AmeriStarRail has unveiled a sweeping service proposal it says would reshape high-speed rail along Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor.
In a detailed service plan delivered to Amtrak President Roger Harris, the company outlined a partnership it believes could usher in the largest upgrade to the busy Boston to Washington route in more than half a century.
The Dec. 2 proposal centers on rebranding and operating the NextGen Acela fleet as the Libertyliner 250.
AmeriStarRail says the shift would modernize the system years ahead of schedule by replacing all Amfleet cars by May 2026, creating what the company describes as a standardized high-speed fleet offering Coach, Business and First-Class seating on every train. The plan calls for a 35.1% increase in service and a 21.3% rise in overall seating capacity.
AmeriStarRail argues that greater affordability and more frequency are essential for the Northeast Corridor, which saw a record 15.2 million passengers this year but still holds only a small share of total travel along the I-95 region. The company pointed to federal data showing that nearly 90 percent of trips between cities in the corridor are taken by car or bus. Only a fraction of rail riders used Amtrak’s premium Acela service.
The proposal stresses that the Libertyliner 250 would increase access to high-speed rail for students, senior citizens, people with disabilities, families and lower-income passengers by offering coach seating on all premium-speed trains for the first time. The trains would run hourly from early morning to late evening, with nonstop New York to Washington service completing the trip in 1 hour and 59 minutes.
The plan would also double service frequency for major stations including New York, Newark, Philadelphia, Wilmington, Baltimore, and Washington. A new Northeast Corridor station is expected to be announced under the proposal.
Travel times outlined in the plan show Boston to Washington express service in 6 hours and 30 minutes, New York to Washington limited service in 2 hours and 45 minutes and a New York to Washington nonstop option in under two hours. Every Libertyliner 250 set would carry 386 passengers with a breakdown of 255 in Coach, 88 in Business and 43 in First Class plus a cafe car.
AmeriStarRail says a fully standardized fleet would streamline training and maintenance, remove the need to keep multiple train models operating on the same corridor and allow Amtrak to reassign newly ordered Airo trains to national routes that cannot currently support high-speed service.
The company’s letter to Amtrak argues that replacing half-century-old Amfleet cars is not only overdue but also a matter of safety given their age and speed. The letter states that the Libertyliner 250 would allow Amtrak to present modern equipment for the millions of international visitors expected for the America 250 celebrations and the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The plan also includes a marketing initiative set to be announced on December 4 in New Orleans during the Amtrak Board meeting. That campaign will be targeted at travelers attending America 250 and the World Cup.
The company’s chief operating officer summarized AmeriStarRail’s pitch in the letter.
“Instead of the oldest trains, Amtrak Libertyliners will showcase America’s best for the millions of visitors for the America 250 and the FIFA World Cup 2026 events,” said AmeriStarRail Chief Operating Officer Scott R Spencer.