V-Flyer

My Amtrak trip from New York to Boston was one I was really looking forward to... the cost was $150.00 or so (75.00 in real money ) so fantastic value...

A sunny and hot day in New York, and a hopefully lovely trip in Acela First Class...

Reached Penn Station in plenty of time, thanks to a limo transfer and found the ticket collection system excellent. Much better than in the UK. Found the lounge, which was empty, and settled down, managing to charge my camera, get a cup of coffee and a big Danish pastry. The lounge was nice enough, but there didn't seem to be that big a range of snacks.





Our train was called, 2158 to Boston, so made my way to the track. Carrying our cases to the train is par for the course over here, but I was told that it's unusual for Amtrak...

...on reaching the track there was an instant blast of uncomfortable heat and a terrible smell... a bit like rotting fish. Not pleasant at all. Although New York was a bit like that...

First class was at the back of the train and was quite a walk. I was annoyed by the fact that seat numbers were not pre-assigned, so the table seats (ie: two seats facing another two with a table in the middle) where all taken up by single travellers who had spread out! That said, the leg room in the airline style seats was amazing, and the air con was nice so it wasn't such a big deal.



Offered a drink before the train left, in a glass! And very generous servings. The staff were efficient, not overly friendly, but nice all the same. (Although one of the attendents let me take pictures at each station, which was great!)

The view from Hellgate Bridge was amazing... I managed to capture a bit of it here


Then another ticket check, this time the conductor took my ticket and placed in a pouch on top of my seat, saying 'Your ticket is in the seat above your head, not in front of you, not across from you' which I couldn't understand or explain!

Then another vodka and coke! And a rather lovely meal. This was my third drink which was in a plastic cup, but all the others where in glass cups. Very nice ones too!


The bread roll was warm, the butter at room temperature and the beef very tasty. The only disappointment was the 'pudding' which was basically a mint chocolate. But that's small fry, as by now I was enjoying another vodka and coke!
In the UK, the only operator that includes meal in the price of a ticket is Virgin Trains, who operate on the West Coast Mainline Line. Their food doesn't come close to this!

As I mentioned, the attendent let me take pictures at the stops so I got a few in, as well as pictures of the scenery en route which was gorgeous.









And finally to lovely Boston. New York was amazing, big, bold, unlovely but wonderful, Boston was just beautiful, and felt like a breath of fresh air compared to pressure cooker New York. But I can't wait to go back to both places.



And I would recommend Acela in an instant.

Good TR. Shame I could never find cheap fares between DC and NY / Boston, otherwise I'd have used this an awful lot. Especially after my 11 hour hell in La Guardia

Nice trip report. How long did the journey take by train?

Thanks,
Sarah

It was 3 1/2 hours. For the distance, that's not as quick as it could be, as the track isn't in a good state...and even includes the tilting train sections of track, but I think City Centre to City Centre it's not bad. Acela Trains offer two classes of service - Business Class and First, starting at $89.00

Sealink, great TR and pics. I am with you, will never ever fly New York-Boston or the other direction New York-Washington, Acela all the way for me!

Very informative TR, Sealink. Thank you for posting this. I'm a big fan of trains.

Penn Station has a lot of smells, some (pizza!) better than others (loos). New Yorkers love their train stations though these historic structures are far less appealing to me than, say, Waterloo or other London terminals. The hot air blast on the Penn Station train platforms is uncomfortable certainly but has been this way for decades.

Amtrak normally requires parties of 3 or more in the facing rows, whether or not equipped with a table. Conductors do not routinely manage this, however.

For me, the issue of whether to take the air shuttle or the Acela between Boston, New York and Washington is not a fair comparison. The train is far less hassle and gets you to city center. The price is right. You are at ground level and can get off if things go wrong. You are subject to fewer delays.

Chuck-

Great TR - thanks.

I'd love a blast on the ACELA. 150mph on rail in the US is a major leap forward.

Regards

John

Originally posted by ChuckC
New Yorkers love their train stations though these historic structures are far less appealing to me than, say, Waterloo or other London terminals.

Chuck, a couple thoughts:

* The majority (if not all) London terminii's tracks are under glass sheds whilst the NYC terminii are underground (the tracks approach the city via tunnels built beneath the metropolis due in part to very finite space on the island of Manhattan). So I agree with you that London stations are more beautiful as far as the tracks go, but the interior of Grand Central is unparallelled IMHO.

* Penn Station, as it stands, is one of the great architectural crimes of modern times. Here is photographic proof of the former glory of what is today merely escalators into a hole in the ground. [V]

OT, but for sheer bombast, one must tip the hat to Stazione Centrale di Milano.

GJ

Agreed GJ - Grand Central Terminal is indeed a marvel. The newly re-done London St Pancras though is jaw droppingly good.

John

I love St. Pancras... some spoilers below if you haven't seen it yet...!

This is my favourite bit of St. Pancras International - a statue of Sir John Betjeman, who was instrumental in saving the station from demolition (a fate which befell the grand old London Euston Station). I love this statue - it sums up so well the sense of awe about this station, and it makes me a bit emotional, it's so... fresh and lovely.



And what is he looking at?

Excellent TR. I'm doing similar in November - Acela Business from Boston to New Haven, and then finally getting to sample Acela First from New Haven to Washington. Was looking forward to it but now that I've seen your TR, I can't wait!!

I am looking forward to my trip in December. Took advantage of the UCS sale for Zs to JFK and then going on the train in First Class to Boston for a couple of days. Was the meal included in the fare or did you have to pay extra for it?