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 provides only business and first-class seating, with assigned seats that passengers can change anytime 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 allows them to tilt on curves, allowing 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 offer less comfort than Acela. They include coach and business class cars, and if you get hungry, a café car.

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 allows for a smoother ride and enables the train to tilt, allowing it to navigate curves faster and more safely.

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 so that you can ride backward.

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 booking, which you can change before boarding if open seats are available.
• Each seat has electrical outlets plus trays or conference tables.
• 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 where you do not hear cell phones or conversations; conversations are short and in a library-type atmosphere.

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 others to be silent. 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 the business class does (but there is no first-class Quiet Car) and more! First-class seating choices include 2 x 2 or 1 x 2, and both have the option of tables so that you can 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 from the last section, Amtrak’s Acela has assigned seats, and you can make your reservation for free online or in the app.

As a reminder, if you want a seat in the Quiet Car, you need to make that change as soon as possible; the sooner, the better, because seats are first come, first served.

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, pick the spot that makes you happy and hit save. You will get an updated ticket emailed to you, and the app will update 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, but you should purchase alcoholic beverages on board. You can not consume the alcohol you brought on the train. Due to FDA regulations, you may not 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 eat something else.

Acela meals come on a tray containing “real” dishes and silverware with 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 could cause the Wi-Fi to blip or have short dead zones. The internet on this train is better than that of other Amtrak trains.

Perks of Acela’s First Class

As stated before, Acela First Class includes a meal and drinks, but it has more, depending on where you start.

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 give you priority boarding or early track access, 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 what types of pets are allowed, pet reservations and fares, approved pet carriers, and 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, a few things are different. Some stations have marks where you should wait on the platform, so you are lined 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 more comfort with a smoother ride as you roll down the tracks than traditional Amtrak equipment.

It can be faster than flying! Many train stations are in the city’s heart, whereas airports are not. Also, you do not have to go through security, so if you include the time to go to the airport, get through security, and then go to 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 does not fit, another train may better suit your needs. Also, Acela may not go where you need to go.

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