Amtrak's Acela (High Speed)

Amtrak’s Acela operates multiple daily trains between Washington, DC, and Boston’s South Station, reaching speeds of up to 150 mph. This high-speed service is popular among travelers along the Northeast Corridor, providing a fast and convenient transportation option between many major cities.

This article provides an overview of the Acela, including its schedule, seating options, and amenities. You can also watch a video detailing my experience riding the Acela.

The Acela offers only business and first-class seating, with assigned seats that passengers can change at any time after booking until boarding.

I appreciate that you can change your seat for free before boarding, although it’s important to note that your options may become limited as the departure time approaches.

If you have a business-class ticket, you can also select a seat in the Quiet Car, which is ideal for a more peaceful journey.

Finally, Acela provides convenient dining options, including a café car for business-class passengers and at-seat food service for first-class travelers.

The Travels with Kev Amtrak Acela Podcast

What sets Amtrak’s Acela apart from other Northeast Corridor (NEC) Trains?

The Acela trainsets have a unique design with locomotives and cars semi-permanently connected. This setup enables them to tilt on curves, resulting in faster and smoother travel. Additionally, these trains make fewer stops, which saves time.

Regional and long-distance trains on the NEC

All non-Acela trains run slower than the Acela, typically making more stops along the route.

Regional trains are the most affordable option, but they offer less comfort than the Acela. They include coach and business class cars, and if you get hungry, a café car is available.

Regional and long-distance trains consist of multiple individual cars combined into a train set. If one car requires maintenance, Amtrak can remove and replace it.

On the other hand, Acela is a semi-permanent trainset, meaning if one car is out of service, the entire train is affected. This design enables a smoother ride and allows the train to tilt, facilitating faster and safer navigation of curves.

Acela trains operate under route numbers 2100–2290.

Amtrak Acela accommodations

Amtrak’s Acela offers two accommodation options: Business Class and First Class. The seats face both ways, allowing you to ride in either direction.

Acela does not offer a checked bag service.

Business Class

Business class seats are in a two-and-two configuration and are the base accommodations for this train.

This class offers:

• Reserved seating offers free seat changes at any time before boarding if available.
  • You receive your seat assignment at the time of booking, which you can change before boarding if open seats are available.
• Each seat has electrical outlets, as well as a tray or conference table.
• Adjustable lighting and large tray tables
• Overhead bins and a luggage rack

Quiet car – part of business class

The Amtrak Quiet Car is a magical place if others play well.

These cars are places where you don’t hear cell phones or conversations; conversations are brief and take place in a library-like atmosphere. Or I should say, you shouldn’t hear them if people follow the rules.

Anything that rings or pings should be silent or vibrate; headphones are mandatory for anything that makes noise.

From my experience with Midwest quiet cars, I know they are self-policing, and other passengers may remind those who are not silent to be quiet. I may have reminded people of the rules in the past.

While Acela’s Quiet Car is not an option when you book your trip, you can easily change your reservations for free with this car.

First Class

Acela First Class offers everything Business Class does (except for the absence of a First-Class Quiet Car) and more. First-class seating choices include 2×2 or 1×2, and both options have the option of tables, allowing you to sit across from someone.

• Priority boarding at select stations
• Complimentary at-seat meal service
• Access to station lounges
• And more

Acela train layout

Amtrak’s Acela

The diagram below shows the layout of one of the Amtrak Acela cars. Remember that trains can go in either direction.

How to change seats on Amtrak’s Acela

As you learned in the last section, Amtrak’s Acela has assigned seating, and you can make your reservation for free online or through the app.

As a reminder, if you would like a seat in the Quiet Car, please make the change as soon as possible; the sooner, the better, as seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

That is true for any seat you want.

Where Can You Make Seat Changes?

You can easily make changes by logging into Amtrak’s website or app.

When you select to change seats, Amtrak displays what’s available, similar to an airline. Then, select the spot that makes you happy and click Save. You will receive an updated ticket via email, and the app will be updated when it refreshes.

Food Service on the Acela

Food service on this train can depend on your class.

Business Class Food Options

Anyone on the train can use the Acela Café car; food and drinks in this car are not complimentary. The café car has places to enjoy your purchase, or you can return them to your seat.

You can also bring food and drinks onto the train; however, please note that alcoholic beverages must be purchased on board. You can not consume the alcohol you brought on the train. Due to FDA regulations, you are not permitted to bring outside food or drink into the café car, as with all Amtrak trains.

First Class Food Options

If you are in Acela’s First Class, you have at-seat service. An attendant can bring you a complimentary meal and drinks.

First-class passengers can use the Acela café car to enjoy a meal or snack.

Acela meals come on a tray containing authentic dishes and silverware, accompanied by a cloth napkin.

Meal choices include breakfast in the morning, with lunch and dinner sharing the same offerings. Drinks include adult, soft, caffeinated, plus water. Besides rotating menus, Amtrak can change its choices at any time.

The meal choices rotate every three weeks.

Wi-Fi on Amtrak’s Acela

Amtrak offers complimentary Wi-Fi geared for this train set. Some tunnels and spots may cause the Wi-Fi to experience brief interruptions or dead zones. The internet on this train is better than that of other Amtrak trains.

Perks of Acela’s First Class

As stated earlier, Acela First Class includes a meal and drinks, and also offers additional amenities, depending on your departure point.

You can use the Metropolitan Lounge if your adventure starts at one of the following stations.

• Washington DC
• Boston South
• New York Penn
• Philadelphia

These lounges offer priority boarding or early access to the track, snacks and beverages, and more.

The stops of Amtrak’s Acela

Acela serves fifteen stations along the NEC.

• Boston, MA – South Station (BOS)
• Boston, MA – Back Bay Station (BBY)
• Route 128, MA (RTE)
• Providence, RI – Amtrak/MBTA Station (PVD)
• New Haven, CT – Union Station (NHV)
• Stamford, CT (STM)
• New York, NY – Moynihan Train Hall (NYP)
• Newark, NJ – Penn Station (NWK)
• Metropark, NJ (MET)
• Trenton, NJ (TRE)
• Philadelphia, PA – William H. Gray III 30th St. Station (PHL)
• Wilmington, DE (WIL)
• Baltimore, MD – Penn Station (BAL)
• Baltimore, MD – BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
• Washington, DC – Union Station (WAS)

Downloadable PDF Acela Schedule With Connecting Services

You may need to hit the download button if you view the schedule on a mobile device. I uploaded this timetable from Amtrak.com in October 2024.

Pets on Amtrak’s Acela

Small dogs or cats can go on Amtrak’s Acela along with you as you ride the train. Before you go, check the types of pets allowed, pet reservations and fares, approved pet carriers, and any additional details.

If you want to take your pet aboard, check Amtrak’s carry-on pet policy.

If you have a service or comfort animal, check Amtrak’s service animal policy before booking and leaving for the station to ensure your critter qualifies. Amtrak knows this critter will be on their train and has a reservation to do so.

Amtrak’s Acela wrap-up

While boarding an Amtrak train is similar, there are a few differences. Some stations have marks indicating where you should wait on the platform, allowing you to line up for your car and reduce loading time.

Why pick Acela?

Often, Acela is the faster option, so if time is a factor in your adventure, this could be a great reason to take this train. In sections, the train goes 150 mph. Besides speed, comfort is the other reason. These trainsets offer more legroom, better luggage space, and increased comfort, along with a smoother ride, compared to traditional Amtrak equipment.

It can be faster than flying! Many train stations are in the city’s heart, whereas airports are not. Additionally, you do not have to go through security, so if you factor in the time spent traveling to the airport, going through security, and then reaching the heart of your destination, flying could take longer.

Why Shouldn’t You Pick Amtrak’s Acela?

If you are on a budget and the compromise of a smoother ride doesn’t suit you, another train may better meet your needs. Additionally, Acela may not reach your destination.

If you are on the NEC, you may find that a local or regional train may be more economical, but Amtrak’s NEC trains offer more comfort and amenities, even if they are not in Acela.

Future of Acela Trainsets

New Acela train sets are already being tested and are visible in Washington, DC. They will enter revenue service soon.

In November 2024, Amtrak put out a NEXTGEN ACELA factsheet.

Thanks for visiting, and safe travels!

Kev