Our group took the DC Union Station to NYC Acela round trip for our long weekend, and it was a surprisingly good experience! There was plenty of room to stow our bags, and the seats were comfortable. The four-seater table group in the middle of the train car was pretty cramped for leg room on the way back, but other than that, it was very pleasant as a passenger. (It gave me plenty of time to work on these Yelp reviews!) The outlets in the seats worked perfectly. The bathroom was quite spacious to accommodate wheelchairs. Some passengers were a confused as to how to flush with the hand wave by the toilet (gross), and I absolutely hated the finicky hand drier. However, the fact that bathroom facilities are available that you couldn't get on a personal car road trip is really nice! We sat in the quiet car at the back of the train both ways. People were respectful of observing the silence throughout the ride, so if you'd like to nap or just enjoy some peace, I recommend the quiet car. We really enjoyed the ride and are already planning our next group trip with the Acela Express! read more

Acela Express - All aboard! - Trains Near Me - New York, New York

We took the Acela between Providence and New York city and the trip was quick...just about 3 hours. The train did not feel as smooth as the European high speed trains, actually, it felt very bumpy. But there is a nice Cafe car and plenty of restrooms in every car. The seats are individual bucket seat style, so they are roomy. The overhead compartments were large and easy to open. The Acela operator checking for tickets was very friendly. read more

Acela Express - Trains Near Me - New York, New York

We have taken the Acela many times. Mostly, we would go from DC to NYC. I've always felt that the Acela was worth the expense if one is going as far as NYC or beyond. For shorter trips, such as the two times we went to Wilmington, DE, we used the regional train as the ride wasn't very long. Previously, we took the Acela from DC to Boston and back. We enjoyed the trip coming and going. Before that, we would take a plane from IAD to BOS. After awhile, we got so tired of that due to more often than not, flights were delayed either coming or going. Once we had a three hour delay when leaving Boston. I thought to myself, if we took the train, we would have been just about halfway home. Last month, we took the Acela to Boston and back. We discovered that one now has to reserve their seats on the Acela. We were in DC a month before our trip so we stopped in at Union Station and did our reservations and seat assignment with a ticket agent. At this time, there was a lot of hype about the new Acela trains which were supposed to be up and running when it was time for us to travel. Well...yes and no. When the ticket agent assigned our seats, she was using a chart for the new Acela. Amtrak, online, claimed that they would clearly mark their schedules to say if one would get an old train or a new one. They weren't honest, as the schedules didn't have such markings. To add to this, the seat layouts on the new trains were rather strange. Some seats, for no apparent reason, were facing backwards, while others were facing forward. Fast forward to the day we took the train. We got to Union Station early and headed to the red cap area as we like having help with our bags. Heading out to the train, we fully expected to see a brand-new train... but no. Then we wondered whether our assigned seats (by number) actually existed. They did, indeed, exist, thankfully. The train left on time, and we arrived in Boston on time. As for the ride, yes, some areas have bumpy rides while others are smoother. When we got to Boston, on the track next to us, a brand new Acela was boarding heading to DC. And yes, we caught a glimpse of a few random seats facing the rear. As an aside, as we left Philadelphia, we saw several new Acelas parked in the rail yard and wondered why they weren't in service. The train back to DC was also an old train. My seat was a stark reminder of just how old and worn the train was, as it had a saggy spot that wasn't very comfortable. In the end, we thought seat assignments, in general, were a good idea. It means that people who are traveling with another person won't have to worry about being separated. And, next time we ride the Acela (whenever that may be) we hope we will get a new train. read more

the Acela policy listed on their website is that all sound making devices require headphones. the passenger next to me played their audio on loudspeaker all the way from Baltimore to NYC and when I requested the conductor address it he told me it was permitted. The policy listed online proves the opposite - this is peak rude self-focused behavior that Acela should have addressed. plus all but one bathroom on the whole train was broken. on a brand new train. read more

Omg! Horrendous Acela amtrak travel experience. NYC to Providence was a nightmare train "Squeaked" by on 40-50mph speeds, stopped at every local station, Quiet car was a joke...noisier than other cars, bathrooms Out of Order. We should've flown there!! Ugh read more

My first time on a train in the US! This was a great experience. I took the train from Penn Station in NYC to Philly. Sure beats driving and flying depending on the distance. It's predictable, comfortable and takes you right to the center of the city. The train itself was very clean and comfortable. They also have a food car where they had some decent food and drink options. read more

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I wanted to take my daughter down to DC from Boston on the train as an experience in our American history tour. It is $400 per person for one way, total it was over $800 for us both, not cheap. We did the first class on the Acela train. Curtains were threadbare and service was abysmal. I don't think they pay their people enough to care, or at least, that's how they acted. We had fruit when we got on. No one asked us if we wanted more food or let us know we could ask for more at any time. We politely waited for lunch. New people got on at NYC and all of a sudden they were being served lunch before our order was even taken. The assistant literally walked past us to assist others. People finished their meal before our order was taken. Starving and smelling food and hearing people eat is hard, especially knowing I paid $800 for this and can't even be fed enough without starving. I let the assistant know we were new to this (from California) and asked how things are done. She told me that people who got on the train at NyC get served first, not the ones who have been on the train since Boston for the last 4 hours. She said, I served you breakfast in Boston. I said, we ate fruit in Boston 4 hours ago. She said, you can ask for more. If you're hungry, you can get food before we get into NY. She never told us this. She took my menu after I ordered fruit in Boston and didn't mention that. How was I supposed to know or know what to order. Where I'm from, if they take the menu, that's it. Very disappointed. My advice, fly! It's 1/4 the cost, 1/4 the time, and 1/4 the aggravation - as bad as service is on a plane, it's never as bad as what I had on Amtrak. And I used to travel with my fam on Amtrak all the time as a kid. We loved it. Not anymore. I will say, here was another assistant who saved the day. Listened to my grievances kindly and assisted me. read more

Acela Express - Quality in first class - Trains Near Me - New York, New York

You know I get it with the reviews .... It's super expensive.... And it only sheds off 30'mins or so- BUT being in the middle of COVID and wanting to be as far away from as many people as possible when traveling has been a game changer for how money is allocated. The drinks in first class were nice and honestly the best part as you could have get some of your moneys worth through the cocktail selection... the meal attempts were ... decent - but at a $300 ticket you'd expect more... the CLEANLINESS of the train .... :0/ that was the most disappointing - food stains on the wall and when I wiped my tray and seat (myself) was definitely grimy - service was awesome and again as long as it's COVID ... minimal people interaction is definitely preferred .. read more

Acela Express - Trains Near Me - New York, New York

I HATE. Acela. Took the train to washington and my god... so stressful and the staff were very rude. Honestly, taking the bus is sooo much better and more smooth process than taking this shit train. i am traumatized and i will not be back read more

It amazed me how much worse Acela has gotten over the years. The business coach used to a true business oriented experience whereas now you barely have enough legroom and nowhere to plug in your computer unless you reach deep underneath your seat. It's just not worth the $200 you pay for. When it comes to express train service, the United States of America is truly a third world country. read more

Acela Express - Trains Near Me - New York, New York

2 and half hours from DC to Newark for a cheap fare was quite impressive and a killer value. I recommend using this travel option which only had 4 stops between my origin and destination. The train moves at 150mph at some points which is quite an experience. Better and faster than a plane. read more

Acela Express - Business class seat. Tons of leg room and the seats are wide and recline. It's equivalent to first class seats on domestic US flights. - Trains Near Me - New York, New York

For $300/ticket: Penetrating odor of human waste Screaming (FUCKING SCREAMING) children wifi virtually inoperable Basically the same speed as the regional rail Inexcusably overpriced for what they offer. read more

I'm rating based on their customer service. In particular, an agent who goes by "Nicole." Their policies seem to change, depending upon who you talk to. Unfortunately, the agent I spoke to before her was professional. This one refused to honor what was said less than 24 hours before by the company and just hung up the chat while I was still explaining the situation. Not a professional organization. read more

First off, I have been on Amtrak many times but never had the chance to travel aboard the Acela. I have to say the experience is more than satisfying. The seats are real comfy and the coach I was in was clean. It's amazing how much you can miss riding the train if you haven't been on one for a while. For a short ride like mine was (NY to Boston) I would say I really enjoyed myself. You can look out the window, read, sleep and do whatever you feel like. The ride got scenic as we approached Providence. I don't know how I feel about comparing this experience to taking a flight over to Boston. It's probably not fair to compare the two but the Acela for sure had better seats that recline all the way and it did help that I didn't have to show up an hr in advance and go through security. Also, if you are traveling alone do yourself a favor and get the window seat. They have curtains installed and you can always pull them on if you get tired looking out the window. read more

Acela Express - Trains Near Me - New York, New York

My trip was memorable in so many ways, South Station in Boston was amazing the AmTrack lounge was a sweet blessing to get out of the crowd and heat. Everyone was so helpful, and then I got on the train, I paid for a first class seat and the coach attendant was not a first class hostess. I try to give people the benefit of the doubt. Everyone has a bad day once in awhile, right? But this attendant was upset at everyone in first class. She was abrupt, to the point of almost being rude, as if the clientele was disturbing her or interrupting her trip if they asked for a drink or a snack. AmTrack it was a 5 star ride with a 2 star attendant. Customer Care training is in need. Would I take the trip again? Yes, I just hope I get a different attendant. read more

Does the idea of traveling from NYC to either Boston, Philly or DC stress you out? Should I drive? Should I take a sketchy, cut rate bus? Should I fly, and take 5 hours of my day for a 45 minute flight? Oh, what about the weather? It might snow, or rain, or be Labor or Memorial Day weekend. Stress...stress...stress. Fear not, because Acela is to the rescue. I take the Acela Express to Boston for work often and it is boss. As compared to driving: well Amtrak takes care of that for you As compared to a bussy-bus: Amtrak has got your back on that one, too. Traffic and weather are not a problem for the train. As compared to flying: No airport hassle. This is an umbrella term for: *Sitting in f-tons of random traffic on the way to LGA, JFK, or EWR on Tuesday at 2pm, making you perilously close to missing your plane *Getting to the airport 90 minutes before your flight leaves to be humiliated by security. *Rushing to the airport, the gate, etc. only to sit on the tarmac for 45 minutes behind 30 other planes. *Cramped seats, even for short people. *Do I need to keep going or do you get the picture? Acela gives you big leather seats, massive - stretch your legs out legroom, wifi, power outlets at each seat, etc. You can show up literally 10-15 minutes before your train leaves, print your ticket, get in line and jump on that bad boy.... and you are outta there. And since there is no taxi, take-off to 10,000 feet bs, you can whip out the laptop and cell phone and do work for the whole train ride. And if you are going NYP to BOS, you ride along the very picturesque Connecticut coastline. Acela is great... tell your friends. read more

Like having sex with Samantha from "Sex in the City", the Acela is comfortable, roomy and fast, even if it doesn't smell so great sometimes. But in the end, it's a little overpriced for what you get and a lot of time, after you've gone for a ride it just doesn't seem worth it. I prefer to sometimes take the Northeast Regional and upgrade to business class there for a similarly civilized ride that's a lot less expensive. Plus, you don't have to hang out with Sarah Jessica Parker or Cynthia Nixon (they kinda scare me) read more

If you plan on a productive 4-5 hours working while on the Acela, don't. I took a trip last week from NJ Penn to Boston Back Bay (not cheap- ~ $550 round trip). I had to work on my laptop using a work email, a research portal and Bloomberg. It took 10 minutes to get Bloomberg loaded and running (typical time is ~ 20 seconds) and was kicked off the internet every 20 minutes- having to start the whole process over again and again. Working on commission, I opted for train vs flying- allowing more productive hours. Forget it- If you need reliable internet, Amtrak / Acela is a huge mistake. In the round trip, only once was the cafe car taking credit cards- "sorry, cash only- internet is down". Btw, their ham, egg and cheese bfst sandwiches are really good- not much else to do when you can't work. Wrote to Amtrak, zero response-as one might expect. Terrible- read more

I find it mildly amusing that people complain about having poor train service when they're not willing to promote it amongst friends and family, and also not pay for the entire system to be upgraded from its very old, very dated foundations. Trying to compare this with the high speed lines elsewhere in the world is a-kin to trying to compare our highway systems. That being said, this is a great way to get around between DC, Philadelphia, New York, and Boston. If only they did an Acela to Chicago & San Francisco/Los Angeles... but that'd be incredibly expensive to build. Considering how much more space it would take... you should really compare service between Russia / China / here. I put us squarely in the middle. And yes, it's pleasantly not crowded, and I'd definitely take it over a plane. At least if you're stuck on the Acela while waiting to go somewhere, the air is still fresh. The only thing that keeps this from being a 4.5/5 is the cost; the Amtrak trains themselves are quite nice still. read more

I have travelled first class on many aircraft and been in the Vippie lounges and still I have to say this Acela service in first is friendly, efficient, and gets the job done. The lounge attendant was a friendly gentleman who was smiley and offers to call out your name when your train is ready to board- unheard of at VIP lounges in airports I've been. Then a red cap is requested if you need who escorts you past the lines to the cabin and accommodates your luggage with a smile. We left no more than 5 minutes after all were aboard. The boarding taking no more than five. It's not haute cuisine but it's a varied menu and for train service pretty good. A hostess, who could use a smile on her face, takes your order as soon as you are on your way. We were served a tasty (partially healthy - the kcal count is on each dish) meal before hitting Newark where others boarded. The whole meal service was complete by 10:50am. There are 1x2 seating and a few 4 face to face seats for larger groups. We copped a 4 seater and loved it. But riding race to face with a stranger nyet. If you like peace and quiet and prefer not having to hear personal cell phone conversations then don't ride here - choose the quiet car. It's a lovely ride and though I'm surprised the US is one if not only industrial nation without a bullet, we seemed to be traveling at a good speed clocked at 128mph for most of the trip. The red cap service is excellent both at Penn and Union. Courteous and efficient and don't even ask for a tip but of course you give them at least 20% :) Happy travels. read more

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Love the quiet car!!! The Acela is a lovely way to travel to PA, DC or Boston. It is fast, clean and on time. The seats are very comfortable and the bathrooms are relatively clean. The staff is super friendly and helpful. The free wifi allows you to make good use of your travel time. The only negative is that it leaves out of Penn Station - YUCK! read more

Well, I think I found my new favorite way to travel the east coast. Took Acela First Class NY to BOS round trip. The NY to BOS leg was my first time in First Class w/ them so all I knew about the product was from things I had read online and not personal experience. We got the snacks and menus. LOVED the snack mix, I really liked that it had a kick of spice to it. I ordered a drink and the beef tenderloin. Service was much slower than I expected but figured this may be the norm as I had nothing to compare it to. It seemed the attendant was doing the best she could to get the meals and drinks out but was having a hard time keeping up. The seat was very comfortable and we arrived very well rested. Being that comfortable for the 4 hours made the trip feel like no time at all. My beef tenderloin over noodles had huge potential but was served reasonably cold. I ate it that way because the attendant was clearly slammed and I had a feeling there wasn't much she could do for me if I sent it back. All in all, not bad but would have been much better at proper temperature. The roll and dessert were excellent. On the way back, service was so much better. This time it was clear that there were 2 attendants and that sped things up substantially. I ate the cod with potato and green beans and raved about it the whole time. Seriously, delicious meal. This trip flew by because service was so good they kept my glass full with booze and boy did I catch more than a buzz ;) I can see why Acela first gets less-than-stellar reviews but WOW, this will probably become my go-to means of travel because even with a couple hiccups it's so stress free. read more

I'm happy about the 3 hour service from NY to DC and back BUT I want to raise the issue of prejudice. I noticed that the ticket collecters just felt the need to give my ticket extra scrutiny because of their biases. That happens because I'm a female dark skinned minority, so I'm immediately stereotyped and people assume that I'm not on the right train because of the way I look. So, Acela: there are non-white men who ride the service too. Female minorities also have money to buy the business class ticket. read more

I've never ridden Acela before, but I decided to for my trip from Boston to New York this week. I've ridden trains in Europe, and the Acela was no comparison -- slower and bumpier. The train was delayed by about an hour on the way in, and I am still on the ride back but it is delayed again. They made a last minute staff change without providing any more info, so our train is stuck in Providence, 1.5 hours behind schedule. For a train that is advertised as relatively fast transit option, it's a waste of money. I can get back and forth to NYC faster with a $20 bus ticket. Acela: if you are reading this, please communicate better about the reasons for your delays. And nobody can control the weather, but for a delay caused by staff issues, I'd think it appropriate to offer partial refunds, since people are specifically buying Acela tickets so that they can arrive somewhere quickly. The inside of the train is nice though, with comfortable seats 2 across, and the internet is slow but it worked for almost the entirety of the ride. read more

The Acela is the worst train experience I have EVER had. Respectfully, the "faster" train? Complete and utter bulls**t. Over 2 hours of delays, no communication, the train went backwards at some points. Do not waste your money. read more

The Acela is a joke. It's nothing more than an excuse for overpaid bankers, lobbyists and politicians to segregate themselves from the rest of America on the Northeast Regional. Why? It's not a high-speed train -- it travels slower -- average MPH -- than regional, local and some commuter trains in Europe and Asia. So what do you get for paying hundreds of dollars more than those riding the Regional? Segregation from the poors, I guess. Acela is an example of James Howard Kunstler's belief that America's motto should be, "It's the thought that counts." I guess somebody thought if you named a train Acela and put the price high enough, wealthy people would pay the price to pretend they're on a real high-speed train. Yeah, something like that... read more

I've taken the Acela to DC and Boston so far and I must say, it's an excellent travel option. No need to deal with the JFK jungle or delays and cancellations. The cars are comfortable...though the weekday early morning rides are pretty packed. And now, they've gotten with the times and are testing out free WiFi in two cars. It's shotty and frustrating to use, but once they work out the kinks hopefully it will become a standard offering. Be sure to bring your own food aboard though, despite technological progress the menu is downright grim. read more

Japan has the shinkansen, Shanghai has the maglev, Australia the ghan, France the TGV, Germany the ICE, and we're getting all giddy about... the Acela? Seriously? This is an ordinary train running ordinary speeds at ordinary comfort with below-ordinary amenities, like no wifi. It's a testament to how crappy our other travel options are that this basic service is such a welcome relief. Americans' weary acceptance of appalling airline and rail service reminds me of the Soviets' fatalism towards communist-era infrastructure. Canceled flights, crowded airports, endless delays, aggressive security, slow railways, dirty trains, queues for toilets, no more borscht -- it's all met with a resigned shrug. What're ya gonna do? Catch the Acela. It's the best option from NY to DC. But let's not get carried away. It's a train. It's an ordinary, decent train. read more

Acela Express rules. This is without question the best way to get to Washington DC or Boston from New York City, especially if your company is paying for it. I mock people that fly to Boston or DC from Manhattan. Honest to God, what are they thinking? I suppose they just look at the individual travel times between the plane and the train and assume flying is much, much quicker. But........ Did they factor in the drive from Manhattan out to JFK or NewarK? Did they factor in the fact you have to show up at the airport one hour early? Did they factor in obnoxious air security clearance + boarding process? Did they factor in potential FAA weather delays? Did they factor in waiting to exit the plane or potentially waiting for a gate to open up upon landing? Did they factor in the cab ride from the airport into dowtown (Acela puts you in downtown Boston or DC). Did they factor in that on the Acela you can STRETCH your legs out and have tons of room? If they had factored in all of the above, I think they'd see the Acela is the way to go. If everything goes perfect with your flight, sure, you'll probably save 45 minutes total, but the risk is absolutely not worth it. I'll never forget the time I took Acela and my friend took Delta. We were timed to arrive in DC at the same time and have some drinks at the Irish Pub across from the hotel. Long-story short, I had a blast watching golf on a big screen television and downing pints of Guiness for a good 3 hours, while he was cramped in the middle seat of a plane on Laguardia's runway waiting for a weather delay to clear. He's never flown to DC again. read more

First class is definitely NOT worth the extra money on Acela. First, my server sold me on the "amazing breakfast skillet" only to return 45 minutes later to say "sorry the skillet is very popular and we have a full house". Hmmmm, who runs a business model in which you don't plan on having enough food. Then came out the only item left (fruit plates were out now of course) which was a sad mushroom rubber omelette...which went right in the garbage and off I was to the Cafe Car for a nice hot, tasty breakfast sandwich. Want coffee refills ??? Not going to happen, the first class car girls on train # 2190 from NYP to BOS March 15, 2017 only had time to complain about their jobs loudly in front of customers (don't you love unions ??) Who would have known that the quiet car was to also protect you from loud mouth employees - please shut up !!! Dirty trays littered our car all morning, yet who do you think I had the best experience from ? The Cafe Car Lady. Our servers sat right next to us in first class for 90 minutes, providing no service until about 30 minutes before Boston when they suddenly sprang up to bus, offering coffee and smiling in preparation for sticking their hand out for a tip in Boston. Want to know why first class can only leave from the first class exit and EVERYONE ELSE ON THE ENTIRE TRAIN CAN LEAVE FROM ANY EXIT ???? So they can trap you for the gratuity!! Save your companies money (no right minded person would spend their own $$ on this food and service disaster) book the regular business class "quiet car" and eat from the Cafe Car. read more

Silly me... I booked the Acela Business Class from Boston to NYC thinking I could get some work done on the train with the Wifi. Ha! Wifi connection is ridiculous and spotty. It is often so slow as to be unusable. I'm not sure if this is always the case, but it was for me today. Which is okay, because there are areas of track where it is so bumpy, typing and reading on a computer screen is just impossible. And while it is a minority of the trip, it is completely unpredictable when it will come, making it all the more annoying. The seats, of course, are comfortable with amazing leg room and good amenities, like power outlets. But the trip is nearly as long as the regular non-express train, making the extra cost something you need to carefully consider. If you're doing it thinking you're going to get some work done, think again. You may get some tiny amount of work done, but the frustration is going to be a lot greater no matter what. And at some point you'll like just give up on the Wifi altogether and settle in with your book or a nap. (Naps would be easier if it weren't for the annoyingly and inappropriately loud stop announcements.) I really want to like the Acela, as it gives people another choice for this kind of regional travel. But the truth is that it is train travel as it was 50 years ago... It can't hold a candle to modern train travel in Europe or Japan. It's a sad commentary on how little Americans care for this mode of transportation, as otherwise it has a lot to offer. read more

NYC to DC in 3 hours?! Done and done; now let me just prostitute myself for the $270 round-trip fare...which is a small price to pay for comfy seats, clean potties, and 'quiet cars'. Yes, I know a flight into Reagan prolly costs as much...but I'd also have to travel to LaGuardia for that...so yay Acela! -1 for the food; $6 for wack-ass cheese tray? $8 for a beer? Pshh... read more

Pros 1. Clean and futuristic feel 2. Large accessible restrooms at both ends of cars 3. Room for a chair at the end of cars 4. Buttons to open doorways to cars (so you don't have to freeze, sweat, or inhale exhaust) make you feel like you're in a "Buck Rogers" episode 5. Enclosure between cars so you don't have to freeze, sweat, or feel like you're in an Indiana Jones movie 6. During the work week, you can actually get work done since most passengers are travelling on business. 7. The quiet car 8. Shades to block the sun 9. Foot rest, chairs tilt back, tray table in seat back in front of you 10. WiFi 11. Storage room at both ends cars as well as large overhead bins a la airplanes 12. Free stock tips (from loud passengers violating company privacy policy/code of conduct) 13. Quicker ride to your destination 14. You can sit in the special waiting area in Penn Station, NYC Cons 1. It costs a bit more than Amtrak. 2. Suspense filled restroom visits--"Will that door roll open while I'm busy? Did I really latch that thing shut?" 3. Earth shattering flush of the toliet---could double for a hair/hand dryer. 4. Overhead bins shut loudly 5. Do you actually love your co-workers cause it's a lot of the same office behavior---loud calls, clicking away on computers, shuffling papers. 6. Violation company privacy policy/code of conduct with stock conversations 7. Office attire is the standard. 8. You may have the misfortune of being trapped with a seat mate who peeks at you out of the corner of his eye in an attempt to strike up a conversation about anything and everything, only to : a. tell a joke about Jersey to a Jersey Girl b. recount, in detail, his entire apartment rental history for the past 35 years c. deduce that you, innocent passenger, are the same age as those years he spent renting apartments d. ask for your card and when you say you don't have any as you changed wallets, queries, "Well, would you like to keep in touch?" e. needs to be told, in so many words, NO! "Well, why would I?" Happy trails to you! read more

Would not call this express- trains are nice but it shouldn't take over 4 hours to get to NYC from Boston via Train. Having lived in Europe we are way behind.. read more

I had to get to Boston from NYC. Didn't want to hassle with going to JFK to catch a flight to Logan. Enter the Acela Express. 3.5 hours from Penn Station to Boston's South Station near the Financial District. Here's what I like about the train: 1. You can walk around and stretch your legs. 2. I sat in Business Class which had a "quiet car." 3. Outlets so you can plug in your laptop or other electronic device. 4. Dancing conductors in g-strings. (Not really, but wouldn't that make the trip a little more interesting?) 5. Lunch car where you can order food. 6. Easy access to Penn Station from anywhere in Manhattan. 7. No need to sit in traffic on the way to JFK. 8. Inexpensive business class ticket. 9. No security check. :-) read more

As I sit and write my review on the Acela, I am saddened by the fact that the U.S. doesn't have a better rail system. I now have to go to NYC from D.C. on the reg. Therefore, I need to get there and back, hassle and worry free. Behold, the Acela. This train rules. I wish it went everywhere and I wish it were high-speed, but it's not. However, it is a wonderful alternative to flying and driving. Originally, I'm from Atlanta, where mas-trans is lacking (ATL-iens,don't argue MARTA with me. It goes nowhere. You know it. I know it). Then, I moved to L.A., which claims to have a subway. Hahahaha. Have you seen it? Have you been on it? Guess what? It goes nowhere. The Acela goes everywhere. Well, not really, but it goes to quite a few places. It's comfortable, clean, and just a pleasant experience. I can't say enough about it. The people on the train, from the conductors, to the porters, to the dining car people, are also very cool and genuinely seem to enjoy their jobs. How refreshing is that, in this day and age? Sure, it's not the fastest way to get to your destination, but if you have some time and want a stress-free travel experience, take the Acela. You'll absolutely love it. read more

If you are using the Acela for business travel, it probably means you will be on your laptop working. Curb your enthusiasm - the wifi is incredibly slow and constantly disconnects. I say this as someone who travels from Boston to NY twice a month. The train also lurches so much from side to side that concentrating on your screen becomes an effort. read more

I have always enjoyed rail travel but felt that Amtrak had really dropped the ball on it...until now. For years I told people of the amazing rail service I had experienced while traveling to Ireland, Italy and Switzerland. Just better service, faster trains, cleaner trains and some had...prepare yourself for this...WiFi!? Now Acela is still working on WiFi, but have told the media that they plan to have it on all of their Acela trains within the next year or so. Even though I think regular Amtrak trains are comfy (much bigger chairs with much more leg room than a plane). Acela offers an upgraded look and has brightly lit cars with cleaner bathrooms. The food is still gross (minus 1 star for that) and they always get you to your destination faster than regular service. The best feature about Amtrak is that you do not have to wait on long lines like you do at airports. Show up 10 minutes before your departure, walk on and be in your big comfy chair looking out the window. read more

Express?? Ha. I've been on zoo trains that move faster than this thing. Fooled by all the "Express" lingo and the allure of WiFi access I opted to take the Acela from Penn Station to Boston. The rediculously long 4.5 hour trip started with the train moving at something like 30 mph all the way up to Connecticut. This first hour or two it moves so painfully slow that its just irritating. And it only made about 3-4 stops between Manhattan and Boston, its not until you practically get to New Haven that the crotchety old thing moves at an average pace. The WiFi is equally as horrendous. Matching the snails-pace of the train, it fades in and out, and the the times that it is connected, its slow enough that you can barely load any webpages with more content than the average site had in the 90's. It must be the clientele that keeps this thing in existence. Roughly half of the riders could be too elderly to know what WiFi is, or to remove their shoes and put them back on by themselves at an airport security checkpoint, for that matter. Another portion must be too large to comfortably fit in a standard airplane seat. The "dining" car serves some typical ballpark fare. Do you prefer peanuts, pretzels, or potato chips? Next time, I'll try hitch-hiking to Boston. read more

Acela Business Class (the standard) is cool (delays happen when traveling people, get over it and get yourself a nice $5 Sam Adams from the Bar Car - or get yourself a nice $1 ticket on the Bolt Bus and talk to me about delays after hours of added traffic time because of an accident on the highway), but Acela First Class is where it is AT. For the approx $70 upgrade NYC-BOS: You get bigger seats (set up 2-1 instead of 2-2 across so you can grab a single and not play elbow hockey the whole trip, and even if you are stuck with a double, you have a few more inches of space.) You get complimentary bev including all the alcohol you can drink without being a danger to yourself or others. I prefer to order a bloody mary and ask them to keep 'em coming. I saw a guy drink probably a bottle and a half of their perfectly respectable wine once. Work it out sir, work it out. And yes ballers, you can also order Courvoisier. You also get lots of yummy food starting with a snack as soon as you get settled, and a (mostly) delicious meal off a menu with 4-5 choices. Preceding Top Chef by a few years, they have apparently been cooking using the sous vide method for six years, which shows in their bravery with the menu. Chili rubbed cod with goat cheese stuffed crepe, bone in veal chop with orzo, vegetarian sausage rice pilaf, etc. Warm rolls too. And a hot towel to top it all off. Menu changes every two weeks and is different going North and South so that you aren't eating the same thing coming and going. You also get the benefit of service from some of the best Amtrak staff there is. Obviously you don't get the first class gig your first week with the company, and their experience keeping people happy whilst riding the silver bullet is evident in the smiles, advice, and help they offer. Before and after your trip you can access the Acela Club in the station, where more free snacks, beverages, helpful staff (who even make rounds announcing your track number before the masses get the heads up), free wi-fi, newspapers, tvs turned to the news, etc await. I would pay for the upgrade just to avoid joining the herd standing in front of the ticker thing staring up so they can race and push and scramble to the train. Ick. If you have the money to pay for the Acela, treat yourself well and ante up for First Class. It's worth it. read more