Rattle wrote:

Enjoy superior comfort, upscale amenities, and polished professional service — at speeds up to 150 mph — aboard Acela Express. The Acela Express experience includes:

* A faster trip with fewer stops
* Reserved First Class and Business Class seating
* At-seat electrical outlets for your laptop or DVD player
* Adjustable lighting and large tray tables
* Conference tables
* Quiet Car
* Cafe Car
* At Seat Cart Service on select trains

I took the Acela from New York to Washington for the first time last night. This is the way to travel! Comfortable seats, leg room, tables, power, and no TSA. It's totally hassle free travel. You can even get bottled beer in the Cafe Car to enjoy while watching the world go by at 150mph.

It's a little pricey, but the value is there. If only it went down to Atlanta...

Hmmm... plus I believe you can get United miles on Amtrak.

Rattle wrote:

Enjoy superior comfort, upscale amenities, and polished professional service — at speeds up to 150 mph — aboard Acela Express. The Acela Express experience includes:

* A faster trip with fewer stops
* Reserved First Class and Business Class seating
* At-seat electrical outlets for your laptop or DVD player
* Adjustable lighting and large tray tables
* Conference tables
* Quiet Car
* Cafe Car
* At Seat Cart Service on select trains

I took the Acela from New York to Washington for the first time last night. This is the way to travel! Comfortable seats, leg room, tables, power, and no TSA. It's totally hassle free travel. You can even get bottled beer in the Cafe Car to enjoy while watching the world go by at 150mph.

It's a little pricey, but the value is there. If only it went down to Atlanta...

Yeah, i have a friend who loves it and uses it regularly... I haven't made it yet, but plan to.

Rattle wrote:

Enjoy superior comfort, upscale amenities, and polished professional service — at speeds up to 150 mph — aboard Acela Express. The Acela Express experience includes:

* A faster trip with fewer stops
* Reserved First Class and Business Class seating
* At-seat electrical outlets for your laptop or DVD player
* Adjustable lighting and large tray tables
* Conference tables
* Quiet Car
* Cafe Car
* At Seat Cart Service on select trains

I took the Acela from New York to Washington for the first time last night. This is the way to travel! Comfortable seats, leg room, tables, power, and no TSA. It's totally hassle free travel. You can even get bottled beer in the Cafe Car to enjoy while watching the world go by at 150mph.

It's a little pricey, but the value is there. If only it went down to Atlanta...

When I fly out to DC, Acela is my preference. Fly into BWI, hop the train and walk out of Union Station ala Jimmy Stewart in Mr Smith Goes to Washington. It generally ends up being a little cheaper because the rates to BWI tend to be much lower than going to Dulles or National.

When I fly out to DC, Acela is my preference. Fly into BWI, hop the train and walk out of Union Station ala Jimmy Stewart in Mr Smith Goes to Washington. It generally ends up being a little cheaper because the rates to BWI tend to be much lower than going to Dulles or National.

Hahaha.. The Mr Smith thing is so true. I think of that movie every time I step foot in the main hall of Union Station.

You should let me know the next time you are in DC...

Rattle wrote:
It's a little pricey, but the value is there. If only it went down to Atlanta...

The "Crescent Line" passes through DC and through Atlanta. Averaging $150 when bought a month ahead of time, it cost about the same as a flight. But it takes forever. It can take 14 hours - longer than driving. Though the older train gets up to 70+ mph, it stops in every small city (about 20 of them), and some big cities the stops were at least 30 minutes. And unlike the grand transportation terminal in DC, the Amtrak station in Atlanta is in a random spot on Peachtree half way between Buckhead and Midtown, and a good distance away from any MARTA train station (They were going to build a light rail line to the Amtrak station, but that plan got scrapped a few years ago). No parking deck either, so you have to call a friend or get a Taxi.

The faster train and an "Express" route would lower the travel time to 7 hours, which when compared to 5 hours air travel (2.5 in the air + 2.5 on the ground) would make it a good alternative. There isn't demand for the fast train and express route yet, but with air travel becoming more of a hassle and air line tickets becoming more sensitive to fuel prices, hopefully the US interstate passenger rail system will get back into popularity.