Acela train, yay or nay

[tpir]

OK. So I am taking a trip up to NYC this weekend. The Acela train is about $50 more each way. It's only 15 min. faster but I heard that it's "way nicer". I am a train-taking noob but the mental image I have of the cheaper train makes it worth $100.

Is it?

[ad617]

I've done the DC-NYC Acela many times. The Acela is [censored]. It's no more reliable and just more expensive.

That said, they serve your food on real plates.

--AD

PS. And they have nicer wine selections

[punkass]

I don't think it's worth it, unless it's Thanksgiving or Christmas. During those times (and maybe others), when the unreserved trains get overfilled and people literally stood in the aisles and inbetween train cars.

If you're going on a regular day, I'd say go with a regular unreserved train.

[The DaveR]

I've taken it once and it's nicer but it seemed crowded and not particularly fast. I'll basically never take it again, but that has a lot to do with fairly inexpensive Delta Shuttle flight options from NYC to other nearby cities.

[W. Deranged]

The Acela is probably not worth it.

Consider flying. Seriously. There are some very cheap flights on the shuttles and JetBlue. You do have to pay to get from the airport, but considering that you are willing to pay the Amtrak rates (which are steep) and you'll be saving a lot of time, it might be worth it to you.

[Wakko]

theres really no difference. disclaimer: last time i rode amtrak was 2002.

[kipin]

Emoboi,

If this was Germany, or Japan, or any country with an established high-speed passenger rail system, I would recommend taking the fast train. However, we are in the United States and our passenger rail system is plagued by bureaucracy, and cost cutting measures that hamper the train system.

If I were you I'd avoid the train system completely, but if you are dead set on riding in a train, just take the "normal" train.

lovingly,
kipin "the skullcrusher"

[AMT]

if you enjoy spending monday, take the acela. otherwise, take the standard train. ive taken both, no reason to spend more money. i sleep the whole time anyways, screw train food, GET ME A FILET MIGNION

[tpir]

Thanks for the good info everyone! Regular train it is. I can use the $100 I am saving to buy 2 gin and tonics for myself!

p.s. i know that G&Ts don't cost $50 a piece. i was trying to make a lame "stuff in NYC is expensive" joke. so i tried adding a [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img], but i got yelled at for that too. so, yeah. i suck at life and/or OOT. that is all.

[junglewarfare]

sitting in the dining car of the regular service is the correct solution