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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
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. 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 186 miles per hour (299 km/h) - 220 miles per hour (350 km/h) if future investments in track and signaling upgrades are made. Amtrak will acquire 28 trainsets, 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. The trainsets will be equipped with an active tilt system, dubbed Tiltronix by Alstom, that will allow higher speeds on curved portions of the corridor track.
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.
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.