AmeriStarRail Pushes Plan to Put Coach Riders on High-Speed Libertyliner 250 Trains

September 10, 2025

Amtrak's new Acela service is being criticized by AmeriStarRail for excluding coach passengers, who comprise over three-quarters of Northeast Corridor ridership. AmeriStarRail has proposed a plan called "Libertyliner 250" that would partner with Amtrak to operate 28 new high-speed trainsets with coach, business, and first-class seating options. The Delaware-based company argues that continuing to use 50-year-old Amfleet coaches at high speeds poses significant safety concerns for millions of passengers.

Who is affected

Coach passengers who make up the majority (over 75%) of Amtrak's Northeast Corridor ridership
Seniors, families, students, people with disabilities, and low-income passengers
The 5.6 million annual riders at Union Station in Washington D.C.
Approximately 70,000 daily travelers through Union Station
14 million Northeast Corridor passengers, of which more than three-quarters cannot afford Acela fares

What action is being taken

AmeriStarRail is proposing the "Libertyliner 250" plan to partner with Amtrak
AmeriStarRail is calling the exclusion of coach passengers discriminatory and unsafe
AmeriStarRail's COO Scott Spencer has sent a letter to Amtrak President Roger Harris addressing safety concerns
AmeriStarRail is requesting to present its proposal to Amtrak's Board

Why it matters

Current practice forces millions of passengers to travel on aging equipment built in the 1970s
Operating 50-year-old Amfleet cars at 125 mph is unprecedented in North America and poses potential safety issues
The proposed plan would expand capacity by more than 50% on the New York-Washington route and 11% between Boston and New York
The Libertyliner would make high-speed rail accessible to all passenger classes, similar to European and Asian models
The partnership could generate "hundreds of millions of dollars annually" for Amtrak through user fees and performance incentives
The plan could reduce congestion on I-95 and at overcrowded regional airports

What's next

AmeriStarRail has requested to present its proposal to Amtrak's Board for immediate consideration as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint