By Shawn Gallagher
I recently discussed the various ways of traveling between New York City and Boston in this post. The 3 main options I discussed were Amtrak, flying, and intercity buses. In this post, I will be going over what Amtrak’s Acela Business Class is like.
Amtrak primarily has two train options: the Northeast Regional and the Acela Express. The Northeast Regional consists of coach and business class seats and makes more stops along the way, thus taking more time. However, it’s the cheaper option of the two.
The Acela on the other hand, consists of business and first class seats, makes fewer stops, and completes the trip faster. Let’s go over the Acela Business Class.
Boarding The Acela
A big benefit of taking the train vs flying is the ease of boarding. As long as you have your ticket, all you have to do is show up at the station and get on the train.
I showed up at Boston’s South Station about 20 minutes before departure. I give myself a little bit of buffer time just in case something happens along the way, like traffic or a train delay.
Once the track number was announced, I made my way to my car.
Inside Acela Business Class
The train itself is comfortable. The seats are fairly big, and legroom is pretty good.
There was a footrest in addition to the good legroom. I didn’t find any meaningful purpose in this, as the seat itself was comfortable enough.
The overhead storage above has a good amount of space. A backpack or a small carry on will fit.
Unlike most long distance Amtrak trains, the Acela and the Northeast Regional do not do checked luggage, as there isn’t a cargo car. Instead, larger suitcases can be placed near the ends of the cars, near the doors.
The train table, although a bit bulky, is nice and roomy. I had a good amount of space to work during the trip.
Restrooms are located thorughout the train. They’re nothing fancy, but all serve their purpose and aren’t dirty. This particular one was ADA accessible.
Cafe Car
The Cafe Car is located in car number 4, around the middle of the train. Amtrak calls it Cafe Acela, and they offer a nice area to hang out and enjoy snacks or a meal.
I got myself a blueberry muffin as a snack.
Overall Thoughts On the Acela
We arrived at Penn Station on time after a little over 3.5 hours.
The Acela is no doubt the most comfortable option when traveling along the Northeast Corridor. Although the cars may be somewhat outdated, they still serve its purpose on providing a nice ride. It’s also personally my favorite way of traveling between Boston and New York City, something I frequently do.
The Acela is also the most reliable option when traveling along the Northeast Corridor. Planes are susceptible to weather delays, and intercity buses are susceptible to traffic.
Amtrak trains, on the other hand, can run through most inclement weather. The Acela also gets priority along the route, meaning if there is a delay, Amtrak will do what it takes to get minimize or get back on schedule altogether. When you need reliability, the Acela is the way to go.
If you’re debating between the many options of travel along the Northeast Corridor, I highly recommend the Acela Business Class.
All photos taken by the author.