A proposed high-speed rail service could significantly transform travel along the Northeast Corridor this year, writes Bridget Gleeson for the Islands.
The Libertyliner 250 concept was proposed by Delaware-based private rail company AmeriStarRail. It would see the company partner with Amtrak to rebrand and expand the new NextGen Acela fleet into a faster, more accessible rail experience connecting Philadelphia, Boston, New York City, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C.
Under the proposal, there would be high-speed trains running on an hourly express basis between New York, Boston, and Washington, D.C., as well as nonstop service from New York to D.C. in under two hours.
It would also double service frequency to other East Coast destinations, like Philadelphia.
The Libertyliner 250 isn’t just selling speed, however.
The proposal imagines a genuinely different kind of journey, as it would offer Coach, Business, and First Class on every train, children’s play areas for families, bike storage, free entertainment, and Wi-Fi that actually works, and much more.
“Amtrak Libertyliners will be faster, safer, and more comfortable than driving,” said AmeristarRail in its proposal.
For now, the Libertyliner 250 remains a proposal, but with Amtrak’s broader modernization of the Northeast Corridor is already underway, this could be the next step for travelers.
The full story on what the Libertyliner 250 could look like and what passengers be able to expect can be found on at Islands.
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