I wanted to change my reservation to get on the train ONE stop later than reserved. 15 min later at the next stop. They said only if I paid $296 extra. I was told this on more than one phone call. Total scam. read more

we went from RI to NYC hassle free! we had 2 huge cases and a smaller case and had to trouble finding space right above us to store everything. seats were super comfy - i thought i'd walked into first class when i got on coach! staff were friendly, minus 1 star as the toilets were pretty messy but it's not bad for a short journey i'd say. read more

After venturing through the subterranean lair that is New York's Penn Station, the sight of a well lit and spacious train station was great to say the least! The ride from New York to Boston was uneventful and I was pleased that I was able to grab a spot in the 'Quiet Car'. The scenery along the way was just awesome and if you are not pressed for time, I highly recommend hoping aboard the Northeast Regional for the 4 hour journey to Bahstun. It is cheap, fun and relaxing. read more

Amtrak - Brand new ACS-64 locomotive! Also, I arrived right on time! - Public Transportation Near Me - Boston, Massachusetts

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Utter trash, 2 guaranteed trips, 2 refunds. Do not guarantee travelling when not having the ability to do so. Had to wait in the south Boston station for hours during the 1st day then next day, just to go get a hotel room since by no choice getting stranded. Fuck Amtrak and their CEO, executives with power to make major decisions. I do not blame the employees but their higher ups. read more

I wish I could write a good review on Amtrak but the attitude of the employees and subarctic weather in the cars won't allow. I'm wasting my time here and will continue to be amazed and astounded by these classy people for many years to come. Way to go Amtrak, the pride shows in your work. read more

Amtrak Acela service from New York Penn Station to Boston is an expensive, but generally acceptable, trade-off. When all factors of airline travel are considered, a flight has difficulty bettering the four hour Acela transit time. While the endless miles of railroad siding and forest don't qualify as quality "scenery," they better the view from "the friendly skies" by a wide margin. Acela seating is comfortable, with both foldout desktop and electrical power outlets supporting productive work. The train seems to stop in every village and hamlet along the way, but they are better than the airlines at acknowledging that an actual on-time schedule exists. I've traveled to several of the Boston Area train stations, and each time was only a quick cab ride to/from where I needed to be. Compared to the airport experience, Amtrak wins. The Acela trains have "quiet cars," and the majority of their inhabitants seem to grasp the concept. There are also dining cars, where you can be gouged for substandard food, if you wish. In particular, the microwaved hot dogs are beyond rubbery. As with contemporary airline travel, you'll probably want to pack a sandwich. read more

***Amtrak is a great way to travel on the East Coast as it provides quick ways to get from Boston to New York as well as from New York to Baltimore (as well as many other destinations); while you do not really save much money traveling via Amtrak over an airplane, it is just as fast (since you do not have to go through security) and you typically do not have to worry about unexpected delays; the train ride is also more comfortable and offers free Wi-Fi to make the trip go faster; another big plus is that this Amtrak takes you right to Manhattan (Penn Station), which none of the airports offer*** I am not sure what the parking situation is at this Amtrak station. read more

The staff was so mean. My flight was cancelled and they gave me a dismal credit for an alternative credit and I was forced to take it. They assigned me to a "quiet cart" where I didn't want but fully acknowledged and abided. I had no idea the lengths they took for it to renain quiet. quiet to me is speaking in a low voice which I did. silence is when I will not speak. I was spoken to twice about my volume. I was not loud or obnoxious or inebriated. They were rude when they spoke to me and threatened to kick me off. I was 4 hours into a 5 hour ride. the other staff did not say a thing to me till his shift. I didn't want to take the Amtrak there till I was forced and I o r plan on recommending it to anyone in the future. read more

::This review is specifically for the Acela:: Recently, I took the Acela train from Boston to New York City--and let me just say that as much as I love to fly, I would much rather take this train. With a super smooth ride, business class seating, and friendly service I cannot complain about the travel. With a first class feel and making convenient stops, you can't really beat the Acela. Sure it's more expensive, but consider this. In NYC, they drop you off/pick you up in Manhattan--no need for $40 cab rides to and from the airport. In Boston, it stops at Back Bay before ending at South Station--red line or orange line--you choose! Train over plane seems blasphemous, but it's true when traveling to Manhattan. If money is your concern, then just take a ride on the Fung Wah or Lucky Star. Airports really aren't worth the hassle for travel between Boston & NYC. read more

Going from Boston to New York, this really is the luxury way to travel. Sure, you could take a Chinatown bus for dirt cheap, but it might catch on fire and there's always the non-trivial probability of sitting next to a smelly crack dealer. And a flight is faster on paper, and often cheaper, but once you factor in the lines, the stress of airports, the groping TSA squad... how much is your sanity worth? I've even taken the overnight to the midwest for the holidays. Cheaper than flying (ESPECIALLY during peak travel season), rather a bit longer, but MAN was it less stressful. I just leaned back, plugged in my computer, chatted with the other passengers, and took naps. It was quite pleasant. Of course, Amtrak has its difficulties. It's horridly under-funded and has to share rails with freight. But I blame that more on Republicans who'd rather subsidize a for-profit oil company than a public-service train company. read more

Acela is the crown jewel of New York/Boston travel. I have tasted paradise. Too bad it's so expensive. Fantastic speeds from the heart of one city to the heart of another! Charming and witty fellow passengers! Room to stretch your legs! Opportunities for long, carefree strolls to the dining car! Beautiful scenery, including segments where the windows overlook the Atlantic Ocean! Food and drinks available whenever you choose! In the spirit of full disclosure, I'm drafting this slightly romanticized review on my phone while sitting on a cramped bus, somewhere outside New Haven. read more

I love Amtrak! It's the most comfortable way to travel. I've taken the Acela and the Northeast Regional coach seats numerous times, as well as the Vermonter (8 hours, NY to VT, both coach and business class) twice. The Amtrak ride is pretty smooth, with little traffic, and the trains don't have that stinky bus smell like, well, a bus. Plus, a good portion of the NY-Boston trip is next to the water, so you get a pretty view, too. The Vermonter travels mostly through the woods, which is also pretty to look at, until it gets dark out. Then the impressive darkness is only punctuated by a few cute towns and the light from houses. My favorite part about taking Amtrak is the AC plugs. I can plug in my laptop and watch movies. It's not 4 hours to NY...it's 4 episodes of "Grey's Anatomy." The seats are roomy and comfortable, although in coach you can start feeling stiff after a few hours, though if the train's not crowded they let you lie down on two seats. Plus, the staff is always nice and the bathrooms are as clean as a moving bathroom will get. You can get snacks at the Cafe Car, but they are really expensive so I don't bother. Their luggage policy is reasonably lenient, so you can bring a 2 suitcases plus a backpack and a laptop case. And if that second suitcase happens to be the laundry bag from your dorm room, Amtrak doesn't usually mind. The Acela train is definitely nicer than the regular cars they use, but it's not always worth the extra money. Beware of high-volume days when they rotate in the old coaches with the red seats-they're less comfortable and don't always have AC plugs. Also beware of the Quiet Car if you plan on making any noise whatsoever, since it's supposed to be "library quiet" and some passengers interpret that as "morgue quiet." The Quiet Car varies from train to train (it's usually an end car though) so pay attention when the conductor announces where it is. Amtrak customer service is usually good about making ticket adjustments if you need to cancel or change your trip. All in all, the best way to travel. read more

I'd never traveled Amtrak before, but this past September I needed to go one-way to Albany to meet my dad, and the $21 price was right, so I decided to try it. Bad idea! The problem wasn't just that my 11:30 train from Back Bay turned into a 6:30 bus from South Station (which it did). Or that I had to stay in South Station all afternoon, when I was missing half a day of work for the trip at my office 5 minutes from the station (which I did). Because they wouldn't let us leave the station, even briefly, despite having no clear idea of what the problem was or how they would fix it, ever (which they didn't). Or that the maximum they can give you for your trouble is the price of your ticket (which it is). The main problem was how profoundly unconcerned the Amtrak personnel were with the plight of the 100+ passengers who spent 6+hours sitting groaning on the floor of the station (some with small crying children, some crying themselves). Even small airlines will usually give delayed passengers *something*: meal voucher, useless coupon, whatever. Amtrak didn't even give us updates unless we banded together, cornered someone, and acted belligerent. I still have my voucher they gave me for my next trip. Hmmm, the shredder at my office is looking hungry... read more

When traveling to the great place called New York City, I take the Amtrak. Why? Because I refuse to drive all that way on the pike and 84 and tappan zee and GW -- you get the picture, riiight? I leave from South Station early in the morning. Usually around 7:45am and the train is almost deserted. I eat my breakfast and drink my tea while listening to my IPOD and reading the Globe. I enjoy pleasant conversation with my traveling companion. Sometimes, I am just really quiet and look out the window. And, before I know it, I'm in Manhattan! Easy! read more

I love the Acela. Traveling between New York and Boston on a monthly or bimonthly basis, I've pretty much exhausted the options for inter-city transportation. Unfortunately, it seems that everything from the Fung-Wah to first class has it's drawbacks. On the low end, many of the bus lines are crowded, cramped, and on the slow side. On the high end you have flying which is much quicker but very expensive, which along with the hassle of TSA and the New York airports makes it hard to stand. Right in the middle you have the Amtrak/Acela lines. They are cheap-ish and offer a nice ride to and from Boston with one major advantage over all other methods of transportation: the ability to move around. I don't care what you take, everything will be delayed at one point or another. When that happens, I want to be able to walk around and stretch my legs from time to time. Since I'm 6'3" being able to do this is a huge plus for me. Additionally the leg room is unparalleled. The one downside is that it's more than double the price of the next cheapest option. To this I say that I would rather drink 2-3 fewer drinks at a bar and ride up comfortably than be crammed on a bus and arrive tired and pissed off. read more

I went to Virginia this summer to pick up my niece for a visit. Amtrak does not possess long distance fast trains like other industrialized areas of the world. They were surprised to hear that anyone could cover that distance in less than 13 hours. As a point of reference, the approximate 600 miles between Boston and Virginia takes 13 hours, or about 46 mph. The approximate 550 miles between Paris and Berlin takes 8 hours, or about 68 mph. A similar distance in Japan is as fast as the European trek. Spent a cold, uncomfortable night (in August... the A/C was blasting) without a footrest, which would have made all the difference in the world, woke up to decent coffee, but a horrible breakfast otherwise: full of high fructose corn syrup... who the heck needs that for yogurt and granola? But that was the best thing they offered, so that gives you an idea. The trains are not quiet at all and they made no effort to keep a noisy car and a quiet car, so your standard group of boorish jerks sat at one end of my car shouting at each other for several hours in what they apparently considered witty and erudite conversation between about midnight and 3am. The platforms at Back Bay Station are so poorly marked that I actually boarded a commuter train before realizing my mistake (and really, that of the conductor who looked at my Amtrak tickets and told me to get on the train). We had a forty minute stop in DC that they did not announce or explain. Some people apparently knew enough to get up, get off the train and get some semi-real food. I wish I had. The ride back with a 10 year old was a little bit better because at least I knew what to expect, so we had a blanket with us. I still needed a footrest. Seriously, a little pulldown bar would have really and truly made a huge difference. I felt bad for the group of college students who had no idea about the A/C who then spent time trying to make spare t-shirts into blankets. It's cheaper to take the train than to fly or drive. It's not as cheap as it is in other countries with faster trains, oddly enough. If I'd slept in my car I could've made it possibly cheaper to drive, but ... did I really want to spend 4 days driving up and down the eastern seaboard, 2 of those with a 10 year old? I thought about it, and decided the slowest train in the industrialized world was probably the best option. On the way back I refused to get off at Back Bay and went right into South Station, where I had to go anyway for the commuter rail back out to Worcester. It doesn't really matter which one you board/disembark at, apparently, so I would recommend South Station any day over the other. read more

I've been traveling on the Acela weekly for work now for about three months. I am a HUGE fan of the train. My Comfort: + I am 6'3" and not particularly skinny. I always have plenty of leg room and general comfort in the seats. + The tray for the seats is also large enough to work comfortably. + There are frequently tables available if I need one. + The Quiet Car is awesome when I don't want distractions. + The other cars are great if I'm going to be talking on the phone or just want background chatter. + The cafe car is reasonably priced and much of the food is good. Coffee, beer, fruit, hummus, yogurt, etc - all good. The pizza and anything else that has to be microwaved is as a good as any frozen microwave food. My Time Spent: + I can arrive at the station 6 minutes before the train leaves, buy a ticket and be on the platform before the train arrives. Tell me again when you fly how soon before you actually take off that you arrive? + My entire trip is enjoyable and productive time spent - for the entire time on the train. When I think of taxi, check-in, security, gate, delay, boarding, take-off, flight, touch-down, exit, taxi - I can get about 20 minutes of decent time door to door for that entire experience. When you consider delays it's often not even longer to take the train. - They are doing some electrical work so it is standard to have a 10-20 minute delay. But at least I'm in a comfortable seat working. The Experience: + Oh my the fellow travelers are polite and friendly. Courteous. Conversing with strangers. Offering help. Maybe the same people would be a grouch or jerk on the plane - you know, small seats, security lines, delays. + The view between Boston and New York is sometimes achingly beautiful, from seaside boats to harbors to marshes. The Cost: - Yes, it is expensive, but not much more than a flight with airport and taxis. I am happy to pay to keep the Acela running. read more

I had my first Amtrak experience on Friday and it was very good. I wish I had taken it home too but I didn't. I went to CT from Boston, and it was a quick and smooth ride (unlike buses, yack). The guys on the train were wicked friendly. There was adequate space above to put my bag as well as space to put my second bag underneath my seat. I loved the outlets available to charge my phone, plenty of leg room and room for the person in front to lean back, that was cool. My trip was a little over two-two and a half hours, but it flew by. It made maybe four or five stops before mine and it was continuing on to DC. I really enjoyed the trip. I would have taken it back to Boston but the price is what deterred me from that, it was very expensive. read more

Amtrak has only the MOST utter contempt for its customers. After toiling in the emergency field for the entire Blizzard of '13, i had booked an Acela to NYC from Boston. I was informed in a timely fashion that it was canceled and on Feb 9 I booked another train IN PERSON on phone. When I arrived at Rte 128 Station, i was informed the train was cancelled. No email, no txt, no call, even tho all those had been utilized the day before. I would heartily warn EVERYONE to look at Amtrak with a very jaundiced eye: they simply are NOT ready for prime time. One has two or three easy trips, then the next one is cancelled or full, or goes backwards for an hour. Amtrak CANNOT deliver quality service with any kind of consistency. I urge everyone to consider any other form of transportation rather than Amtrak, and warn all your friends. We subsidize this company, and it has utter contempt for us! read more

I am losing faith in my favorite mode of transportation. As I write this, the train is lumbering along at a healthy 15 to 20 miles per hour Good thing it's the Acela or I may be going backwards My last trip was delayed 2 hours as we sat in the train waiting for a locamotive These two incidents have allowed me sufficient time to ponder Amtraks main weakness: lack of communication to it's passengers about problems and lack of service recovery.... Way back was way better...Changing tickets lacks the hassle of airlines and Conductor Bob was a trip Faith somewhat restored read more

Good stuff, not-so-good stuff about Amtrak...but mostly good stuff. Before 1997 my trips on Amtrak were far fewer but since my sister moved to NYC back then I've become a more frequent rider. I've taken other forms of transportation to Manhattan and points south but I'd recommend Amtrak over the rest. Good stuff? Ticketing and booking reservations is easy, as is changing a reservation. Employees at the stations and aboard the trains are friendly, knowledgable, and take pride in serving the public. That counts for a lot. Aboard the train there's room to use one's laptop, sleep without becoming too cramped, and a cafe car to get a snack, sandwich, or cocktail. When the train is moving the ride is relatively comfortable and passengers aren't tossed around. And the view...on the way down the Connecticut shoreline is so close you could touch it. That said, there are a few things that take away from what could be an almost perfect travelling experience. The on-time performance of Amtrak trains in the Northeast isn't great. I have dealt with delays of between 20 minutes and 2 hours a number of times in the past couple of years and I hope they'll cease. The train schedule is adequate but would be vastly improved by the addition of a couple of more trips, especially one that would leave Boston earlier on weekday mornings. Prices aren't exactly cheap, but can be justified by a ride superior to driving a car down Route 95 or taking the bus into NYC. A couple of tips...embarking at either Route 128 in Westwood or at Back Bay Station means you can avoid the South Station crowds. Granted, you may not get your choice of seats, but these stations are still convenient to Boston. Also, on your way to Boston...try to get aboard a train that originates at Washington, DC. Generally the trains that start south of there must travel on CSX tracks and that arrangement sometimes causes delays for the Amtrak trains. read more

Every mode of transportation between Boston and New York has its positives and negatives. While I generally prefer flying into LGA on the Delta Shuttle, the Acela runs a close second in terms of how to get into the city. The Acela leaves from South Station and Back Bay (since I live on the Orange Line I like to pick the train up there) and makes its journey to Route 128 and Providence before a few stops in CT and NY. While the Acela is touted as a high speed train, it is hardly that (especially if you've ever traveled overseas and witnessed actual high speed train travel). Once the train approaches Fairfield County in CT, it starts to share tracks with Metro North and subsequently never puts the ponies under the hood to the test. It is a far more comfortable ride than the Regional, it saves you about 20 minutes, but it also costs a bit more. The good news is that you don't need to fit your toiletries in three-ounce bottles, you don't have to take off your shoes at security, and you are free to walk around during the journey. There is a cafe car with some food and beverages, though the food is a bit lackluster, so I usually pack my own provisions. The quiet car is also a great feature, as it pretty much becomes the Bates Reading Room at the Copley Library. The other cabins may mean you overhear some conference calls and sales pitches while you are on your journey. You have ample leg room and you don't have to worry about someone getting annoyed when you recline your seat. At the end of your trip from Boston, you are conveniently dumped out at Penn Station which is a great springboard for getting around the rest of the city. read more

First experience with amtrak: pleasant, but other than the sale of beer and food car, not much different than a bolt bus. Until... the lines broke in New Haven. Delayed indefinitely. I had to spend the night there, and because they still hadn't fixed the problem the next morning, had to buy a bus ticket to NYC. fast forward to TWO MONTHS and well over six hours of time on hold trying to reach customer service reps: They finally call me. The rep can't find my reservation, so she requests my credit card number. I told her it would take a minute or two to bring it up, and she threatened to hang up on me. Yes, after well over six hours on hold for her, she is going to hang up on me after two minutes. Eventually, she told me the only thing she could get me were two $100 vouchers. I am out over $500 for this entire experience. I now have two $100 vouchers that will expire in January. I didn't even get an apology, just someone with an excuse that the power lines weren't under their control. read more

If you're booking from outside the US, don't bother. The website requires you to enter a Zip Code. If you don't live in the states you obviously don't have one. You can try 90215 like I did, but I had no luck. The train was on time and clean but only 3 stars coz I had to call and book when in the States. ** hopefully the web site and the app is now fixed... If so if give 4 stars read more

In general, I will always opt to take the Amtrak over buses or planes to travel in the Northeast, so if it weren't for the incident I had below, this would be a 4/5. I haven't had issues with delays though sometimes the bathrooms reek of urine by the time the train hits New York. I recently forgot a baggage on train when it got to South Station, and luckily the bag was found and returned to me. I was really happy about that, but also dismayed to find the bag completely rifled through, with several items - gifts I got from the holiday, chargers, leather gloves, a bra (?!) - missing. Because I got off at the terminal stop there's almost no chance that another passenger did this, and not a member of their staff over the 2 days it took them to tell me the bag was at South Station. So, thanks but seriously, give your staff some ethics training. read more

I love trains (Sheldon and I would get along very well I think!). Now, I'm not talking about Metro... No no, I don't care about those. I'm talking about the regional ones that travel interstate. We took the Acela Express from Boston to NYC and the ride was so cool. I like how they have a compartment near the door for you to store your luggage. There's free Wi-Fi, which is always a winner. It's also very spacious between seats so you really feel comfy in your seats. The train was really clean and the bar at the back is great if you want to grab a drink or some food. Our train was on time and the ride was pretty quick although I wouldn't have cared if it took a bit longer though because the view was very nice. I'm definitely doing that again on my next visit and I might even do a night trip. read more

First class Amtrak. Much different than the other seats? More leg room? Mediocre food. I'll take it. My first experience with Amtrak was in California, not different than my more recent experience in Boston/NY. The only difference is traveling with the big wigs from work versus by myself. If traveling from NY to Boston, or vice versa, take the Acela. Otherwise, this trip could feel like eternity! Upgrade to first class, splurge - it's worth it. read more

Amtrak food review: Murder on the Orient Express!! The no-trans fat rule has not hit the 3rd rails. Smoking please!! "The Firenza" "Tuna Salad on Honey Wheat Bread" Mfd. exclusively for Amtrak This sand witch tastes like a alien's scientific concoction of the perfect tuna salad sand witch without directly using any native earthly ingredients. The aliens successfully cloned a few particles from a tuna and cloned some pickle relish, celery, salad dressing with: vegetable broth, soybean oil, vinegar sugar, egg yolk, paprika, garlic powder) red peppers, onion, sugar, lemon. Ok sounds good. and... injected that with: high fructose HIV corn syrup, and partially hydrogenated cancer and inserted it with....: calcium chloride (chlorine?), sodium benzoate, xanthan gum, alum (aluminum?!), polysorbate 80, sodium sulfite (and galactamites?!) thiamine mono nitrate, mono, riboflavin, folic acid, dough conditioners (wtf); mono-diglycerides, sodium steardyl lactylate, ascorbic acid, a zodiocarbonamide, monocalcium phosphate, calcium propponate=mold inhibitor, calcium sulfate, and other sulfates. EEEEEEKKKKK!!!!!!!! "The (french cut) Firenza" tuna is vacuumed sealed in a right triangle pack that can only be opened on on Amtrak train by an Amtrak cafe attendant with an Amtrak knife. The sick part is the souless perfect Firenza tastes pretty good; its delicate yet zesty lumped shit on fluffy honey tasting wheat. The ingredients list, as you can see, is as long as three obituaries. There is no nutritional information. I guess Amtrak was like, come on, its train food, fuck it. The "Mrs. Good Cookie 1/4 pounder" is manufactured in New Jersey, not exclusively for Amtrak. Mrs Good Cookie tastes like an alien's scientific concoction of what the perfect chocolate chunk cookie should taste like without directly using any earthly ingredients. 1/4 of this giant cookie is 120 Calories, 50 grams of fat, and 18 carbs. Times that by 4 if you eat the whole cookie which is the size of my hand. Yummers!: Thiamine Mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid, dextrose, soy lecithin (emulsifier), partially hydrogenated vegetable shortening, high fructose sorbitol, natural and artificial flavors. This cookies expires before Christmas 07. 9.25 for all this! So overpriced. I did tip the Amtrak guy generously hoping he could buy some food for himself outside of his poison cafe. But where are my train free peanuts equivalent? The attendant asked if I was on business or coach. I am now left to wonder how much better my life could have been if I said business. In Amtrak's Access magazine it says that the Acela train offers lamb shanks prepared sous vide--- *Summary: Brown bag it on Amtrak if you want a meal. There's nothin g that resembles fresh, not even a rotten apple on the shelf. Otherwise, Amtrak offers classic and post modern junk and booze to take the edge off the price of your comfortable seats and relaxing views. read more

The Downeaster, It's a train that takes just about as long as it takes to drive to Portland, but cheaper on gas. Expect children in the summer, and expect lazy parents. The food car is decent, its serves drinks to offset the small children, if anything just sit in the dining car if its an option. Free wifi that didn't stall on me, outlets to charge the laptop and phone, nice scenery and good amount of leg room. Certain trips are buy one ticket get the 2nd persons free. Getting from Boston to Portland was a breeze, even found a seaside carnival to try for another day that's a different stop along the way. No real complaints except i was supposed to get back to North Station at 10:25....11:30 is not even close. read more

my sister did not feel like going to the airport, so... I was perfectly happy with the cost, service and process for taking the amtrak train from south station to penn station nyc. while waiting for the train, the "red hats" (the men from amtrak who help with luggage) came around to check on us and offered to take our things pronto. the train ride was smooth and quiet. we sat in the "quiet car" no cell phones and only quiet conversatiions. great for working, reading or napping (my favorite of the 3). the snack car had some decent items (the turkey sandwich and trail mix were yummy). also the banana was super-fresh, not gone bad.... i would definitely take/recommend amtrak. read more

I was boarding my train from PVD to BOS, Acela Express number 2164, Dec. 20th. 2019. During my boarding at PVD station I received racist profiling and profiling based on race by a black male first class conductor. I was trying to board the train, and held my iPhone on my hand showing the ticket in Apple Wallet. I showed the ticket to his face and showed my intention for boarding the first class train. However, despite the ticket in his face, he first asked me "first class?" and even after I pushed the ticket right in front of his face, he insisted "are you first class on Acela 2164?" I answered yes and let myself in. After I was seated, I heard him asking the other white male conductor to double check my ticket. When I showed my ticket in front of his face for a solid 5+ seconds. If he couldn't read then I don't think he should qualify for this job as a FIRST CLASS conductor. He should be considered a safety hazard due to his inability to respect guests, refrain from racism/profiling, and read train tickets. Afterwards the actual ticket inspector came alone and respectfully examined my tickets, which is the 3rd time I showed my tickets to board this damn train. It would be one thing if I was dressed like a bum and trying to board the train, but even in such a case after I showed him my ticket I should be allowed to board without triple checking my tickets. And I was wearing a $300 custom made leather shoes, $700 Canada Goose jacket, $300 Bose headphone, $400 Tumi bag, and $1000 Rimowa carry-on case. I was dressed very respectful, and he still doubted that I paid for my seat on this train. Which lead me to my conclusion that it could only be a racist act since I am asian and looked young. I am not aware of any regulations stating 20ish people are forbidden from riding first class on Amtrak. I am a Platinum Medallion with Delta airlines, and I fly 50+ times and spends 15k+ on flights each year. No once any airline employee doubted my right to priority boarding or seating in first class after I show them my ticket/membership card. This experience with Amtrak has convinced me that I should avoid Amtrak whenever possible and never pay for a first class ticket again. Why would I spend $100 on a half hour journey for this level of service again? read more

I travel for work from Boston to Philadelphia a few times a month. I usually take the Acela down, it takes about 5 hours to arrive in Philly and 4 for Penn Station. Its a pretty smooth ride. I bring my laptop with me. They have plugs at every seat in Business and first class. If you have a wireless card through a cell phone company you can get internet the entire way. Each car has a bathoom. There is usually a cafe car where you can get some food or beer/wine. If you sit in the first class car, all food & drinks are complimentry (included in the price of your ticket). Amtrak also has a pretty good rewards program. So if you do it enough you can earn points. read more

After years of the Fung-Wah, the Greyhound, the Peter Pan, and now Bolt and Megabus, I had the opportunity to take the Amtrak to NYC for a business trip. I was nervous: would we get along? Could this be... The One? With butterflies in my stomach, I prayed, "Be gentle - it's my first time." Slowly but surely the Amtrak seduced me with its shiny steel frame, the electrical sockets by each seat, the ample legroom and storage space for luggage - the snack car that served alcohol! With such proper lubrication, I just lay back and let Amtrak take me for four and a half hours. I walked off the platform in a haze, wondering why I had stayed away for so long. 'Cause once you go Amtrak, you never go back. read more

This was my first experience taking the Acela Express from Boston to NYC. I've had no problems with the shuttles from Logan, but this time I needed to end up right in Times Square so I figured it was worth a shot. All seats are "business class", but I think once everyone becomes "special" it's pretty clear that nobody is. The seats are fairly spacious and comfy, but I'm not sure what is "business class" about them. I guess they aren't the plastic benches on the T buses. There is also constant minor turbulence from the track, but really this should be expected. Finally, aside from cruising pretty fast from Boston to Providence this train has not been very "express", particularly on some really slow stretches through CT. The food is atrocious. I was starving so I settled on a chef salad and the ONLY salad dressing option was "Buttermilk Farms" which essentially was mayo mixed with more oil. Disgusting. It's nice to have internet the whole time, but that connection is spotty at best. It took about 5 minutes to load yelp and login, but there isn't really anything else to do. Overall it's not a terrible experience, but I think I'll stick with the airport shuttles and deal with potential delays and TSA nonsense. read more

Comfortable to Lounge and sleep. Easy, quick. Wi-fi, electric. Route 161 has it all. Go Cafe car - cafe car serves microwave cheesburgers and cold beer. An excellent combination. read more

How does a train that has no traffic run a half hour late? That, coupled with the Lake Shore Limited removing business class, reflects my review. I did get my own seat up until Worcester, and sitting with someone else wasn't a problem, but I liked the business class room, and that, on top of how late the train ran (one would think that there were times there for a reason) reflect my drop off in review. For the time I needed it, Amtrak worked out. However, I'd have to consider the bus in the future, as at least in that case I have a better sense of when I'll arrive. read more

I like the train. Its more expensive then the bus, much more expensive, but its a little safer and much much much more comfortable. Its clean, comfy, the bathrooms smell nice(!!!) and its on time. The Amtrak employees are a mix. Boston ones were much nicer then the gate agents at Penn station. Trains have electric outlets for you laptops. Each train has a quiet car and a snack car, so you can get some hot tea or a bagel. You can reserve a table and have a real meal, or some variation of it. I would give them five stars if they would post the track # a little earlier then 10 min to departure. Its quite chaotic. Once they post it, and god forbid you are standing in the wrong place, the crowd will mow you down and noone would even blink an eye. So, location, location, location, eyes on the table, and once you see the track number posted, run for your life. read more

Sure, I would LOVE to review Amtrak in lieu of finishing my thesis. Yes, it is more expensive than flying. Usually a round-trip ticket for me from Boston to Philly is $150ish; Acela is obviously another $80 or so. But, if you consider the amount of money spent getting to and from the airport--especially given the Silver Line's shiteous history of shitosity--it evens the gap a bit. Also consider not having to go through security, removing your shoes on the one day you wore mismatched, holey socks, taking off all your jewelry, forgetting your belt buckle, having to go back through security, alarm goes off again, TSA employee motions you to the side and starts wand-ing you, something in your chestal region goes off, she starts patting you down on the one day you've only worn an old, sweaty undershirt, and after all that, you discover that the underwire in your bra is poking out and that's what's making the alarm go off, but first, you had to suffer a major loss of time and embarrassment because everyone boarding the same JetBlue flight as you knows that you have a gigantic toe-hole in your sock-piece. Plus South Station has an Au Bon Pain. I've only ever been delayed 20 minutes on the train. Perhaps I've been lucky, but I rarely hear horror stories. The trains are comfortable, I love the quiet car, and the humming of the tracks and the wind is quite calming. I like. read more

I love the train.. quick and easy. It is the surge pricing that Amtrak should be ashamed of. Why is one way on a holiday weekend $162.00. ONE WAY!!!! The prices are ridiculous it ranges anywhere from 75.00 to 215.00. One way. I have taken that train for years... At one time it was $84.00 round trip. I get that times change but a flight should not be less expensive than a train ride. Amtrak should be regulated somehow. It won't happen but should. read more

I am currently resting my ass on a horizontally friendly leather seat, stopping myself from laughing at my neighbor as she googles - I shit you not - the phrase "hemorrhoid cream side effects." THANK THE SWEET LORD FOR WIFI ON ACELA! It's about time you listened, Amtrak. Let me backtrack: I have been travelling to New York almost every weekend on business. I prefer the car as I can get door-to-door in 3 hours for the price of an Indian lunch buffet, but since my car was murdered by an enormous pine tree a few weeks ago, I have had to resort to public transportation. Being a cheap college senior in a recession, I generally opt for the $15 Bolt bus which features electrical outlets and wifi, but the speed, accessibility, and comfort of Amtrak, particularly its Acela line, are too great to overlook. For half the price of a plane ticket, I can sit back, relax, and occasionally get some work done. Amtrak has made some improvements in the past few months, too. For one, they have decreased their one-way ticket prices by about 25% (from about $93 to $79 depending on how early you book). Secondly, they have a generous Amtrak Rewards program for frequent travelers (e.g. I received a free round-trip ticket from Boston to New York after only three trips). Finally, and most importantly, they have armed their travelers with WIFI access, giving them the tools to cure hemorrhoids one Google search at a time. Thank you, Amtrak. You are so worth the money now. read more