The Acela Express

Feature 40 Years of High-speed Railways

The Acela Express

R. Clifford Black

Amtrak’s Acela Express high-speed trains emerged from the American railway 1910s. However, until the 11,000-Vac have helped the National Railroad boom. For a time, it adopted the advertising catenary system was built in the 1930s, Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) capture slogan, ‘The Standard Railroad of the steam locomotives took over at Manhattan more than half the combined air-and-rail World’ implying that it was the very best Transfer just 10 km from Pennsylvania Station. market between the terminal cities of and that all others should emulate it. No significant changes were made to Washington DC and New York. If Whether or not it was the best, the ‘Pennsy’ passenger train operations until the mid- intermediate cities such as Baltimore and (as it was nicknamed) was innovative and 1960s when Congress and others noted Philadelphia are included, Amtrak’s share forward-looking. During the 1930s, it the advances in rail technology in France of the air and rail markets is about 75%. undertook one of the nation’s most and Japan. Sleek shinkansen on the Between New York City and Boston, Acela ambitious public works projects of the Tokyo–Osaka route were making big Express has increased Amtrak’s share from time—to install catenary for electric news around the world with their time- 18% to 40%. The popular trains carry locomotives between New York City and shrinking cruising speeds of more than more than 2 million passengers annually, Washington DC. This could be considered 200 km/h. On America’s only significant or more than 10% of Amtrak’s 24 million as the first step in laying the groundwork electrified railway, trains hauled by then- passengers, accounting for about 25% of for the commencement of Acela Express 30-year-old locomotives were still Amtrak’s annual ticket revenue of more operations some 60 years later. cruising at 144 km/h, and were having to than $1 billion. The electrification of the Pennsylvania slow down over more sections as tracks Amtrak began operating Acela Express, Railway’s main line between New York and other infrastructure deteriorated the first regularly scheduled high-speed and Washington DC as well as several because of deferred maintenance. passenger train service in the USA, suburban commuter lines radiating from between Washington DC, New York City Philadelphia permitted faster schedules High Speed Ground and Boston in December 2000. However, and higher train frequencies on busy Transportation Act the idea of significantly increasing passenger and freight routes in the most passenger train speeds in the most densely congested region of the north-eastern US. Partially in response to these international populated region of the country had been The railway’s many tunnels under the developments, Congress passed the High a goal of city planners and railway Hudson and East rivers provided access Speed Ground Transportation Act of presidents since the 19th century. to its monumental Pennsylvania Station 1965, creating the Office of High Speed During the late 19th and early 20th in Manhattan and had been fitted with a Ground Transportation and appropriating centuries, the USA led the world in 650-V dc third rail during construction in $90 million for R&D in the field of faster railway building and operation. At one time, the US railway industry was the largest business enterprise in the fastest growing economy in the world. At its peak, it employed more than 1 million people, and spanned 400,000 km of lines. It is not an exaggeration to say that US railways helped build the new nation and define its culture. While the federal government offered land and tax incentives for railways to build new lines, for the most part, railway companies remained commercial entities not funded by government.

Standard Railroad

The Pennsylvania Railroad was among the large and powerful companies that Artist’s impression of Acela Express (Amtrak)

18 Japan Railway & Transport Review 40 • March 2005 Copyright © 2005 EJRCF. All rights reserved. ground-based transportation. Part of the committed billions of dollars to a tortuous right-of-way engineered in the funding was invested in a new railway comprehensive, national Interstate 19th century, another major technical test facility in Pueblo, Colorado, which highway system and commercial aviation shortcoming was the termination of the is still busy today as the Transportation was turning to jet aircraft in ever- electrification at New Haven, Technology Center, Inc., (TTCI) operated increasing numbers, serving government- Connecticut, not quite a third of the way by the Association of American Railways. backed airports and using from New York to Boston. The electric The only facility of its kind in the world, government-backed air traffic control. services changed to steam (and later many foreign rail operators and Facing this kind of subsidized diesel) at New Haven until the 1910s manufacturers use the TTCI for various competition, and receiving virtually no when the New York–New Haven section speed and reliability tests on both federal support, the private US railway was electrified. The remaining non- passenger and freight train equipment. industry was in desperate financial electrified section had been frequently But back in the 1960s, significant condition and needed to be relieved of seen as a candidate for installing catenary, advances in US railway technology were its loss-making passenger business. To but fundiing had always blocked these still a long way off. One experiment in meet this wish, Congress created the proposals. Clearly, to improve speeds, cut 1966 involved installing twin jet aeroplane National Railroad Passenger Corporation running times and provide efficient service, engines on the roof of an old DMU railcar. by passing the Rail Passenger Service Act the electrification had to be extended east The project, which ended almost as soon of 1970. The new passenger rail company and north beyond New Haven. This need as it began, turned out to be more of a stunt was named Amtrak—a contraction of was finally met by the NEHRIP. than a test programme. The M-497 test ‘American travel on track’ and services In the early 1990s, the late W. Graham vehicle attained a respectable speed of started on 1 May 1971. Claytor, Jr., Amtrak’s President, Chairman 293 km/h on its only run in northern Ohio The Metroliner was among the trains and CEO urged members of Congress to on the New York Central Railroad. While operated by the fledgling Amtrak on that give Amtrak money to extend the M-497 never ran again and was soon first day. They were considered the most electrification from New Haven to Boston scrapped, it still holds the all-time North successful passenger trains in the US and to upgrade signals, track and other American railway speed record. because they were relatively fast, ran on infrastructure in the process. In 1992, he a fairly frequent schedule and enjoyed a held a press conference in New York City’s niche market between their terminal cities Pennsylvania Station with US Senator Metroliner of New York City and Washington DC. Frank Lautenberg, Chairman of the Senate The main competition for the largely Appropriations Committee. They Meanwhile, the US Department of business-travel clientele was ‘shuttle’ announced the NEHRIP plan which Transportation was working on a more flights operated by Eastern Airlines would invest $1.2 billion of federal money practical approach—a train that became between Washington’s then National in infrastructure improvements to the known as the Metroliner. A consortium Airport and New York’s LaGuardia Airport. Boston line. But more than just of Westinghouse, General Electric, The Already the most densely populated infrastructure improvements, what Budd Company, and the Pennsylvania region of the US, the Northeast Corridor Lautenberg and Claytor wanted was a Railroad, combined their efforts to create (NEC) between Washington DC, New programme of study and engineering that a fleet of 50 stainless-steel EMU units. A York, and Boston was experiencing would lead to the acquisition of the Acela modified train set using these units growing congestion on the ground and in Express high-speed train sets some 7 years attained a speed of 267 km/h in tests on a the air, and the term gridlock came into later. (Unfortunately, Claytor died in 1994 specially prepared section in New Jersey. common usage to describe the mobility before his dream was realized.) Regular Metroliner services from January crisis. Clearly, there was need for more and 1969 reached speeds of 176 km/h. In better transportation options. The Northeast 1983, the Metroliner speed was raised to High Speed Rail Improvement Project Visits by Foreign Rolling Stock 200 km/h using more conventional (NEHRIP) was to be part of the solution. electric locomotive-hauled coaches. The busiest railway in the western Later in 1992, in a series of talks with the US passenger rail service was in decline hemisphere, Amtrak’s NEC between representatives of the Swedish State during the 1960s as a direct result of two Washington and Boston had been the only Railways, Claytor arranged to test sources of tremendous competitive major AC-electrified passenger line in the Sweden’s popular new X2000 tilting train pressure. The federal government had US since the 1930s. In addition to a on the NEC. It was both a publicity stunt

Acela Express Route Map

Canada MA Boston-South Station, MA Boston Boston-Back Bay Station, MA NewNew YorkYork Boston-Route 128, MA M. Downs was joined by Al Gore, the Vice Philadelphia Baltimore President of the US, and other dignitaries WashingtonWashington DC NY CT ProProvidence,vidence, RI at Washington DC’s Union Station to RI announce the selection of the Mexico NeNeww London, CT NeNeww Haven,Haven, CT Bombardier–Alstom consortium as the Newark, NJ builder of Amtrak’s new high-speed trains. NeNeww York-PennYork-Penn Station PA It was a gala occasion attended by railway MetroparMetropark,k, NJ industry executives, government officials PrPrincetoninceton Junction,Junction, NJ Trenton,Trenton, NJ and the press. The consortium was to Philadelphia, PA produce 18 high-speed train sets (later Wilmington, DE increased to 20) and 15 high-horsepower MD BaltimoreBaltimore,, MD conventional electric locomotives for BWI AirAirportport Rail Station delivery beginning in 1999. Construction NeNeww Carrollton, MD Washington,Washington, DC Atlantic Ocean of three special maintenance facilities for DE the trains in Washington DC, New York, and Boston was included. It was a tall Source: Amtrak order to design, build and test high-speed trains designed exclusively for the existing to draw attention to modern passenger rail equipment to help Amtrak write US railway environment. The deal was technology being used in other specifications for when the company was sealed by a consortium loan to Amtrak industrialized nations as well as a method ready to advertise bids to build a uniquely that provided the approximately $850 of collecting engineering data to help American high-speed train. million needed to finance the trains and Amtrak write specifications for its own, maintenance facilities. specialized high-speed train set. To A major difference between Amtrak’s Acela demonstrate the public acceptance of New Specifications Express and some of the comprehensive such new technology, ABB (the builder) high-speed systems in other industrialized arranged with Amtrak to have the train In 1993, when Amtrak asked for bids to countries is that the Acela Express was tour the US, even in regions outside the build its new, as-yet unnamed high-speed envisioned and designed as an electrified NEC, pulled and pushed by trains, three organizations emerged as incremental improvement over existing Amtrak diesel and gas turbine locomotives. qualified bidders: ABB, Siemens, and a conventional trains. In contrast to Europe It was a popular success, drawing thousands consortium of Bombardier and Alstom. and Japan, without a clear federal policy of spectators wherever it went. For more While there were similarities with existing on high-speed rail, this choice was made than a year, the X2000 periodically trains, the specification package differed out of necessity driven by economics and operated in regular service between from all other train sets worldwide. They practicality. The economics resulted from Washington DC, New York and New Haven. were to have bi-directional capability with long-term US public policy that favoured During the X2000’s visit, Siemens and operating controls at both ends, superior building Interstate highways for fast and Amtrak agreed to test the new German acceleration and braking, and the ability easy travel by private automobile between high-speed ICE. Both the X2000 and to negotiate the numerous curves on the cities. The highway trust fund, financed the ICE train were tested on the NEC— NEC at higher speeds than conventional by relatively low taxes on petroleum and the X2000 at 248 km/h and the ICE at equipment. This latter specification diesel fuels, could not be touched for 265 km/h. In 1993, the ICE also operated would require tilting capability. But the construction of intercity passenger railway for several months in regular service requirement that set these trains apart from lines. From a practical standpoint, even between Washington DC and New York. all others was the need to meet crash- if money was available, the process of These tests with Swedish- and German- resistance standards far above anything building a new right-of-way though the built trains were extremely useful in else in the world with a buffer strength most densely populated region of the US gauging public response to modern requirement in the driver’s cab as high as would require acquisition of billions of trains, and all the while they were 544,310 kg, or about twice the dollars worth of real estate and litigation undergoing tests, Amtrak’s Engineering international standard. with the potential for decades of delay. department was studying the new In March 1996, Amtrak President Thomas Consequently, the Acela Express would

20 Japan Railway & Transport Review 40 • March 2005 Copyright © 2005 EJRCF. All rights reserved. have to be able to operate over a 19th Under Amtrak’s President and CEO, David century alignment that could not support Successful Service Start L. Gunn, Amtrak is embarked on major a dedicated track, such as that used by infrastructure projects that had been the French TGV or Japanese shinkansen. The few infrequent Acela services deferred and whose delay had threatened Nonetheless, the track, signals and power between Washington DC, New York and the continued reliability of Acela Express supply had to be upgraded and well Boston from December 2000, drew large, schedules. New concrete ties, welded maintained in order to realize the benefits admiring crowds. With two sleek, rail, ballast-deck bridges, signal systems of the new train’s high-performance 6000-hp (4474-kW), aerodynamic and catenary hardware are being installed capabilities. Concrete ties and power cars sandwiching six passenger incrementally in this busiest and fastest continuously welded rail had already carriages between them, the trains were like railway in the NEC, where more than been installed on some NEC sections nothing seen in the USA before, even taking 1000 trains operate each day. With during the 1980s, but more needed to be into account the earlier visits by the X2000 improved reliability and shorter journey done. The NEHRIP project to electrify and and ICE. Four business-class cars, one first- times, Amtrak is considering increasing upgrade the route from New Haven to class car and one café car provided a total the number of Acela train sets in regular Boston was proceeding as quickly as of 304 seats. Some features that weekday operation. Currently, 15 train possible while the consortium started immediately impressed passengers were sets provide 46 weekday departures from construction of the Acela Express carriage the large windows; improved interior Washington DC, New York, and Boston. shells in La Pocatiere, Canada, and final lighting; spacious, attractive restrooms; The remaining five sets are assigned to assembly of carriages in Barre, Vermont, electrical outlets at each seat; at-seat food back-up or programmed maintenance. and locomotives in Plattsburgh, NY. It was service in first class; and the smooth, quiet Amtrak is studying changing this 15/5 a race to complete the track upgrade and ride at speeds up to 240 km/h. arrangement to 16/4 operation soon. deliver sufficient train sets to begin As the consortium delivered more train sets, With the success of Acela, the inevitable operating Acela Express services by the customers flocked to Acela Express and its question is when similar services will be goal of 1999. market penetration became so significant started in other markets around North Despite the 1999 goal, it wasn’t until that competitor airlines published critical America. At present, other projects are March 2000 that George Warrington, newspaper advertisements—the ultimate still in planning. As always, costs are a Amtrak President and CEO, announced expression of flattery for any marketing major consideration and sometimes a to a crowd of front-line Amtrak employees department! Thanks to these popular new stumbling block. Nevertheless, a broad in New York City that the new trains would trains, Amtrak’s market share continues to range of proposals remains in the concept be named Acela based on a combination climb in the northeast. After 1999, stage, including incremental speed of the words acceleration and excellence. Amtrak’s market share between New York increases in the Midwest and Pacific A large screen showed the first view of and Washington DC grew from 36% to Northwest and possible dedicated-right- the new train as it rolled slowly from the 53% while the airlines’ share dropped of-way, high-speed services in California. workshop in Vermont. The media hailed from 64% to 47%. Amtrak’s share grew The markets are clearly ripe for the US to the event, but the Acela did not become even more dramatically from 18% to 40% expand improved passenger rail services world news until November that year on the New York–Boston section. Of the and the Acela Express has whetted when the train made its inaugural run from total 4.767 million or so combined air and America’s appetite. I Washington DC to Boston. At last, the rail passenger trips in the NEC in the first US had a high-technology, high-speed quarter of FY2004, fully 2.928 million train of which it could be proud, and in (61%) were on Amtrak trains. which Amtrak invested a great deal of hope for its future as a major force in one R. Clifford Black of the busiest and most competitive travel markets in the world. It turned out that Mr Black is Director of Media Relations at Amtrak. those hopes were well placed.