Morning Brew Daily Amtrak Launches NextGen Acela & The Wizard of Oz Takes the Sphere
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Aug 29, 2025 Exciting times for Amtrak as they unveil NextGen Acela trains for the Northeast corridor! The discussion also dives into New Orleans' remarkable recovery 20 years after Katrina. A fresh take on The Wizard of Oz brings in modern tech, while economic woes loom over India with record-high U.S. tariffs. Don't miss the playful banter about quirky state mottos and the heated rivalry brewing in college football broadcasting!
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Trains Are Fast, Tracks Are Not
- The new next-gen Acela trains can reach 160 mph but infrastructure limits their speed across most of the Northeast Corridor.
- Old tracks, signals, and shared use with freight significantly constrain real-world travel times.
Bigger Trains, Still Slower Than World Leaders
- The new Acela cars hold 27% more passengers to meet rising demand and record ridership in FY2024.
- Even with growth, US rail speeds still lag global high-speed systems that exceed 186 mph.
Ridership Up, Profitability Down
- Amtrak posted record ridership but remains unprofitable, with operations spending exceeding revenue by nearly $700 million last year.
- The White House pressures Amtrak to reach operational profit by 2028 amid broader skepticism about US high-speed projects.