Wow finally a train that looks like Japan in the US they have the best transit systems in the world and we don't it's sick that it's true but with all these new high speed train investments hopefully by time I'm dead we will be where Japan is today

  • @dj-ez4yf
    @dj-ez4yf 2 роки тому +2

    i just went to ny on weekend and took gen 1 when will this one start to hit the rails? the gen one is like a plane from 2000... they sadly aren't being kept up very well

    • @TheRailwayDrone
      @TheRailwayDrone  2 роки тому +1

      The new ones won't be in service until the fall of 2023...a full 2 years late.

    • @dj-ez4yf
      @dj-ez4yf 2 роки тому

      @@TheRailwayDrone I had sound off watching. why was this one at the yard? Thanks for capturing video

    • @TheRailwayDrone
      @TheRailwayDrone  2 роки тому +1

      @@dj-ez4yf It was at Union Station heading back to Philly.

  • @jatterhog
    @jatterhog 2 роки тому +1

    “Acela Class” reminds me of when SJ had “X 2000 Class” when they were young, before they went back to 1st & 2nd Class

  • @southmassrailfan
    @southmassrailfan 2 роки тому +1

    The front looks like a spike! Cant wait to see it myself!

  • @andrewbutler6477
    @andrewbutler6477 2 роки тому +1

    British rail colours of the 70/80 s alive and well across the Atlantic

  • @williamlouie569
    @williamlouie569 2 роки тому +1

    Why they still called Acela a high speed train. I took it once and it was slow.

  • @NorthAtlanticRails
    @NorthAtlanticRails 2 роки тому +5

    Was this one actually serving as 2172 as said on the sign on top of the door for car 1? If it is in service that means this is the beginning of the end for the first generation Acela. Consist for this train aka set 3: 2109, 3451, 3614, 3613, 3352, 3612, 3611, 3610, 3902, 3252, 2108. That is the whole consist.

    • @TheRailwayDrone
      @TheRailwayDrone  2 роки тому

      I have no idea. I don't really pay attention to those numbers unless its on the station departure screen lol...

    • @NorthAtlanticRails
      @NorthAtlanticRails 2 роки тому

      Ok and do you know why it was changed to Acela Class instead of staying with Business Class or why it says Cafe Car instead of Cafe Acela? Was this being previewed at Washington DC?

    • @TheRailwayDrone
      @TheRailwayDrone  2 роки тому

      @@NorthAtlanticRails I don't know any of those things. They weren't being previewed at Union Station. I'm not even sure if they were in the middle of a test. It was on the platform and there were really no other people around other than the security guard.

    • @connecticutmultimodaltrans8226
      @connecticutmultimodaltrans8226 2 роки тому

      The equipment is still being tested because the NEC is old and falling apart and fancy new equipment has trouble handling that. Fall 2023 is now the projected revenue service date. Not sure how the current sets won't fall apart before then because it's nearly every day one gets delayed because of mechanical issues. One today was nearly an hour late.
      They're probably changing the names of the classes on Acela since they're so different than other trains; should've done that when the Acela Is went in service IMO. Business class on Regionals isn't worth it but sometimes Acela Business (coach) is only a few dollars more and totally worth if you want business class.

    • @TheRailwayDrone
      @TheRailwayDrone  2 роки тому +1

      @@connecticutmultimodaltrans8226 Yeah I have found round trip tickets from DC to NYC for $160. Much more worth the price given it bypasses many of the stops that the NER makes.

  • @mccoy79productions66
    @mccoy79productions66 Рік тому

    awesome video

  • @earljohnson7745
    @earljohnson7745 2 роки тому +4

    Avelia Liberty and Brightline are the best hi speed trains!

    • @TohaBgood2
      @TohaBgood2 2 роки тому

      Brightline is using Siemens Charger locomotives and Venture cars. Those aren't high speed. In fact, this is the exact same equipment Amtrak is using on state supported routes. The average speed of Brightline is 54mph.
      The Charger + Venture combo can technically go 125mph. But HSR starts at 150mph. The Acela is the only high speed train in the country at the moment. Only the California High Speed Rail line will be faster than the Acela.

  • @raillifelines6659
    @raillifelines6659 2 роки тому +1

    Awesome video my friend ❤️ 🇮🇳

  • @АндрейЗяблицкий-т9б

    👍💥💯

  • @pablorobertodurso8892
    @pablorobertodurso8892 2 роки тому

    Hope all the details will be solved and AVELIA Liberty will be in full service soon .

  • @ybing
    @ybing 2 роки тому +2

    door was opened, should sneak in lol

  • @amardave84
    @amardave84 11 місяців тому

    So when are they starting service on these new trains?

  • @alexhu7939
    @alexhu7939 2 роки тому

    I wish the best to you guys in the East coast! When AL is done, I will fly their to ride it! We Californians have been building our HSR Package 1,2,3,4 for a very long time and our representatives in Sacramento are engaged in power grabs. 15 years and we have not laid one foot of rail, we have grading and viaducts and half a bridge to show for! Somebody up there, please help us!

    • @TheRailwayDrone
      @TheRailwayDrone  2 роки тому +1

      This project has only been in the construction phase for 7 years. Mind you, any other developed country would have finished it by now, but you also have to take into account that your fellow citizens have been fighting against progress as they have tried to stop the project at every turn.
      By the way, there are more than just viaducts and half a bridge. Plenty of videos on youtube show how much work has been done. It's really cynical and unfair to claim this project is a waste of time and has no progress, when there are construction workers who get up daily to build this project so that people like you can ride it in the future.
      You should be more excited than you are now. YOUR railway will be a modern high speed railway unlike anything we have on the East Coast; we're still riding on a 20th century railway, while waiting for a new train that had to be made "backward compatible" with the Northeast Corridor.
      Cheer up. The CAHSR project will be a great system, and I am certain Californians will be proud when it's complete.

  • @Dannyedelman4231
    @Dannyedelman4231 2 роки тому +5

    The amtrak cascades has to use old horizon coaches UNTIL 2024 when they finally get siemen venture cars

    • @TheRailwayDrone
      @TheRailwayDrone  2 роки тому +2

      Wow what the hell is going on with transit in this country?

    • @Dannyedelman4231
      @Dannyedelman4231 2 роки тому +4

      @@TheRailwayDrone crap trackage thanks to the big 7 class ones railroads aka BNSF union pacific csx and Norfolk southern because they think they have priority over amtrak

    • @TheRailwayDrone
      @TheRailwayDrone  2 роки тому +2

      @@Dannyedelman4231 Geez...

    • @Dannyedelman4231
      @Dannyedelman4231 2 роки тому +2

      @@TheRailwayDrone we had talgo 6 trainsets but when one had a bad accident they withdrew them from service and now we only have two talgo 8 trainsets and the horizon coaches

  • @geridamas935
    @geridamas935 2 роки тому +3

    When is service going to start?

    • @TheRailwayDrone
      @TheRailwayDrone  2 роки тому +4

      One of the guys I ran into who's on the testing team told me service will start in 2023...but it's already TWO YEARS LATE, so I'm not sure if that's even accurate.

    • @geridamas935
      @geridamas935 2 роки тому +1

      @@TheRailwayDrone Thanks

    • @TheRailwayDrone
      @TheRailwayDrone  2 роки тому +1

      @@geridamas935 Of course.

    • @connecticutmultimodaltrans8226
      @connecticutmultimodaltrans8226 2 роки тому +4

      Fall 2023 is the newest projection

    • @TohaBgood2
      @TohaBgood2 2 роки тому

      @@TheRailwayDrone Hey, that's still one year earlier than the Horizons will get in France! 😁

  • @eas7246
    @eas7246 2 роки тому +2

    How did you know when to see it?

    • @TheRailwayDrone
      @TheRailwayDrone  2 роки тому +1

      There's an "Amtrak New Equipment" Facebook group I follow. Someone in that group posted pictures of the train at Union Station. Since I live a few blocks, I went down there and found the train was still there.

    • @eas7246
      @eas7246 2 роки тому

      Thanks I will be following it now!

  • @dpbl9931
    @dpbl9931 2 роки тому

    thx for your vid but it's better if you get on the train and film the new comfort to your desired destination and feel the high speed under your feet ;)

    • @TheRailwayDrone
      @TheRailwayDrone  2 роки тому +1

      Unfortunately I was unable to do that because it is not in revenue service.

  • @WV3430Production
    @WV3430Production 2 роки тому

    First Day Service?

  • @CEW_WWEROLEPLAY
    @CEW_WWEROLEPLAY 2 роки тому

    I can hear N&W 611 in the background lol

  • @samtrak1204
    @samtrak1204 2 роки тому

    What's the holdup?

    • @TheRailwayDrone
      @TheRailwayDrone  2 роки тому

      Ask Amtrak. Something about Catenary issues and shit like that.

  • @edgarchimborazo5705
    @edgarchimborazo5705 2 роки тому

    Hermoso hermoso ese tren como quisiera que ese tren benga al Ecuador para ver si sube las cordilleras del Ecuador pero los gobiernos ladrones de mi pais no asen nada x sacar adelante al Ecuador

    • @TheRailwayDrone
      @TheRailwayDrone  2 роки тому

      Lo más probable es que tenga un ferrocarril que atraviese esas montañas, ya que los trenes de alta velocidad no funcionan muy bien en las montañas.

    • @edgarchimborazo5705
      @edgarchimborazo5705 2 роки тому

      😥😓😪

  • @richardrichmarcleveque3607
    @richardrichmarcleveque3607 2 роки тому

    Any passengers

  • @anotherview9604
    @anotherview9604 2 роки тому

    If the train is capable of 220 mph, where?

    • @TheRailwayDrone
      @TheRailwayDrone  2 роки тому +4

      No where in the United States.

    • @anotherview9604
      @anotherview9604 2 роки тому +3

      @@TheRailwayDrone Ya think they might be considering straightening the main line from BOS to WDC? NAH!

    • @TheRailwayDrone
      @TheRailwayDrone  2 роки тому +2

      @@anotherview9604 lol nope.

    • @Adumzzinthehouse
      @Adumzzinthehouse 2 роки тому +1

      @@anotherview9604 Even if they had the money, you can’t convince tens of thousands of people to move,

    • @TohaBgood2
      @TohaBgood2 2 роки тому +1

      On the bright side, at least these will do 160 mph rather than 150 mph on the high speed sections! We're slowly creeping toward real HSR 😁

  • @michigan__railfan
    @michigan__railfan 2 роки тому +1

    The new acelas look gross, no cap

    • @TheRailwayDrone
      @TheRailwayDrone  2 роки тому

      I can't do anything about that. I still like the interiors. I just wish the coaches were flush with the power cars like it's sister in France.

  • @brooklynelite5428
    @brooklynelite5428 2 роки тому +1

    The acela has always been a beautiful train but this one the cars are beautiful my gripe is with that front and rear engines they don't fit and they look like dolphins. My opinion when it came to the engines they didnt take the time to design a way better looking engine they just threw some style together and amtrak fell for it. The older aclea engines are better looking than these look at Europe their high speed trains match the set and look more like a train and not an animal.

    • @versedbridge4007
      @versedbridge4007 2 роки тому

      I think the locos look fine they just needed to make the sides of the passenger cars flat. Guess that's Amtrak trying to be like their older curvy trains.

    • @StefanWithTrains
      @StefanWithTrains 2 роки тому +2

      @@versedbridge4007 the amrrican loading gauge is wider then here in europe that is why the cars are wider and amtrak wanted an off- the shelf powercar design so that is why they don't match but I like the trains I don't mind the gap

    • @TohaBgood2
      @TohaBgood2 2 роки тому

      Actually the Avelia Liberty, aka Acela IIs are just Avelia Horizon (TGV M) in American trim. Like @Stefan De Treinspotter said, Amtrak wanted to stick pretty close to the Horizon design so we ended up with that notch.
      I'm sure that there are technical reasons why they wanted to maintain this more complete compatibility with the Horizon, but don't know the particulars. I imagine it's in order to make buying new power cars easier in the future, but I'm just guessing here.

  • @kevinhoward9593
    @kevinhoward9593 2 роки тому +1

    The problem with Amtrak is that they tailor their high speed train to business people. Thats not how you get customers. you let anyone ride them. Stop calling it "Business Class". Its not really high-speed if it takes a train that can top out at 180mph just ONE hour faster then the cheaper train. It should be able to get there 2-3 hours faster. I love how the windows are blocked.

    • @TheRailwayDrone
      @TheRailwayDrone  2 роки тому +1

      Oh gosh don't say this to the Amtrak die hards. I once debated them on how stupid it is to have the Acela marketed exclusively toward business people, and they ripped me a new one.

    • @kevinhoward9593
      @kevinhoward9593 2 роки тому +1

      @@TheRailwayDrone They should make it affordable to everyone. It shouldnt cost $400 to take the train 300 miles.

    • @TheRailwayDrone
      @TheRailwayDrone  2 роки тому +1

      @@kevinhoward9593 EXACTLY what I'm saying. It's not even worth $400.

    • @kevinhoward9593
      @kevinhoward9593 2 роки тому +1

      @@TheRailwayDrone Hell you can leave from London and cross 6 countries for less then that.

    • @TheRailwayDrone
      @TheRailwayDrone  2 роки тому +1

      @@kevinhoward9593 Yeah, riding standard premier.

  • @СветаСветова-б5е
    @СветаСветова-б5е 2 роки тому

    Новые дизаны бомбардье 2 этажные сша ; алстом ; мта амтрак

  • @СветаСветова-б5е
    @СветаСветова-б5е 2 роки тому

    Вашингтон - бостон ньюйорки

  • @RailBet
    @RailBet 2 роки тому

    When will the original Acela trains will be retire? it’s because I’m almost 16 and I really want to ride on the original one before it retires

    • @TheRailwayDrone
      @TheRailwayDrone  2 роки тому +1

      I think all the new Acelas will be on the tracks by the end of 2024 which leaves the old ones to retire by then.

    • @RailBet
      @RailBet 2 роки тому

      @@TheRailwayDrone Alright, thanks for the information

    • @TheRailwayDrone
      @TheRailwayDrone  2 роки тому

      @@RailBet Not a problem.

  • @sferris33
    @sferris33 2 роки тому

    Now we just need the tracks and stations to go with it!