Amtrak Acela (High Speed): Schedule, Stops, & Route Guide

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, offering a fast, convenient option between many major cities.

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

• Acela trains offer:
  • Business and first-class seating
  • Assigned seats
  • Passengers can change their booking up to the time of boarding.

I appreciate that you can change your seat for free before boarding, but note that options may become limited as 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.

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

At the bottom of this post, you’ll find information about Amtrak’s NextGen Acela trains!

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 in which locomotives and cars are semi-permanently connected. This setup enables them to lean into curves, resulting in faster, smoother travel. Additionally, these trains make fewer stops, which saves time.

Regional and Long-Distance Trains on the NEC

• Speed & Stops
  • Acela is Amtrak’s fastest train, designed for speed and runs with fewer stops.
  • All other non-Acela trains, such as the Northeast Regional, run slower and typically make more stops along the route.
    • If you want to ride the Acela but it doesn’t stop, you can take a Northeast Regional train, transfer to an Acela at a nearby stop, and then board an Acela there.
• Comfort & Classes
  • Regional trains are the most budget-friendly option.
    • They offer coach and business class, along with a café car for snacks and drinks.
  • Acela offers only business and first class, with upgraded seating and amenities.
    • Acela also offers a café car.
• Train Design & Maintenance
  • Regional and long-distance trains are made of individual cars that can be added or removed as needed. If one car breaks down, crews can usually replace it.
  • Acela trains are semi-permanent trainsets. If one car has an issue, the whole trainset may be affected.
  • However, this design gives Acela a smoother ride, allowing it to lean into curves and travel faster and more safely through turns.

Acela trains operate under route numbers 2100–2290.

Amtrak Acela accommodations

Amtrak’s Acela offers two accommodation options: Business Class and First Class. Seats face both ways so that you can ride in either direction.

Acela does not offer checked baggage.

Business Class

Business Class seats are in a two-by-two configuration and are the standard accommodations on 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 an electrical outlet and either a tray or a conference table.
• Adjustable lighting and large tray tables
• Overhead bins and a luggage rack

Quiet Car

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

Amtrak Acela quiet cars are places where cell phone use and conversation should be kept to a minimum. Keep conversations brief and in a library-like atmosphere. Ideally, you shouldn’t be able to hear people if they follow the rules.

Set all devices that ring or ping to silent or vibrate; headphones are required for any audio playback.

From my experience with Midwest Quiet Cars, I understand they self-police, and other passengers may remind those who aren’t silent to keep it down. I may have reminded people of the rules before.

Although you cannot book the Acela Quiet Car directly, you can easily add it to your reservation at no additional cost.

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, both of which offer 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

Note that this layout is of the older Acela train sets.

The diagram below shows the layout of an older Amtrak Acela car. Remember that trains can go in either direction.

Can You Choose Which Direction You Face on Acela?

Yes, in many cases, you can choose to face either forward or backward when selecting your seat on Acela. This option is often presented during the booking process, right before payment.

When booking Business Class or First Class seats, Amtrak may provide a seat map that indicates the train’s direction of travel. Seats oriented toward the top of the screen generally face one direction, while those facing the bottom face the opposite direction. The larger block on each seat icon represents the seat’s back, helping passengers understand its position.

Here is an example of the seat map shown during booking:

The directional arrows on the map help passengers choose seats based on their preferences.

A few things to keep in mind:

• Equipment changes can occasionally reverse seat direction.
• If space is available, conductors may allow you to switch seats after boarding.
• Acela trains usually provide a smooth ride, so many travelers barely notice the direction once they depart.

Kev’s Tip

If riding backward makes you uncomfortable or causes motion sickness, check the seat map before completing your booking. That said, don’t stress too much. Acela’s ride is usually smooth enough that many passengers stop noticing the direction shortly after departure.

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 applies to 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 seat changes, Amtrak displays available seats, similar to an airline. Then choose the spot you want and click Save. You will receive an updated ticket by email, 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: Café Car

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

You may bring food and drinks on the train; however, you must 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 on any Amtrak train.

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 enjoy meals or snacks in the Acela Café Car and, even better, receive at-seat service.

Acela meals are served on a tray with authentic dishes and silverware, accompanied by a cloth napkin.

Meal choices include breakfast, with lunch and dinner sharing the same offerings. Drinks include adult, soft, and caffeinated beverages, as well as water. In addition to rotating menus, Amtrak can change its offerings 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 brief Wi-Fi interruptions or dead zones. The internet on this train is better than that of other Amtrak trains.

Perks of Acela’s First Class

As noted earlier, Acela First Class includes a meal and drinks and 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. The timetable below comes from Amtrak.com.

If you have time, check the timetable on your phone using this link.

Pets on Amtrak’s Acela

Small dogs or cats can ride Amtrak’s Acela with you. 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 its train and has a reservation for it.

NextGen Acela Is Here

Amtrak has introduced its new NextGen Acela trains, which officially began service on August 28, 2025. These trains complement the classic Acela Express.

Here’s what’s new:

• Faster and smoother
  • Top speeds reach 160 mph, 10 mph faster, thanks to an advanced tilt system that delivers a quieter ride.
• More capacity
  • The number of seats per train has increased by approximately 27%, helping to reduce overcrowding.
• Updated Modern amenities
  • Enjoy free 5G-enabled Wi-Fi
  • Individual USB ports
  • Power outlets, reading lights
  • Ergonomic seating and a revamped Café Acela, featuring grab-and-go options and cart service in Business Class.
• Gradual rollout:
  • Five NextGen Acela trainsets began service on August 28, 2026, with 28 planned by 2027.

In November 2024, Amtrak released a NEXTGEN Acela factsheet.

Can You Choose to Ride the NextGen Acela Or An Older Model?

During the transition period, both the original Acela Express trains and the new NextGen Acela trains will operate simultaneously along the Northeast Corridor.

Amtrak marked the new trainset routes on the website and app with a “NextGen” tag, allowing passengers to choose between the new Amtrak trainsets.

Amtrak’s Acela Wrap-Up

Boarding an Amtrak train is similar, but a few things differ. Some stations have markings showing where to wait on the platform, so you can line up for your car and reduce Amtrak’s time.

Why pick Acela?

Acela is often the faster option, so if time matters on your trip, it could be a great reason to choose this train. In sections, the train goes 160 mph. Besides speed, comfort is the other reason. These trainsets offer more legroom, better luggage space, and a smoother ride than traditional Amtrak equipment.

Traveling by train can often be quicker than flying! Many train stations are located in the heart of cities, while airports are usually located farther away. You also don’t need to arrive at the airport two hours early or go through security, which can add time when you factor in travel to the airport, security, and getting to your destination.

Why Shouldn’t You Pick Amtrak’s Acela?

If you are on a budget and a smoother ride isn’t worth the cost, another train may better meet your needs. Additionally, Acela may not reach your destination.

If you are on the NEC, you may find a local train or a standard Amtrak train more economical, but Amtrak’s NEC trains offer more comfort and amenities, even if they aren’t Acela.

Thanks for visiting, and safe travels!

Kev