The Bombardier–Alstom HHP-8 (High Horse Power 8000) is a twin-cab electric locomotive built for Amtrak and MARC by a consortium of Bombardier and Alstom.

Due to a limited number of locomotives produced and reliability issues leading to high maintenance costs, Amtrak retired all its HHP-8s after only ten years of service.

Amtrak assumed control of almost all private sector intercity passenger rail service in the United States on May 1, 1971.

The centerpiece of Amtrak's system was the Northeast Corridor, a 457-mile (735 km) line between Washington, D.C., and Boston, Massachusetts, via New York City.

In the 1990s Amtrak rebuilt and electrified the route as part of the project which established high-speed Acela Express service between Washington and Boston.

Amtrak chose to have Bombardier and Alstom, makers of the Acela Express, produce a visually-similar derivative for conventional service.

[7] The HHP-8s have external styling that is similar to the Acela power cars, but are designed to operate as independent locomotives, hauling conventional passenger rolling stock.

Amtrak operated its HHP-8s on the Northeast Corridor between Boston and Washington, DC;[11] racking up approximately 1,000,000 miles each in service (based on 2009 figure).

[12] In 2002, Amtrak's fleet of 15 units was temporarily withdrawn along with the Acela Express trains due to cracks in components of the trucks.

[26][needs update] Media related to Bombardier/Alstom HHP-8 locomotives at Wikimedia Commons For 150 mph (241 km/h) or more in the US, see High-speed rail in the United States