By Shawn Gallagher
Good morning from Boston’s South Station! This is a trip report from my recent ride on Amtrak’s Acela Express from Boston to New York. This was on a Friday morning, with mostly commuters and business travelers on board. It was also one of the fastest service trains between the two cities, making the trip in 3 hours 35 minutes.
Departing Boston’s South Station
I got to South Station about 30 minutes before departure, which is plenty of time for Amtrak trains. I boarded the train about 10-15 minutes before departure.
I reserved car 3, a regular business class cabin. Sometimes I choose the Quiet Car, but I just went with a regular car this time. Read here on what the Quiet Car is like.
Related: Amtrak Quiet Car Review, Northeast Regional From Boston To New York
Onboard
I do think the seats are more spacious on the Acela compared to the Northeast Regional, largely due to the difference between coach and business. I always have enough space to cross my legs.
I’d estimate that at least 80% of passengers onboard were business travelers. This is a common characteristic of the Acela. It was also mostly full, which is expected for a Friday morning. Lots of business travelers going back to New York at the end of the week, commuters, etc. I like to describe the Acela as an office on a train.
As I usually do on the train, I got some work done.
Cafe Car
Another reason why I love the train when traveling between New York and Boston is how I can get a meal in at the cafe car.
I always like the vibe here. A couple people doing work, a guy on a conference call, and a couple others getting breakfast.
As I had eaten breakfast before boarding the train, I just went with a light snack.
Thoughts On Acela Business Class
Although some might disagree, I do find the Acela to be more comfortable by a noticeable margin. The seats are definitely more spacious than the coach seats on the Regional, and the train runs smoother. I’m 6’1 tall and the Amfleets on the Northeast Regional can start to feel tight towards the end of the 4+ hour journey.
However, this current Acela fleet is nearing the end of its life. Although having faced delays, the second generation Acela fleet, the Avelia Liberty, is scheduled to enter service at the end of 2024 (or 2025 spring, at the latest). Those trains will have top speeds of 165mph with the newest technology inside the train, along with more capacity. Although this current fleet will feel nostalgic to me, I am looking forward to the new fleet.
This Acela trip took 3 hours and 30 minutes to Penn Station. It’s currently the fastest service between New York and Boston. This train will shave about 45 minutes on average compared to the Regional. I would say if the price difference isn’t too high, and you value comfort (and assigned seating!), I would go for the Acela.
All photos taken by the author.