Avelia, Avelia Liberty
Three months ago, Amtrak released this video after signing a new deal to purchase the next-generation Acela Express from our old friend Alstom. It is called the Avelia Liberty.
At the minute mark, it states that this train shares a common platform that has been proven in service. Hold on a minute, what common platform? Revenue service? What's an Avelia?
Yes, that was a long-winded way of getting into today's topic, and let me do the Googling, so you don't have to (if you have not already, that is). According to Alstom's product web page, all of their current high-speed trains are now branded Avelia. This includes the Pendolino, the TGV Euroduplex, the AGV, and of course, our Avelia Liberty. What I find interesting, is the fact that this family name has yet to be mentioned much or marketed heavily at all. In fact, I don't think it is that good of an idea. Alstom's high-speed trains ranges are already very well known worldwide, so why cause confusion? This begs the question, why Avelia at all? Frankly, I don't have the answer, but I have a hunch that it may signal what we can expect from Alstom soon. Perhaps, it is finally time to have all the great individual things Alstom produces right now come together.
Let me try to break it down. At first glance, the Avelia Liberty resembles the AGV, but is not an EMU. It is a tilting train, and it is articulated like a good ole TGV (or AGV too, for that matter). And ho ho ho, there is also this concept train for the HS2, a double decker that looks like the love child of a Euroduplex and AVG. Right, I will leave it up to you to put two and two together from here. I am, however, really excited to see what the next Euroduplex will look like.
Alstom AGV, by Marc Ryckaert (MJJR) - Own work, CC BY 3.0, Link
Although there is nothing groundbreaking about what I have just discussed, but maybe the Avelia is a lot bigger than it appears at the moment. As with most things in life, only time will tell, but I will link some leisure readings you can do about the future right here, right now.
At the minute mark, it states that this train shares a common platform that has been proven in service. Hold on a minute, what common platform? Revenue service? What's an Avelia?
Yes, that was a long-winded way of getting into today's topic, and let me do the Googling, so you don't have to (if you have not already, that is). According to Alstom's product web page, all of their current high-speed trains are now branded Avelia. This includes the Pendolino, the TGV Euroduplex, the AGV, and of course, our Avelia Liberty. What I find interesting, is the fact that this family name has yet to be mentioned much or marketed heavily at all. In fact, I don't think it is that good of an idea. Alstom's high-speed trains ranges are already very well known worldwide, so why cause confusion? This begs the question, why Avelia at all? Frankly, I don't have the answer, but I have a hunch that it may signal what we can expect from Alstom soon. Perhaps, it is finally time to have all the great individual things Alstom produces right now come together.
Let me try to break it down. At first glance, the Avelia Liberty resembles the AGV, but is not an EMU. It is a tilting train, and it is articulated like a good ole TGV (or AGV too, for that matter). And ho ho ho, there is also this concept train for the HS2, a double decker that looks like the love child of a Euroduplex and AVG. Right, I will leave it up to you to put two and two together from here. I am, however, really excited to see what the next Euroduplex will look like.
Alstom AGV, by Marc Ryckaert (MJJR) - Own work, CC BY 3.0, Link
Although there is nothing groundbreaking about what I have just discussed, but maybe the Avelia is a lot bigger than it appears at the moment. As with most things in life, only time will tell, but I will link some leisure readings you can do about the future right here, right now.
- Alstom Avelia Liberty product page
- Case Study: Amtrak Avelia Liberty (by Alstom)
- NextGen High Speed Trains Fact Sheet (by Amtrak)
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