The Division of Transport revealed brand-new high-speed Acela trains throughout a Wednesday press conference, that included information regarding exactly how the firm is “redeeming the administration” of Union Terminal in Washington, D.C., in an initiative to recover it and strengthen monetary possibilities in it.
Signed up with by Amtrak leaders, Transport Assistant Sean Duffy aided reveal the launch of the NextGen Acela, which Amtrak is calling a high-speed rail solution. The NextGen Acela had its inaugural experience from Washington to New york city City’s Penn Terminal Wednesday early morning adhering to the statement.
Duffy claimed that high-speed trains ought to be offered in the USA– not simply abroad. He claimed these high-speed trains will certainly bring even more individuals, which will certainly result in far better prices and a general “far better taking a trip experience for the American public.”
Transport Assistant Sean Duffy rests onboard a NextGen Amtrak Acela train for a journey to Boston adhering to a press conference on the updated train’s initial day of solution along the Northeast Passage, August 27, 2025 in Washington.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Pictures
Transport Assistant Sean Duffy boards the NextGen Acela high-speed rail solution, at Union Terminal in Washington, Aug. 27, 2025.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Amtrak Head of state Roger Harris defined the brand-new trains as “costs, hassle-free and comfy.” The trains are being marketed as the future of high-speed rail with Harris stating they will certainly take a trip 160 miles per hour. Harris likewise kept in mind that 95% of the trains are made in the USA and the financial investment in the brand-new Acela trains aided produce 15,000 brand-new work throughout the nation.
While Amtrak is advertising that the trains are broadband, its timetables reveal the brand-new train is slower than existing ones on the course– by 3-7 mins per journey in between Washington and New York City City.
” Journey time enhancements will certainly remain to be figured out based upon framework enhancements we will certainly likewise make along the Passage. This consists of upgrading and improving the tracks and overhanging cables,” an Amtrak speaker claimed in reaction.
The Acela II throughout a trial run.
Amtrak
The inside of the Amtrak NextGen Acela, a brand new broadband train running in between Washington, DC, and Boston, is seen before the train’s inaugural separation from Union Terminal in Washington, August 27, 2025.
Saul Loeb/AFP through Getty Pictures
Duffy likewise revealed that Union Terminal is “back under DOT control” in an initiative to far better bring back and monetize it. Though the Union Terminal has actually formerly been possessed by the Division of Transport, it has actually been under numerous contracts and leases.
” Not a power play– we have actually constantly had it, yet we believe we can handle the residential property much better,” Duffy claimed of control of Union Terminal. “Generate even more occupants, generate much more earnings which earnings is mosting likely to permit us to make financial investments in this attractive structure.”
Participants of the Louisiana National Guard patrol inside Union Terminal in Washington, August 27, 2025.
Brian Snyder/Reuters
Duffy claimed the initiative lines up with Head of state Donald Trump’s strategy to lower criminal offense and being homeless in Washington and improve Union Terminal. He included that Trump “desires Union Terminal to be attractive once again, he desires transportation to be secure once again, and he desires our country’s resources to be wonderful once again. And today belongs to that.”
” We are mosting likely to make the financial investments to make certain that this terminal isn’t filthy, that we do not have being homeless in Union Terminal,” Duffy claimed. “We desire an area where services intend to acquire leases and started a business and offer the neighborhood of D.C. and likewise individuals that take a trip right into D.C. through train. Yet likewise … if you intend to most likely to an excellent dish and you intend to shop, you intend to pertain to Union Terminal due to the fact that it’s stunning, it’s attractive, it’s secure.”
Participants of the Louisiana National Guard patrol inside Union Terminal in Washington, August 27, 2025.
Brian Snyder/Reuters
Recently, Vice Head of state JD Vance and Assistant of Protection Pete Hegseth checked out Union Terminal to give thanks to National Guard participants posted there. Throughout the check out, Vance talked to press reporters regarding Union Terminal and criminal offense there.
” You have drifters, you have addict, you have the persistantly homeless. You have the emotionally unwell that pester, that endanger physical violence, that assault family members, and they have actually done it for much also long. This ought to be a monolith to American success. There ought to be an area where you can come and share a dish or shop with your family members. It ought to not be an area where moms and dads of children hesitate to bring them,” Vance claimed.
