On Aug. 28, Amtrak debuted its first batch of long-awaited NextGen Acela trains in the Northeast Corridor. It was a momentous occasion for the passenger railway company; the NextGen trains are the first major upgrade to the Acela since it arrived at the end of 2000 as Amtrak’s first premium, high-speed service, offering travelers a faster way to get to stops between Boston and D.C.

Built by French manufacturer Alstom at a plant in New York, the new Acelas can reach top speeds of 160 mph — 10 mph faster than the older version — and are designed to tilt around curves more easily, among other upgrades like better Wi-Fi and updated electric outlets. Five of the 28 new high-tech train sets have started running, and the rest will roll out gradually over the next two years.

Their arrival comes

See Full Page