By Shawn Gallagher
The northeast corridor is one of the busiest areas in North America when it comes to travel. Thus, the region provides a number of different methods of transportation to and from each city, and Boston and New York City are no exception. One of the more popular methods of travel between the two cities is Amtrak, and Amtrak’s Acela Express in particular. The Acela is a high speed train connecting key cities such as Boston, Providence, New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C. The train provides business class and first class. Read below for a full review of the Acela’s business class from my recent trip!
Booking
Amtrak fares are just like airfares, where prices change depending on demand and other factors. I booked this ticket a little over a month in advance, so it cost me 58 dollars one way. However, the closer you get, and depending on the time of the train, tickets can go up to 150 to 250 dollars. Once you book, you’ll get an email with an e-ticket with a barcode to show the conductor on the train. You can also use the Amtrak app which will also give you your barcode. I used the app for this trip, and I found it simple and easy to use.
Boarding and Seat Review
I got to South Station a little over a half hour before departure. I had to take the T (Boston’s subway) here, which is infamously known among Massachusetts residents for being utterly unreliable. I left early so I wouldn’t be affected by their unforeseeable delays, but you’ll always want to leave some extra time before your train anyways in case of bad traffic, other delays, etc.
This is the main waiting area in South Station. Although the station is under construction, I still often envy some other cities with gorgeous station concourses, such as Washington D.C., Chicago, and New York City’s Grand Central.
I headed to the train soon after the platform was announced. I was in car 3. In addition to first and business class, Acela also offers a quiet car. The seat is the same as business class, but calling, conversations, and other loud noises are not allowed. I highly recommend this car if you’re looking to get some sleep, or just want to enjoy a quiet ride to your destination. Once you book your ticket, you’ll be able to choose the quiet car during seat selection. It’s located in car 2, adjacent to first class.
After I sat down, I immediately noticed the great amount of room I had. I’m 6’1/183cm, and both the legroom and seat width were more than enough. Considering Amtrak’s biggest competitors in the northeast corridor market (buses and planes), I thought this was a huge strength for them.
The tray table was fairly large. I’d say it was enough to fit a 13 inch laptop and a coffee cup at the same time.
The seat also came with a footrest, which I found rather useless. There are also overhead lights for each seat.
The Acela has overhead storage bins that close, just like those on an airplane. It’s big enough to fit a backpack or a small suitcase. Just remember to leave space for the passenger next to you.
Larger items can be placed in the storage space at the ends of the car.
Cafe Car and Restrooms
As with most long distance trains, the Acela has a Cafe Car, called Cafe Acela. Conveniently located in the middle of the train at car 4, you can enjoy a variety of meals and give yourself a chance to stretch your legs. I bought myself a blueberry muffin to have as a snack, which was good.
The restroom was nothing special, but enough to serve its purpose as a restroom. There are also larger bathrooms that are wheelchair accessible.
My Thoughts on the Acela Express
The Acela is a major method of transit between Boston and New York, and New York and Washington D.C., serving them in about 3 hours 30 minutes and 2 hours 50 minutes respectively (depends on each train). Travel between D.C. and Boston gets long though, as I’ve taken the plane every time between those two. The service is a big plus compared to air travel, in that it’s very easy to board the train and it takes you to and from the center of your destination. It is also a plus compared to the bus in that you get great space and food service from the cafe car. Considering the time and comfort Amtrak provides, I recommend the Acela for traveling the northeast corridor. Amtrak is also scheduled to unveil new Acela trains in the fall of 2024, featuring higher speeds and improved passenger comfort in one of the most technologically advanced trains in the world today, manufactured based on France’s new TGV trains. Be on the lookout for them if you’re traveling the northeast corridor after they come out.
All photos taken by the author.