FIRST LOOK: Amtrak’s Brand New Acela Highspeed Train 🚆🇺🇸

FIRST LOOK: Amtrak’s Brand New Acela Highspeed Train 🚆🇺🇸

A huge thanks to Thom from the ‘Trains are Awesome’ channel for his help 
in making this video possible. Today we’re back in America for 
probably the most anticipated train launch this century – and only 3 years late! Amtrak announced they were looking to replace the 
original Acela – the USA’s only high-speed train way back in 2014, which were then ordered and 
funded in 2016 by a $2.5b government loan – and 9 years later, the day has finally come when 
they enter service. Well tomorrow, actually. Today, we’ll be taking a special 
pre-launch press train up to New York City. Washington Union Station dates back to 
1908 and is an absolute stunning building. Heading inside to the main concourse and we are greeted by majestic vaulted ceilings 
– this really is a spectacular place! There are a few shops and cafés spread around, along with waiting areas, 
toilets and ticketing facilities. OK, let’s head out to the platforms 
now and start the ‘Acela-brations’! There certainly is some hype around 
these new trains with news crews and VIPs from around the country 
present for this launch party. There is even some giveaway items 
such a tote bags and journals. Here’s our first glimpse at 
one of the new Acela trains, conveniently parked right next to 
one of the old ones, for comparison. SPEAKER – ‘Lot’s of jobs across the 
country were created to build these trains in the United States – and 
we plan to keep on building them’. SPEAKER – ‘I have never seen a project 
bring together a company like this one has’. SPEAKER – ‘So we have been able to see a great transformation of power in 
the high-speed corridor’. TRAIN GUARD – ‘All that’s left 
to say is… ALL ABOARD!’. As it’s SO busy down here – let’s head to the far end to get away from the crowds and 
check out the train in more detail. These sparkling new Amtrak Acela ‘Next Gen’ or 
‘Gen 2’ trainsets have a power car at each end, and 9 intermediate coaches in 
just two classes of travel. One of these is the Café car, another 
one First Class and the remaining seven are Business Class where we’ll be 
travelling today up to New York. There is a maximum capacity of 386 seats per Gen 2 
trainset, 82 more than the Gen 1 sets, and with 28 of the new trains on order, versus 20 of the 
old ones, the overall capacity gain is huge. These trains are fully electric and have 
a power output of 7,000kW (9,400hp) and currently a maximum speed of 160mph (258km/h). If and when track and signalling upgrades are made in the future – then top speeds can be 
raised to at least 186mph (300km/h). The eagle eyed of you may note 
that the profiles of the power cars and coaches don’t match – with 
this ugly bulge between the two. This is because the coaches 
use active-tilt technology to enable cornering at higher speeds – and the 
power cars do not. But more on this later. Before we board, let’s check out today’s route. We depart Washington Union station and head 
north, calling only at Philadelphia today, before arriving at New York’s Penn Station. Boarding is pretty much 
level from platform to train, with an in-built sliding step to bridge any 
gaps. Ramps are also available if required. First impressions of the New 
Acela are really quite good! It’s bright and airy, and the Business Class 
coaches are laid out in a 2+2 configuration, with a mix of airline style and bay seating. Luggage can be stored on the stacks at the end 
of each coach, or in this cubby for larger items. There are also overhead racks 
which run above all seats. The seats are numbered by row, and 
then letter, like you’d get on a plane, with the individual ones being identified next 
to the seat reservation indicators up above, or on the headrests of the seats themselves. We depart DC Union Station on-time at 10:10am ONBOARD HOST – ‘Welcome to Amtrak’s 
Acela-bration train! The first and historic ride on a Next Gen Acela high-speed 
service from Washington DC to New York City’. The distance from Washington to New York is 223mi (359km) which is scheduled to take 2 
hours and 30 minutes of travel time. Acela tickets have always been 
known for being quite pricey, however they seem to have gone up 
even more since I last checked. I searched for tickets from DC to New York on 
a date one month from today, and the cheapest one on a Gen 2 Acela was $263 (£195, €225) 
or $134 (£100, €115) on a Gen 1 set – both in Business Class. Pricing is dynamic so will 
rise quite a lot the closer to travel you get. I know this is Amtrak’s ‘Premium Product’, 
however buying tickets for similar distance high-speed trains in Italy or Spain a month 
in advance, and it would cost quarter of these prices – and they’re true ‘high-speed’ trains, 
taking half the time to cover the same mileage. We’ll check out the prices of 
First Class when we have a look at it later on in the video – and 
be ready to have your mind blown! OK, lets have a look at the 
seating here in Business Class, which have a lot to live up to from 
the excellent seats on the Gen 1 Acela. And they are good, just not AS good. The padding and shape is not 
bad, but only the base reclines, using this button on the padded armrests. There is a large winged headrest, which 
also incorporates the reading light. Legroom is good, and there 
is an adjustable footrest, and drop-down tray table with cup 
holder on the airline style seats. The bay seating has fixed tables which 
fold out, and have in-build cup grooves. Both seating types have storage pockets for the safety card and information 
on the Next Gen Acela sets. Each pair of seats has access to two US-style 
2-pin power sockets and 2 USB-A ports. It’s a shame, and an oversight that 
they didn’t fit USB-C ports too. Overall, it’s a good product 
– definitely modernised – but whether it’s actually an upgrade 
on the Gen 1, I’m not so sure. The seat comfort and much reduced 
recline are certainly worse. Free WiFi is available throughout the train. 
This was easy to use and was very fast. We soon pass non-stop through Baltimore, Maryland’s largest city whose metropolitan 
area is home to nearly 3 million people. All regular service Acela trains stop, 
here so it is quite strange not too today! OK, back on the move and I think it’s 
time to check out the rest of the train… Here is a look at the wheelchair 
spaces. They have restraints, tables, powers sockets, assistance 
call buttons and companion seats. Next to every one, in the adjacent 
vestibule is an accessible toilet. These have occupancy displays both 
in the coaches and on the outside and all the doors are operated 
by buttons, including the lock. These were all clean and very spacious, and include a baby changing table. Everything 
worked well and was fully stocked up. Moving on to the Café, 
which is located in Coach 6. While there is also a trolley service which roams 
the train – it’s nice to come and stretch your legs for a while – and it’s quite the 
hit today because everything is free! Electronic menus can be found next to 
the counter, or you can scan the QR code. Alcohol and hot meals must be 
ordered from the friendly staff, however the biggest change on the Gen 
2 Acela is the ‘Grab & Go’ service. It’s not live quite yet – but when it 
is you will be able to get sandwiches, drinks and snacks from these fridges and 
then check out yourself, so no queueing required! This is a great idea and more 
trains should implement it, in my opinion. There’s certainly some lovely 
#TrainWindowViews on this route too! Overall, the ride quality is good. 
Better than the original trains, however much of the tracks are quite 
old and still cause quite a few bumps! ONBOARD HOST – ‘Ladies and Gentleman we are now 
arriving in Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station’. We have now entered Pennsylvania 
and are approaching the first, and only intermediate stop on today’s journey. Philadelphia’s is the state’s largest city, with the metropolitan area home to 6.3 million 
people, making it the 9th largest in the USA. On departure from 30th Street Station, we see many 
other Acela Gen 2 sets parked up in the sidings. Initially, 5 sets will go live with them gradually 
complementing and expanding existing service, and replacing older sets until all 28 new trains 
are expected to be active by the end of 2027. Now let’s go and have a look around First Class. The layout is similar, but in a 2+1 configuration, with slightly wider seats with fixed armrests, 
and increased legroom over Business Class. A complimentary menu of drinks and a 
meal is served to your seat – or you can always bring your own McDonalds if you prefer! It is really not different enough 
to justify the price, in my opinion, with the cheapest First Class fare 
for travel in 1 month’s time on a Gen 2 Acela being $447 (£330, €382) 
and $283 (£209, €242) on a Gen 1 set. While these trains are good, by American 
standards – If you want to see the ‘Gold Standard’ of high-speed today – then 
check out my video onboard China’s 400km/h capable Fuxing CR400 in Premium 
First Class. Just click the link above now. Anyway, we are now approaching 
the end of today’s journey as the New York City skyline comes in to 
view in the background – so let me summarise the experience onboard the Next 
Generation Amtrak Acela high-speed train. Overall, I’ll say it’s a good 
upgrade, but not game-changing. The extra capacity, modernity and 
new technologies employed onboard are certainly plus points, along with the 
very stylish design of the new trains. However, the reduced seat comfort 
level and absence of proper recline, along with the lack of true distinction between 
Business and First Classes are negative points. ONBOARD HOST – ‘Ladies and gentlemen 
in just a few moments we will arrive at our final station stop – 
New York City’s Penn Station’. I also think that it is far too expensive for 
what it is – and many people will continue to fly, drive, or use the far far cheaper Northeast 
Regional train services, which don’t take too much longer than the Acela, and start from 
around $30 (£22, €25) in Standard (Coach) Class, with arguably more comfortable seats, and 
identical (lack of) complimentary service. We arrive in New York’s Penn 
Station right on-time, at 12.40pm. Have you been on any trains on an Acela service, new or old, or any other trains in 
the Northeast Corridor before? If so, which ones and on which routes? How did you 
find them? Let me know in the comments below! Don’t forget to subscribe, thanks to Thom 
for his help in making this video possible, and thanks for watching to the end, 
and I’ll see you in the next one!

Today we’re riding the BRAND NEW Amtrak Acela in Business Class!

We’ll be travelling on the pre-launch, press day service from DC to NYC in Business Class on the long awaited New Generation ‘Fastest Train in America’. There’s been so much fanfare about this train, but is all the hype worth it? Come along with me and we’ll find out together!

#Amtrak #Acela #NextGen #HighspeedTrain #USA #WashingtonDC #NewYork #TrainWindowViews

Date of Filming: 27/8/25
Camera: DJI Action 4 Pro
Operator: Amtrak
Departure: Washington DC, USA
Arrival: New York, USA
Cost: Business Class – from $263 (£195, €225)

A Huge thanks to Thom from the ‘Trains are Awesome’ YouTube Channel for making this video possible: www.youtube.com/@Thom-TRA

To check out my review on the Fuxing CR400 from Beijing to Shanghai in Premium First Class, click here: https://youtu.be/ex8uO1VhcbU

Become a valued YouTube channel member to get access to perks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBqWe9KKYUavknEaaZLk7cQ/join

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00:00 – Intro
01:05 – Arrival at Washington Union Station & Tour
01:44 – Pre-departure Acela-brations!
02:44 – Train Info
04:00 – Route Info & Boarding
05:28 – Departure & Pricing
06:40 – Business Class Seat Tour
08:15 – Exploring the Train… inc the Café
10:18 – #TrainWindowViews
10:42 – Calling at Philadelphia
11:35 – First Class Seat Tour
12:44 – New Acela Trip Summary
13:48 – Arrival in NYC & Outro