14 Facts About Acela Express

1.

Acela Express trains are the fastest in the Americas, reaching 150 miles per hour, but only over 49.

FactSnippet No. 1,380,164
2.

Acela Express operates along routes that are used by freight and slower regional passenger traffic, and reaches the maximum allowed speed of the tracks only along some sections, with the fastest peak speed along segments between Mansfield, Massachusetts and Richmond, Rhode Island, and New Brunswick and South Brunswick, New Jersey.

FactSnippet No. 1,380,165
3.

Acela Express speed is limited by traffic and infrastructure on the route's northern half.

FactSnippet No. 1,380,166
4.

Acela Express trains are semi-permanently coupled and are referred to as trainsets.

FactSnippet No. 1,380,167
5.

Acela Express service was originally expected to begin in late 1999 but was delayed.

FactSnippet No. 1,380,168
6.

The Acela Express returned to service when a program of frequent inspections was instituted.

FactSnippet No. 1,380,169
7.

Metroliner trains, which the Acela Express was intended to replace, filled in during the outage.

FactSnippet No. 1,380,170
8.

In October 2012, Acela Express service was cancelled immediately before, during, and after Hurricane Sandy, which damaged the North River Tunnels causing lasting delays and reliability problems.

FactSnippet No. 1,380,171
9.

In March 2020, all Acela Express trips were suspended as part of a round of service reduction in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.

FactSnippet No. 1,380,172
10.

Acela Express offers two classes of seating, Business Class and First Class.

FactSnippet No. 1,380,173
11.

Acela Express maintenance is generally taken care of at the Ivy City facility in Washington, DC; Sunnyside Yard in Queens, New York; or Southampton Street Yard in Boston.

FactSnippet No. 1,380,174
12.

Acela Express trainsets underwent minor refurbishments between mid-2009 and 2010 at Penn Coach Yard, next to 30th Street Station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

FactSnippet No. 1,380,175
13.

In May 2018, Amtrak announced a 14-month program to refresh the interiors of the Acela Express trainsets, including new seat cushions and covers, new aisle carpeting, and a deep clean.

FactSnippet No. 1,380,176
14.

Acela Express trains have an On-Board Service crew consisting of two First Class attendants and a Cafe Car attendant.

FactSnippet No. 1,380,177