What it was like on Amtrak’s new Acela ‘NexGen’ trains

Amtrak has joined the twenty first century with model new trains now in service on key routes within the U.S.

I have been eagerly masking and anticipating the brand new Amtrak next-generation prepare units which might be lastly touring the busy Northeast Hall after years and years of delays. We obtained our first have a look at the trains in 2022, however they did not begin official service till this yr.

Amtrak has lagged behind Asian and European prepare operators for many years, however these new trains do an important deal to assist the U.S. catch up. The upgraded Acela next-generation vehicles attain speeds of some 160 miles an hour and use 20% much less vitality.

Alstom is the French firm that constructed the brand new vehicles, and they’re additionally behind the high-speed TGV trains that race round France. The vehicles are made in America on the Alstom manufacturing facility in Hornell, New York.

The brand new prepare vehicles maintain 386 passengers. That is an enormous capability bounce over the older trains.

I jumped on the likelihood to check out the brand new trains on a latest spherical journey from New York Metropolis to Philadelphia.

Here is what it was like in enterprise class and firstclass on the brand new trains, and what the lounge experiences have been like.

Metropolitan Lounge at Moynihan Station

The Metropolitan Lounge at Moynihan Prepare Corridor provides a peaceable solution to spend an hour or two earlier than your prepare (in case you are leaving from New York Metropolis). The station is within the previous publish workplace, and it is a good way to start out a prepare journey. You may discover the lounge upstairs from the primary corridor.

If you’re touring in firstclass, you get free lounge entry. You can too purchase a cross for $50. (Different Amtrak lounges are simply $35.)

The area is gorgeous.

My favourite function is the terrace, which provides sweeping views of the attractive new Moynihan Prepare Corridor.

There was a very good number of free meals and drinks out there whereas I used to be there, together with breakfast sandwiches, muffins, packaged nuts, in a single day oats, pumpkin donuts, croissants and extra. I attempted the breakfast sandwich and a cappuccino. The sandwich was fairly good. The perfect comparability I may consider is one from Dunkin’ Donuts.

Espresso drinks, chilly brew and brewed sizzling espresso are by La Colombe, a higher-end espresso model. There’s additionally a bar, which was closed whereas I used to be there. There have been wines like Oyster Bay sauvignon blanc and a Sebastiani Cherryblock cabernet sauvignon out there.

As soon as your prepare is prepared for boarding, they announce the monitor quantity within the lounge.

Top quality passengers can skip the primary line and get to board first.

Top quality on Amtrak Acela new NextGen trains

Boarding was chaotic with an extended line to get into the first-class automobile. It wasn’t the employees’ fault, although, as there was a passenger in a motorized wheelchair who wanted to be boarded earlier than the remainder of the passengers. We ended up leaving the station about quarter-hour late.

Onboard, seats are organized in a 1-2 configuration, with a row of single seats on one facet and a row of double seats on the opposite. The pitch of the seats measures a formidable 42 inches. The cabin was virtually fully full, with only a few empty seats.

The ergonomic seats have been wonderful. They’re nonetheless a bit agency, however I think about they’ll develop into extra snug as they put on in. I used to be in seat 1A within the very rear of the prepare automobile. It is good to have trendy finishes, and the pops of pink add a pleasant contact within the first-class automobile.

Each seat has a leg relaxation. The seats additionally slide out with the push of a button. I discovered the recline to be fairly restricted, so napping could also be troublesome for some riders.

The tray tables measure 10.5 inches in size and 17 inches in width. It match my laptop computer wonderful, nevertheless it was a problem when making an attempt to eat.

There is a cup holder on the surface of the tray.

There are studying lights at each seat, and particular person energy retailers function three-prong AC retailers and USB-A ports.

The lavatory is within the vestibule between the first-class automobile and the business-class automobile behind. It is a half-moon form with a curved door that opens right into a spacious room that includes touchless controls, together with door and flush buttons.

It’s a important enchancment over the older Acela prepare units, however as with all Amtrak trains, the problem shall be preserving the bathrooms clear over time.

There’s one set of seats with a shared desk within the single-seat aisle and only one extra on the double-seat facet.

The brand new vehicles function retractable window shades.

The home windows are all the higher for taking within the views alongside the route, like this shot of Philadelphia within the distance.

There was loads of overhead area on the open racks above the seats, although a full-size suitcase may really feel a bit precarious up there.

I used the bags rack on the entrance of the automobile, however that stuffed up shortly on my very full prepare.

I additionally appreciated the brand new digital signage all through the automobile (and on the outside of the automobile as nicely). Finally, these digital indicators above the seat ought to have a bit extra data.

About 10 minutes after boarding, the prepare lastly left Moynihan.

Cabin attendant Danielle got here round and introduced that employees would serve drinks and free meals shortly. She and Antonio have been working the first-class cabin, and so they did their finest to easy out a jarring boarding course of.

Extremely, there was a meal service, even for passengers taking the brief, simply over an hour journey from New York Metropolis to Philadelphia.

The menu was compelling, providing breakfast decisions of recent seasonal fruit and oatmeal chia coconut pudding, a Denver omelet, or a Mediterranean quiche.

The lunch menu was additionally attractive, providing a selection of a cheese and fruit plate, Tuscan meatballs, or a burrata platter with prosciutto.

The meal service began with a ramekin of nuts.

The employees provided these of us getting off in Philadelphia the primary likelihood to order, and I went for the cheese and fruit plate. It was tasty and an ideal snack on a brief prepare journey.

The 5G Wi-Fi was glorious for a lot of the journey. I used to be in a position to add pictures and screenshots with none issues.

As soon as we left essentially the most congested space of New Jersey, the prepare picked up pace. I am unsure if my Speedometer app, which makes use of my telephone’s GPS to seek out miles per hour readings, is ideal at capturing the true pace. However, it confirmed the brand new Acela prepare reaching speeds of 163 miles per hour at one level.

Engineers hope the brand new vehicles will finally attain as much as 186 miles per hour, however that can require main infrastructure enhancements within the Northeast Hall (a few of that are already underway). The brand new trains are geared up with a tilt system, which signifies that even at excessive speeds, they supply passengers with a smoother and quieter journey in comparison with the older Acela prepare units.

I ended up arriving to Philadelphia only a few minutes late. It was a enjoyable solution to journey, and the brand new vehicles made the journey even higher. Hopefully, as extra of the brand new vehicles roll out within the system, costs will lower, and so they’ll be a bit much less crowded. Clearly, the brand new vehicles are widespread.

Metropolitan Lounge Philadelphia

The Philadelphia lounge isn’t as good because the one in New York Metropolis, however there may be additionally a Metropolitan Lounge at William H. Grey III thirtieth Road Philadelphia Amtrak Station. You possibly can entry it a first-class ticket or by shopping for a one-day $35 lounge cross.

There are just a few snacks and a number of other seating areas, however this area is in want of renovation. The entire station is in the course of getting a serious improve, so hopefully they’re going to present some like to the lounge as nicely.

Service, nonetheless, is great and pleasant. The perfect half is that when your prepare is near arrival, employees escorts you straight right down to the tracks in a particular elevator. Now that is cool.

Our prepare was operating not on time, and I ended up hanging out on the tracks for about 20 minutes earlier than our New York Metropolis-bound prepare arrived.

I would not suggest arriving on the lounge early, nevertheless it’s good that there’s a separate area in any respect.

Enterprise class PHL to NYP

I used to be on one other NextGen prepare for the journey house to New York Metropolis.

All of the vehicles after the primary one are business-class trains (similar to in conventional Acela trains). Seats are organized in a 2-2 format.

I used to be within the final row of the third automobile in seat 12C and had nobody subsequent to me — a deal with contemplating the prepare was pretty full once more.

Right here, some seats are forward-facing, whereas others are pointed in the other way, which may end up in numerous direct eye contact.

The seats are just like first-class seats in that they slide ahead, slightly than reclining. There are studying lights and electrical retailers at every one. Seats in enterprise class have 38 inches of pitch, which is fairly beneficiant. I just like the blue accent colours.

Much like firstclass, there are tray tables and leg rests at each seat. A seatback pamphlet describes the meals out there within the cafe automobile or through cart service.

A pleasant attendant introduced out a cart for service throughout the journey with wine, beer and lightweight bites on provide.

I additionally stopped by the cafe automobile.

There have been grab-and-go choices in coolers, together with soda, water, juice and sandwiches.

One choice that caught my eye was an antipasto tray for $15.

You can additionally seize a basic Amtrak fruit and cheese plate for $15. Sizzling choices included a Hebrew Nationwide sizzling canine for $5.75 or an Angus beef cheeseburger for $8.50.

My journey again handed shortly, and I would fortunately e-book the brand new trains at any time when I have to journey the Northeast Hall once more (offered the worth is correct).

Reserving

If you wish to journey on one of many new vehicles, you may have to pay particular consideration throughout reserving. Finally, 28 of the brand new vehicles shall be operating up and down the Northeast Hall, however that will not occur till 2027. At launch in August, solely 5 of the prepare units have been in service.

Search for the “NextGen” label subsequent to the route throughout reserving. You possibly can see on the web site that the “NextGen” label is listed beneath premium reserving.

The following-generation prepare units are solely out there in enterprise class or firstclass. I booked nicely forward of time with a round-trip ticket in enterprise class between New York Metropolis and Philadelphia for $136. That is an important deal contemplating how excessive costs can get generally. I booked a month upfront.

Amtrak Visitor Rewards: The right way to earn and redeem factors with prepare journey

As you possibly can see, a first-class ticket would have price between $217 and $254 every means once I regarded.

As an alternative, after my ticket was booked, I used Amtrak’s improve bidding system to substantiate what they name an “prompt improve” to firstclass for $91. I saved my firm $67 by reserving that means as a substitute of throughout the precise reserving.

One factor to remember: Your prepare might be swapped out for an older model final minute. Here is the warning from Amtrak’s web site:

“Occasionally, Amtrak would possibly have to substitute trains, together with NextGen Acela trains, for an additional gear kind and such modifications are permitted beneath the Phrases and Situations with out prior discover.”

If that occurs to you and you’ve got some flexibility, I would ask to be switched to the subsequent NextGen prepare.

Backside line

There’s one thing magical about journey by rail. The brand new Acela NextGen trains provide an excellent higher cause to journey the Northeast Hall by prepare. I would like to see Amtrak present some higher offers on the journeys, however in case you can rating a deal, I extremely suggest making an attempt out the brand new prepare units.

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