The United States is rediscovering the advantages of trains, particularly high-speed trains, in terms of competitiveness with air travel and city-to-city links. The manufacturer Alstom is to supply 28 latest-generation TGVs to the American company Amtrak for its line Boston-Washington. Commissioned in 2000, this 730 km which also serves the cities of New York and Philadelphia, is the only one to operate high-speed trains across the Atlantic. AcelaThis is despite the fact that these trains travel at speeds well below our European standards, between 170 km/h and 240 km/h. In fact, in addition to their capacity to carry an extra 35% on a route used by 3.5 million customers in 2014, these new trainsets will initially be able to travel at 257 km/h, then at 300 km/h once the track has been upgraded.
The reduction in journey times will enable Amtrak to remain competitive with the airlines among business customers. However, business travellers will have to wait a little longer before they can benefit from the time savings and the new on-board comfort offered by Amtrak. these Avelia Liberty TGVs will not be running until 2021 as Alstom continues to deliver trainsets. A real crowning achievement for the French industrial group at a time when a second high-speed line is under construction, linking San Diego to San Francisco via Los Angeles.
