Amtrak’s NextGen Acela Officially Becomes America’s Fastest Train, Here’s a Look Inside

A shiny silver train pulled out of Washington’s Union Station last Monday, bound for New York City, with another leaving for Boston an hour later. These were Amtrak’s all-new NextGen Acela trains, the fastest in the country, capable of reaching speeds up to 160 mph.

Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor, spanning 457 miles long, has been the region’s backbone of intercity travel for decades, moving millions of passengers a year between major hubs and smaller stops like Philadelphia, Baltimore and Providence. The original Acela, introduced in 2000, was a game changer, traveling up to 150 mph and a high-end alternative to clogged highways and airports. But those trains, now 25 years old, have been stretched thin, with some being cannibalized for parts to keep the fleet running. Enter the NextGen Acela, a $2.35 billion project from Alstom in Hornell, New York, with parts from 180 vendors in 29 states and creating 15,000 jobs.

The interiors are a deliberate nod to comfort and productivity. Wide, ergonomic seats with winged headrests have plenty of legroom, and each one has its own power outlet, USB port as well as reading light. With 27% more seats per train, there’s room to breathe even on sold out trains. Business class, arranged in a 2-2 configuration, offers generous table space for laptops, while first class, in a 1-2 setup, adds a touch of exclusivity with enhanced privacy.

Only short stretches, like south of Boston and between New York and Philadelphia, allow the train to really open up. Curved tracks, old signals and shared rails with slower commuter trains mean the new Acela is actually a few minutes slower on some routes – like 3-7 minutes longer between Washington and New York – though Amtrak says future track upgrades will take that time off. The real gain comes from Alstom’s Tiltronix system which tilts the train through curves for a smoother, faster ride without sacrificing safety.

Dining has also been updated, with The Cafe Acela offering breakfast, lunch and dinner options chosen by James Beard Award-winning chef Stephen Starr. Business class passengers get cart service, while first class passengers get full meals in their seats. The goal is to make the trip feel like a European train experience. Free 5G Wi-Fi is also available, but limited cellular service in some areas may make Zoom calls tough.

To book, look for the “NextGen” tag on Amtrak’s website or app or check specific train numbers: weekdays 2153, 2154, 2170, 2173; Saturdays 2250, 2251; Sundays 2248, 2258, 2259, 2271. Fares vary wildly: $100 to $500 from New York to Washington, $232 to $361 from Washington to Philadelphia, $526 from Washington to Boston in business class on launch day.