0:26Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy steps aboard the NextGen Acela express service at Washington’s Union Station, Aug. 27, 2025. J. Scott Applewhite/AP
The Department of Transportation unveiled the new high-velocity Acela fleet during a Wednesday briefing, outlining how the agency is “taking back operational control” of Washington, D.C.’s Union Station to refurbish the landmark and unlock new revenue streams there.
Flanked by Amtrak executives, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy marked the debut of the NextGen Acela, which Amtrak bills as its upgraded express service. After the ceremony, the first NextGen Acela departed for New York City’s Penn Station on Wednesday morning.
Duffy argued that rapid trains ought to be commonplace in the United States—not merely overseas. He predicted the increased capacity would drive down fares and yield a “superior journey for American travelers.”
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy settles into a seat on a NextGen Amtrak Acela bound for Boston following the kickoff event celebrating the upgraded train’s first scheduled run along the Northeast Corridor, August 27, 2025 in Washington.Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy boards the NextGen Acela express at Union Station in Washington, Aug. 27, 2025.J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Amtrak President Roger Harris branded the new coaches “first-rate, time-saving and luxurious.” He stated they are designed to hit 160 mph and emphasized that 95 percent of each train is manufactured domestically—an investment that has already created 15,000 jobs nationwide.
Yet Amtrak timetables show the newcomer is slightly outpaced—by three to seven minutes per Washington–New York trip—compared with current services.
“Travel-time gains will hinge on the ongoing upgrades we plan for the Corridor—rebuilding track and renewing overhead lines,” an Amtrak spokesperson explained.
The Acela II during a trial run.Amtrak
Passengers see the all-new interior of the Amtrak NextGen Acela before the high-speed service’s first run from Union Station in Washington to Boston, August 27, 2025.Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
Duffy likewise declared Union Station “is back under DOT oversight” with the goal of restoring and commercializing the hub. Though ownership already rested with the Department of Transportation, the site had been run under a web of leases and agreements.
“It’s no takeover—ownership never left us—but we believe we can steward the asset more effectively,” Duffy remarked. “Attract fresh tenants, boost income, and use that revenue to reinvest in this grand facility.”
Louisiana National Guard troops patrol inside Washington’s Union Station, August 27, 2025.Brian Snyder/Reuters
Duffy framed the initiative as part of President Donald Trump’s broader agenda to curb crime and homelessness in Washington while rejuvenating Union Station. “President Trump wants to see this station shine again, wants transit security restored, wants our capital to feel great again. Today’s action is one piece of that vision,” he said.
“We’re committing the funds to ensure the station doesn’t fall into grime, to eliminate homelessness here,” Duffy continued. “We want a venue where retailers are eager to open outlets and serve both the District community and the visitors arriving by rail, a destination for dining and shopping—magnificent, pristine and safe.”
Members of the Louisiana National Guard patrol inside Union Station in Washington, August 27, 2025.Brian Snyder/Reuters
Last week, Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth toured Union Station to thank National Guard troops posted there. While onsite, Vance spoke to the press about safety challenges.
“You see wanderers, substance users, people trapped in chronic homelessness—individuals with mental illness who intimidate, threaten, lash out at families,” Vance said. “For far too long, this has taken place. This depot ought to stand as a tribute to American greatness, a spot where you can sit down for a meal or shop with your family—not one where parents worry about bringing their kids.”
Sourse: abcnews.go.com
