‘A faster ride’: Amtrak now offering ‘NextGen Acela’ train to multiple destinations
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — It’s full steam ahead for Amtrak’s new high-speed train.
The 160-mile per hour train is now offering rides from Boston, all the way to Washington, D.C., servicing Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania along the way.
“It’s more trains, more seats and a faster ride,” said Margaret Clark, Manager of Government Affairs at Amtrak.
William Amara lives along the northeast corridor and was one of the first passengers on the NextGen Acela train, now the fastest train in the United States.
“One really cool thing that happened on it was the train hit 160 miles per hour. And it was the first regular passenger service train in American history with normal paying passengers to do that,” said Amara.
Starting Thursday, five of the new trains are in service each way, every day.
By 2027, 28 of the high-speed trains will service the northeast corridor, completely replacing the older models.
Here’s approximately what it will cost you.
A trip from Boston or Providence to Washington, D.C. will cost you between $300 to $500, roundtrip.
A trip from Providence to New York and back will cost you between $70 and $200.
The cost increases the later in the day you ride.
“Beyond Providence is where it’s more useful. Obviously NYC, a lot of transit riders there. It makes it easy to take Amtrak,” said Amara.
While Amtrak is promoting the train as high-speed, its schedules show the train is slower than existing ones on the route, by three to seven minutes.
Amtrak’s president Roger Harris said trip times will improve once infrastructure improvements are complete.