A new model of train capable of speeds of up to 180 miles per hour could be running on Amtrak lines as soon as next spring, provided the final testing stages go well.
The new line of Acela trains are set to run on Amtrak's Northeast Corridor once they have passed pre-revenue testing and received approval from the Federal Railroad Administration, according to reports from NJ.com.
The trains were first pitched in 2014 and were originally meant to be operational by 2024, replacing vehicles running in New Jersey that were over two decades old. However, a report in October 2023 said that the project was delayed, and that the original $2.3-billion budget had needed to be expanded.
The delay report said that testing had revealed several issues with prototypes of the Acela trains, including the fact that "five windows on the trainsets shattered spontaneously" while traveling.
The testing process included almost 1,000 test runs along 90,000 miles of trials on the Northeast Corridor, where the trains will be running.
Now, Amtrak has indicated that the 28-strong fleet of new trains, which would be the fastest in operation in the U.S., could come online in early 2025, with a spokesperson for Amtrak telling local media: "Our NextGen Acela trains are getting closer.
"Next, the trains will enter pre-revenue testing, setting the stage for us to serve our customers in Spring 2025, when these trains will become the fastest in operation in the United States."
Newsweek has contacted Amtrak via email for comment.
The Northeast Corridor runs from Boston to Washington, D.C., connecting with New York City, Philadelphia, and Baltimore along the way. According to Amtrak, the route serves 260 million passengers a year, making it one of the largest transport routes in the country.
Currently, Amtrak's fastest Acela Express train has a top speed of 160 miles per hour, meaning the newer model, with a top speed of 180, is a significant improvement.
The new 11-car-long trains will have nine passenger cars, holding space for around 380 people. The carriages have expanded legroom when compared with the current models, which are 20 years old.
The news comes shortly after proposals for an expanded Northeast Corridor were pitched to Amtrak by private sector company AmeriStarRail, who suggest expanding the northern part of the track further into New England, with stops in Portland and Brunswick in Maine.