Want to get from Boston to Manhattan by rail quickly—without selling your soul for a first-class ticket? That’s the dream AmeriStarRail says it’s ready to deliver with the proposed LibertyLiner 250, a high-speed train that could redefine what coach rail travel feels like in America.
Right now, Bostonians looking to zip down the Northeast Corridor have two options: Amtrak’s sleek new NextGen Acela (fast, but no coach seats) or the trusty Northeast Regional (cheaper, but slower). The first can hit 160 mph; the second tops out at 125. What AmeriStarRail wants to do is bring those worlds together—high speed, low cost and a lot more comfort.
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Their plan is to team up with Amtrak and rebrand the new NextGen Acelas as the LibertyLiner 250, a nod to America’s upcoming 250th anniversary in 2026, when these trains could roll out. The private company would operate 28 Alstom Avelia Liberty trainsets—each offering coach, business and first class—under the AmeriStarRail banner.
The proposed service includes hourly express runs between Boston, New York and Washington, D.C., plus free seats for kids under 18 traveling with an adult or senior.
Coach passengers would see serious upgrades, too, including free entertainment streaming, a café lounge with a bottle-filling station and even a kids’ play area. Business and first-class riders would score some old-school glamour including free shoe shines, cloth headrests, travel neck pillows and onboard conference rooms for mid-journey brainstorms.
And then there’s the showstopper—massage chairs. Yes, first-class travelers can expect massage chair pads onboard, plus access to lounge massage services at major stations.
AmeriStarRail says the LibertyLiner 250 will help phase out Amtrak’s aging Amfleet cars and finally give Americans true high-speed coach travel—something Europe and Asia have had for decades.
If all goes according to plan, the first LibertyLiner could roll out by spring 2026, just in time for the country’s 250th birthday. Faster, cheaper and a little bit glamorous—the LibertyLiner 250 might just be the train America’s been waiting for.