August 28, 2025 - TRA Newswire -

Today marks the start of brand-new NextGen Acela high-speed trains along the East Coast, the fastest in the country. Alstom USA and Amtrak are ushering in a new era of rail travel on the Northeast Corridor from Washington D.C. to New York and Boston. 

While America’s fastest train is on the tracks and running today, we here in Texas are waiting patiently for signs that bullet trains are more than a mirage in the distance. 

Today the public gets to see the result of years of investment in U.S. innovation and manufacturing. It took 180 businesses across 29 states, supported by 15,000 jobs nationwide and an $87 million investment in Alstom USA's Hornell New York facility to culminate in today's launch. 

95% of components used to build the trains were sourced domestically.

According to Alstom, these new high-speed trains are built for efficiency, featuring energy recovery systems, eco-driving tech, and lightweight materials that reduce energy consumption and costs.  

Rail Passengers Association President Jim Mathews rode on the first train out of Washington D.C. and shared his thoughts: 

https://www.facebook.com/reel/24252799004362112/

Mathews took part in some design previews, and even walked through a brand-new, plastic-bag-wrapped train at Alstom’s Hornell, N.Y., assembly plant for these trains as they were built. 

Leading up to his ride on the inaugural run, Mathews shared his personal list of 15 reasons why he was excited for the introduction of the new trains. 

https://railpassengers.org/happening-now/news/blog/15-great-reasons-to-welcome-the-new-acelas/

We dream big, we think big, we expect big in Texas. We just haven't done big, yet.

Isn't it time we raised our voices and said our cities need to be connected by fast, dependable, convenient passenger rail corridor service? Short of that, you can at least enjoy what other Americans are experiencing starting today, while you are patiently waiting for a train. 

Photo credit: Rail Passengers President and CEO Jim Mathews is interviewed by Spectrum News NY1 on the platform at DC Union Station while waiting to board Amtrak's NextGen Acela for its inaugural run.