Alstom named to Fast Company’s Annual List of the World’s Most Innovative Companies of 2026 for advancing U.S. high-speed rail with Amtrak’s NextGen Acela

The World’s Most Innovative Companies is Fast Company’s hallmark franchise and one of its most anticipated editorial efforts of the year. To determine honourees, Fast Company’s editors and writers review companies driving progress around the world and across industries, evaluating thousands of submissions through a competitive application process. The result is a globe-spanning guide to innovation today, from early-stage startups to some of the most valuable companies in the world. 

Due to Amtrak’s vision and investment, the Alstom designed and manufactured NextGen Acela signifies a groundbreaking transformation in American passenger rail by introducing European-style high-speed trains that are cutting-edge, comfortable and proudly made in the USA. The train’s interiors are thoughtfully designed to enhance the customer experience, offering expansive windows for natural light, ergonomically designed seats with winged headrests, plus 27% more seating than the legacy fleet. Other amenities include free high-speed 5G-enabled Wi-Fi, power outlets and reading lights at every seat and the all-new Cafe Acela with Grab & Go offerings. 

“The NextGen Acela project is a testament to American innovation, creativity and problem solving. Amtrak challenged us to help build a stronger, more connected America—one that creates skilled jobs, revitalizes communities and gives travellers a more elevated, comfortable way to move,” said Michael Keroulle, President of Alstom Americas. “Together, we’ve shown that high‑speed rail can be a powerful engine of economic growth across the U.S. and a catalyst for the country’s next era of mobility.”

“Our list of the Most Innovative Companies is about spotlighting organizations that don’t just adapt to change—they drive it,” said Brendan Vaughan, editor-in-chief of Fast Company. “The companies we honour this year are redefining what leadership looks like in 2026, pairing bold ideas with measurable impact and turning breakthrough innovation into real-world value. They are setting the pace for their industries and offering a blueprint for what sustained innovation can achieve.”

A key reason for this recognition is the project’s measurable economic impact:

• Over 1,200 jobs created in upstate New York, including 800 mostly union manufacturing jobs in the small community of Hornell.

• A supply chain that spans 180 suppliers, 29 states and 137 communities. 

• 95% domestic content, establishing the nation’s first high-speed rail manufacturing ecosystem.

• An estimated 15,000 jobs supported nationwide through this project.

These outcomes illustrate how investment in rail can create long-term economic opportunities for American workers and communities across the country. It also means the United States now has the skills and manufacturing capacity needed to deliver future high-speed rail programs more efficiently and competitively.

Alstom brought 40+ years of high-speed rail expertise from Europe to the U.S. to manufacture its Avelia Liberty model as the NextGen Acela for Amtrak. Leveraging the same Avelia technology platform as France’s next generation high-speed trains, the NextGen Acela runs at speeds up to 160 mph, making it the fastest train in North America. The train also integrates innovative features that create a smoother, more comfortable ride for passengers on the curves of the Northeast Corridor. It is also the first and only train to go through rigorous testing to satisfy the U.S. Federal Railroad Administration’s Tier III safety rule.

As the leading rolling stock and rail services provider in the U.S., Alstom has delivered more than 12,000 new or renovated vehicles for domestic rail agencies and airports, including those in New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Boston, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Atlanta, and New Jersey, and delivered the first high-speed trains made in America. Alstom is also the number one private rail operator in the country, serving more than 20 rail and airport customers and moving millions of passengers daily. 

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