Acela passenger railroad fleet undergoes complete redesign by Amtrak

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Posted: 13 June 2019 | Global Railway Review |

Amtrak, US-based passenger railroad service, has refurbished the interiors for its Acela Express fleet thought to have cost in excess of $4 million in a bid to increase passenger satisfaction.

Amtrak has completed an extensive refresh of its train interiors on the entire Acela fleet, which travels along the Northeast Corridor (NEC) between Boston and Washington, D.C. The project is one of several initiatives designed to introduce a more modern and comfortable travel experience.

Amtrak President and CEO, Richard Anderson, said: “Customers expect a premium experience when they board an Acela, and these updated interiors provide a more comfortable, refreshed look and feel – whether you want to relax, move about freely, work or play.”

The project took 15 months to refresh all 20 trainsets, which included 100 Amtrak cars and a total of 6,080 seats. Each trainset was refreshed individually with new cushions and covers for all Business Class and First-Class seats, new carpet for the aisle runner and a deep clean of each train car. The project is estimated to cost in excess of $4 million.

The refresh of the current fleet occurred in advance of the debut of the next generation Acela trainsets. The new trainsets will provide 40 per cent more trains, more passenger seats with the same ample personal space and high-end comfort, more service, better amenities and a smoother ride. The first trainset prototype will be ready for testing this year, and will enter revenue service in 2021.

All trainsets in the current fleet will be retired in early 2022.