Next generation ‘Acela Express’ rolls on to Colorado (photos added)

LISLE, Ill. – Amtrak’s next generation Acela Express equipment is continuing its journey west to Pueblo, Colo., for high-speed testing this week. Trains’ staff caught up with the train at Lisle on Tuesday evening after it departed Chicago Union Station.

The prototype set is traveling from Buffalo, N.Y., to La Junta, Colo., on the route used by Amtrak’s Lake Shore Limited and Southwest Chief.

Alstom is building the next generation Acela equipment using parts manufactured by nearly 250 suppliers in 27 states, with 95 percent of the components produced domestically. More than 1,300 new jobs are being generated in nearly 90 communities across the United States to support production, including the creation of new, sustainable, high-tech, engineering and manufacturing jobs. Alstom employs more than 800 people in Hornell, N.Y., including members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.

The company has also completed the assembly of the second trainset, which is expected to travel to Amtrak’s Penn Coach Yard in Philadelphia for testing in March 2020. The construction of the third trainset began in November 2019 and is tentatively scheduled to travel to Philadelphia for testing in September 2020.