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Regarding Avelia Liberty (Acela 2, NextGen Acela) speeds

Posted by IsStatenIsland on 2 August 2025 in English. Last updated on 6 November 2025.

Update from November 6th: All the bulletins effectuating the Type A/B changes from 150 mph to 160 mph are in my possession. I upload employee timetables and bulletins here. I also now request bulletins every month from Amtrak.

I learned a bit about supplemental bulletin orders and summary bulletin orders and the schedule on which they’re issued. Summary bulletin orders are issued every first Monday of the month (and split by line such as NYW and BNY) and supplemental bulletin orders are issued as needed. The monthly summary bulletin orders always contain the aggregation of changes since the previous employee timetable so they can be further used to find the original supplemental bulletin orders that effectuated specific changes. Full employee timetable publications may take place of the monthly summary bulletins.

Modified on July 14th, 2025 by Supplemental Bulletin Order NYW1-18-c:

  • New Jersey: Midway & CP Clark

Modified on July 14th, 2025 by Supplemental Bulletin Order BNY1-18-a:

  • Rhode Island #1: MP 154.3 & MP 171.7, except Cv MP 159.7 & MP 160.5 and Cv MP 170.5 & MP 170.9

  • Massachusetts: MP 194.5 & MP 205

Modified on September 1st, 2025 by Summary Bulletin Order BNY1-20SUM:

  • Rhode Island #2: MP 174.5 & MP 180.5, except Cv MP 180.1 & MP 180.2 and Cv MP 180.2 & MP 180.5 (Type B speed remains unchanged at 125 mph)

There is no Type A train that can exceed 150 mph because the NextGen Acela is still Type B. The maximum speed possible in the Rhode Island #2 section remains 150 mph because the Type B speed is still 125 mph.

Update from August 29th: I’ve upgraded the speeds back to 160. What a crazy exercise of futility. One day later I also obtained summary bulletin order describing most of the changes. There’s still a little more work to do.

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Background

CGP Grey made a video about this issue.

Ellis Island (and Liberty Island, formerly called “Bedloe’s island”) sits on the New Jersey side of the Hudson River. New York was quite territorial over the river, claiming the entire river as New York territory, such that New York claimed that even New Jersey’s piers belonged in New York’s jurisdiction. New York and New Jersey agreed to a compact in 1834, which set the proper boundary, as one might expect, down the center of the river and bay. The compact also set the other interstate boundaries around Staten Island and into Raritan Bay.

This is the southernmost portion of New York City, which is also the southernmost part of New York City. The New Jersey border is highlighted: 0 Southern New York map

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Location: Manhattan, New York County, New York, United States