2025-09-19T11:20:01Z
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Amtrak launched its new Acela fleet in August. At 160 miles per hour, it is the quickest US prepare.
Generally known as the NextGen Acela, the prepare has two courses — enterprise and first.
I just lately traveled in each courses, and my journey was stuffed with surprises.
I had no enterprise in Washington, DC, once I traveled there on a wet day in September. I used to be simply in it for the journey.I took Amtrak’s NextGen Acela prepare — a brand-new fleet for the categorical service between Boston and Washington, DC, that launched in late August. It has a max pace of 160 miles per hour, making it the quickest prepare within the US.The Acela has two courses: enterprise and first. I needed to strive each, so I took the brand new prepare from my residence in NYC to Washington, DC, in enterprise class for $180. Lower than an hour after I arrived within the US capital, I traveled residence in firstclass for $450.Every journey was three hours lengthy. Though the journey time was fairly just like Acela trains I’ve taken previously, my journey was stuffed with surprising particulars that had nothing to do with pace.
Amtrak and I’ve a historical past.
The reporter rides in firstclass on an Amtrak Acela prepare in 2022.
Joey Hadden/Enterprise Insider
My curiosity within the new Acela fleet wasn’t random.Whether or not within the US, Canada, or Europe, I want to journey the rails. I’ve spent 100 hours on Amtrak trains in courses starting from coach to a personal bed room.In 2022, I took the older Acela prepare between NYC and Baltimore in enterprise and firstclass. So I used to be curious to see what the brand new automobiles have been like.In comparison with a regular business-class ticket, the first-class reserving included perks like lounge entry at some stations, a meal on board, attendant service, and a much bigger seat with extra legroom.
I did not anticipate the brand new Acela prepare to seem like a spaceship.
The brand new Acela prepare is on the left, and the older mannequin is on the correct.
Joey Hadden/Enterprise Insider
Most Amtrak trains look just like me. They’ve plain, steel exteriors with refined pink and blue accents and a cumbersome, boxy form.So I used to be stunned once I noticed the brand new Acela’s daring pink, white, and blue exterior. It had a rounded roof, and the entrance was as modern as a sports activities automobile. It jogged my memory of a rocket ship.Subsequent to the older Acela mannequin on an adjoining platform, my journey appeared prefer it was from the longer term.
It was surprisingly simple to inform if I used to be within the appropriate prepare automobile.
Top notch had pink accents whereas enterprise class had blue accents.
Joey Hadden/Enterprise Insider
At any time when I hop on a prepare, I ask myself the identical query: Am I in the correct automobile?It may be powerful to inform what class you are in if you board a prepare you have by no means been on earlier than.The brand new Acela prepare had a intelligent resolution to my typical confusion. The business-class automobiles had pops of blue coloring the headrests, signage, and even the toilet doorways. The only first-class automobile was stuffed with pink accents.
I assumed the brand new cupholders have been genius.
A cupholder pulled out from the tray desk in each courses.
Joey Hadden/Enterprise Insider
One of many traditional predicaments of prepare journey is the place to place your drink if you’re not sipping it. The rails are bumpy, and I’ve discovered that the shallow, concave circle in your common tray desk is not at all times supportive sufficient to maintain a beverage from falling.It was a pleasant shock that the brand new Acela had pull-out cupholders on the again of the tray tables in each courses.
I used to be pleasantly stunned that the WiFi was quick sufficient to stream movies with out skipping a beat.
The reporter used the prepare’s 5G WiFi in each courses.
Joey Hadden/Enterprise Insider
Not each Amtrak prepare I have been on has had WiFi, and people who did lacked a robust, constant connection. Nonetheless, the brand new Acela had 5G WiFi, and I used to be capable of stream music movies on YouTube in crisp element with none lag.
My first-class ticket included dinner, and I did not anticipate finding a particular on the menu.
The reporter ordered the particular in firstclass.
Joey Hadden/Enterprise Insider
Ordering a particular at a restaurant at all times makes me really feel slightly lavish. So once I noticed a single dish framed within the middle of the menu in my first-class seatback pocket, I used to be excited and stunned. I might by no means seen a particular on an Amtrak menu earlier than.The dish was charred Bobo hen with roasted acorn squash, a verde sauce, and a tough roll. The marinated hen was flavorful and paired properly with the candy squash.It was the very best meal I’ve had on an Amtrak prepare.
Probably the most surprising a part of my journey was discovering that even after spending 100 hours on Amtrak rides, the prepare line nonetheless managed to shock me.
The brand new Acela prepare is on the correct aspect of the platform.
Joey Hadden/Enterprise Insider
This final shock was a testomony to Amtrak’s dedication to upgrading prepare journey within the US. And I can not wait to see what they provide you with subsequent.
