On Track On Line - Acela Express Trainset Information

Acela Express Trainset Information

Last Update: December 31, 2023

This page provides information on the Acela Express high-speed trainsets. With the Acela Express service renamed "Acela" in 2019, the transets are now known as Acela or Acela 1st Generation (so as not to be confused with the new, not-yet-in-service 2nd Generation trainsets). The page presently has the configuration of the test and pre-production trainsets. Note that cars from trainsets one, two, three and four appear in other trainsets due to equipment shuffled during the building period. Basic consist information has not changed since Feb. 25, 2006. Coincident with COVID-19 service reductions, trainsets 2, 4, 5 and 7 were moved to storage in Bear, DE, but are still carried on the active roster. In Dec-23, trainset 4 was removed from Bear, and began an overhaul at the Wilmington Maintenance Facility.
Acceptance Dates	Revenue Trainsets	Test Trainsets	Disclaimer/Fine Print

ACELA EXPRESS ACCEPTANCE DATES
1	02/15/2002	6	12/07/2000	11	04/29/2001	16	08/23/2001
2	04/19/2002	7	02/13/2001	12	05/17/2001	17	09/07/2001
3	10/03/2002	8	01/17/2001	13	06/07/2001	18	10/08/2001
4	06/02/2003	9	03/05/2001	14	06/26/2001	19	11/08/2001
5	10/17/2000	10	04/10/2001	15	08/06/2001	20	11/30/2001

REVENUE TRAINSETS
TRAINSET	1	2	3	4*	5
Power Car	2018	2008	2000	2001	2020
First Class, End Car	3217	3204	3206	3200	3207
Business Class	3505	3509	3504	3507	3541
Business Class	3500	3526	3520	3508	3543
Cafe	3304	3308	3303	3300	3305
Business Class	3511	3510	3506	3519	3546
Business Class, End Car	3405	3400	3402	3401	3409
Power Car	2004	2005	2002	2003	2009
*The trainset acceptance program is complete. Trainset "numbers" were changed during the production process. This set, which was the 20th accepted, has been variously called trainset 4, 20 and 24. Most of the cars in this set were the ones in prototype set 2 that was extensively used on the Northeast Corridor for high-speed testing.

TRAINSET 6 7 8 9 10

Power Car 2031 2032 2019 2039 2016

First Class, End Car 3215 3216 3218 3219 3214

Business Class 3554 3553 3559 3544 3533

Business Class 3549 3556 3548 3542 3540

Cafe 3302 3301 3315 3307 3306

Business Class 3555 3557 3558 3547 3534

Business Class, End Car 3417 3419 3416 3415 3413

Power Car 2030 2034 2014 2035 2038

TRAINSET 11 12 13 14 15

Power Car 2017 2037 2033 2015 2028

First Class, End Car 3210 3209 3213 3208 3211

Business Class 3532 3538 3537 3525 3522

Business Class 3531 3528 3529 3536 3524

Cafe 3316 3319 3318 3317 3314

Business Class 3530 3516 3552 3527 3545

Business Class, End Car 3414 3410 3408 3418 3411

Power Car 2036 2006 2027 2010 2007

TRAINSET 16 17 18 19 20

Power Car 2012 2011 2025 2024 2029

First Class, End Car 3205 3212 3201 3202 3203

Business Class 3515 3539 3521 3512 3502

Business Class 3550 3518 3501 3517 3503

Cafe 3313 3312 3311 3309 3310

Business Class 3514 3551 3535 3513 3523

Business Class, End Car 3407 3412 3404 3406 3403

Power Car 2013 2022 2023 2021 2026

*Trainset 18 was involved in an accident on October 28, 2004, in New Haven, Conn. First Class car 3201 suffered considerable underframe damage when it hit a bridge support. Car 3201 was removed from the trainset on November 6, and was repaired in the Bear shops. While repairs were made, trainset 18 operated with five passenger cars, generally holding down a "Metroliner" schedule.

TEST AND PROTOTYPE SETS
TRAINSET	1*	2**	3***	4****
Power Car	2000	2003	2005	2008
First Class, End Car	3402	3200	3203	3204
Business Class	3502	3507	3512	3510
Business Class	3503	3504	3513	3509
Cafe	3500	3508	3300	3303
Business Class	3505	3506	3517	3520
Business Class, End Car	3400	3401	3403	3405
Power Car	2002	2001	2004	2018
Testing began at Pueblo, CO, in early 1999, and on the NEC in mid-1999. Trainset One did not have a standard consist, and the car interiors were not fitted out. Trainset Two was delivered largely as car shells only to provide a high-speed testing vehicle for FRA qualification. This testing was completed testing on the NEC in late 2001, and was returned to the factory in mid-December 2001, for completion of interior work. This trainset did not have a cafe car, but had coach 3508 in its place. Trainset Three was returned to the factory in mid-February 2001 for completion of interior work. **Trainset Four was returned to the factory in mid-May 2001, for completion of interior work. While in Philadelphia, it was heavily used for "replacement parts."

DISCLAIMER/FINE PRINT
Amtrak does not endorse this page, nor does it sponsor this or any other On Track On Line page. Amtrak sources were used to compile this roster, but this page does not represent an official Amtrak roster, nor is this roster information endorsed by Amtrak.

The information on all the Amtrak roster pages is as accurate as possible as of the date listed at the top of individual pages. Webmasters David and HaRRy wish to thank El Simon, Associate Editor of Passenger Train Journal, for his assistance in preparing this page.

The roster information is subject to change without notice. If you are aware of information in conflict with this page, please notify .