Acela vrs. Northeast Regional

We are going from New York City to D.C. Even with discounts and specials, the Acela is about twice as expensive as the Northeast Regional and seems to be about 25 minutes faster. Are there other reasons to take the Acela in addition to the slight time difference? Is it more reliable in general? Easier to take on suitcases?

Acela vrs. Northeast Regional

From Boston to NY yes. From DC to NY no.

www.amtrak.com

Acela vrs. Northeast Regional

Well...even though the Acela is more expensive, I much prefer it to the regional trains because 1) It%26#39;s faster and makes fewer stops; 2) It%26#39;s less crowded; 3) Has more comfortable seats and the cars are newer; and 4) There is a ';quiet car'; which we try to sit in. Of course, sometimes you get people in the quiet car that don%26#39;t know the meaning of quiet, but I digress.

As for reliability---I do find the Acela to be more reliable. Easier to take suitcases? It%26#39;s a tie between the two trains. However, the Acela cars%26#39; overhead storage area is much like what is found on airplanes---you can close the compartment. The regional trains just have metal racks.

The only time I would take the regional train over the Acela is if I were to go a shorter distance. For example, last summer we went to Baltimore for the weekend. When going back to DC, we booked the regional train since it was a short ride. For a short ride, IMO, the Acela isn%26#39;t worth the extra money.

So...it%26#39;s up to you. I suggest you weigh the pros and cons. One thing to note---since the regional trains are more crowded, do all you can to be one of the first to board in order to get the best seat possible.

that%26#39;s a good point Sue about the quiet car! If only every train line had them... There was a great article in the Times a few weeks ago about how much quieter it is, outside the quiet car!

For twice the money though, I would go for the Northeast regional. Any time I take Acela, its late anyway....

The express is nicer, no question. Is it twice as nice? IMHO, no.

I have booked on the Acela Boston-NY and I believe you have reserved seats. The seats on the Acela are business class seats whilst the regional is coach.

no - you have a seat - not a specific seat. Its all ';business class'; (except for the class ABOVE business) - the seat is slightly larger on the Acela than the old Metroliner, which I%26#39;m pretty sure are the trains they use for NE Regional Service.

I took the Acela from Boston to NYC this past weekend and then returned on the Northeast Regional. I also took the NER last year from Boston to Stamford. I prefer the NER if you are willing to upgrade it to Business Class. I found the Acela train to be old and crowded, and the seats were not at all comfortable. On the other hand, Business Class on the NER is fantastic. Big seats with tons of leg room. While it was faster, we had to stop for 20 minutes outside NYC because there is only one track and they had to let another train through! Ironically, when I returned on the NER, we again had to wait while an Acela train used the single line. Why would one of the busiest train corridors on the East Coast have a single track for a section just outside the biggest city in the US? There%26#39;s the million dollar question.

The tunnels leadinding in to New York are one track in one track out. If a train gets stuck than they have to single track lets say 5 trains in and then they hold hold service in for the 5 trains going out on the same track. New Jersey Transit is working on something called the ARC project. This will add tunnels under the Hudson.

www.njtransit.com

I also remember hearing, when sitting on the Acela for an hour not moving, that they are high speed trains running on non-high speed rails - so any advantage of being on Acela is lost until they revamp the rails.

Our company HQ is in VA - and because you werent allowed to get up out of your seat on the shuttle flights at all (since done away with) I started taking the train. Those new Acela trains dont have nearly as much legroom as the old Metroliners - they have that folding tray table thing that cuts out your leg room

I have allways found the legroom to be better on the NER than the Accela.

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