Avelia Liberty
| Avelia Liberty | |
|---|---|
| Number: | 28 |
| Manufacturer: | Alstom |
| Year of construction (s): | 2019-2022 |
| Gauge : | 1435 mm ( standard gauge ) |
| Top speed: | 300 km / h |
| Power system : | 11.5 kV , 25 Hz ~ 12.5 kV, 60 Hz ~ 25 kV, 60 Hz ~ |
The Avelia Liberty is the bullet train developed by Alstom for service in the US Northeast Corridor . It will run there at a maximum of 160 mph (257 km / h), but is approved for operating speeds over 300 km / h. When the delivery is completed in 2022, the series will completely replace the previous Acela Express in operation.
history
The Northeast Corridor from Washington via New York to Boston is one of the few profitable routes in the US passenger traffic. For high-speed traffic, the line has been electrified throughout, whereby in addition to the new 25 kV / 60 Hz there are also some old electrical overhead lines with less voltage and sometimes 25 Hz. The partly very old overhead lines without tensioning were for a long time one reason why the Acela Express could not run at top speed on parts of the route.
In 2010, Amtrak began testing new routes for trains up to 350 km / h in the northeast corridor - in the southern part (Washington, DC - New York) parallel to the old line, which is almost 100% full. In the vicinity of the big cities, the line already has four tracks, which are shared with regional trains and freight trains. In the northern part (New York - Boston), in addition to the previous coastline, completely new routes are being considered, which could lead to the travel time being halved. In 2012, the NEC-UP expansion program was presented, in which an initial phase of 33.5 billion US dollars will be invested in a series of large projects by 2025 before the infrastructure is upgraded by 2040.
In the course of the planning, the company initially took part in the tender for new multiple units for up to 350 km / h together with the California High-Speed Rail . However, in 2014 it was realized that the requirements were too far apart, so that both projects switched to their own design specifications. In contrast to the previous Acela Express, the focus was on placing even more emphasis on the internationally common series that were being adapted for the stricter North American crash standards. In this context, Alstom offered its located just in the development Avelia series of - this is technically based on the Alstom AGV 's, but with the new Pendolino - tilting Tiltronix equipped. At the same time, the Avelia Horizon double-decker trains were developed for the French SNCF and are to travel there at 320 km / h. The Avelia are conceptually prepared for speeds of up to 350 km / h here and there - Alstom also specifies this for the Avelia Liberty when the tilting technology is switched off.
In August 2016, 28 multiple units were then ordered - the first train is to be delivered in 2019, and the trains are then to start regular service in 2021/2022. After the delivery is completed in 2022, the old fleet of 20 Acela Express will be decommissioned. In accordance with import regulations, assembly takes place in Alstom's US plants in Hornell and Rochester, New York State. As of February, tests of the prototypes on the Transportation Technology Center test ring are planned from September 2019 , followed by tests in the northeast corridor from December 2019.
Individual evidence
- ^ A Vision for High-Speed Rail in the Northeast Corridor . September 28, 2010. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
- ↑ Avelia Liberty: Innovation and proven design at very high-speed . Alstom. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
- ↑ Christina Leeds: Amtrak invests $ 2.4 billion for next-gen high-speed trainsets and infrastructure upgrades . Amtrak. 26th August 2016.
- ↑ a b Julie Sneider: Amtrak's 'Liberty' will be the latest of Alstom's high-speed Avelia trains . Progressive railroading. December 2016.
- ↑ Amtrak Procurement and Program Updates . In: Next Generation Equipment Committee - 2019 Annual Meeting . American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. February 22, 2019.