Millions of Americans travel around the country on a daily basis.
Some are on the move for work, while others are taking their next vacation. Planes, trains and automobiles are at the top of the list when it comes to methods of transportation, and one of those methods is set to receive a major upgrade in a notable East coast city.
Citizens of the major locale will be able to benefit from one of the most advanced systems on the market, and it’ll take them from home to new frontiers in times they’ve never seen before. Here’s what’s making its debut in one of America’s most historically significant locations.
Amtrak’s NextGen Acela trains are now running out of Boston’s South Station, with trips on offer to both New York City and Washington D.C. These trains can reach speeds of up to 160 miles per hour. The company says that’s 10 MPH faster than the current fleet of trains, which were introduced at the start of the millenium.
“Physically, it rides a lot more smoothly,” says Amtrak president Roger Harris, according to WCVB News. The new trains are indeed larger, with 80 extra seats and extended room in both business and first class.
“It’s new, and when you get inside, you really notice the windows are bigger, there’s more light, the artificial light inside is much smoother, and the color scheme — it just makes it feel more relaxed inside.”
Harris says that pricing for the new trains will correspond to passenger demand, but that a formal restructuring of pricing is unlikely.
“On off-peak trains particularly, there will be more opportunities for lower-priced fares, so we don’t anticipate restructuring our fares, but we do think supply and demand will result in more opportunities for lower prices,” the president noted.
The new trains are fitted with a special tilt system to help them navigate curves at high speeds in a safer manner for travelers. The trains’ official debut was delayed for multiple years due to testing problems in the area, but it appears that those concerns have been resolved.
On weekdays, trains 2153, 2154, 2170, and 2173 will run as NextGen Acela offerings. Trains 2250 and 2251 will run on Saturdays, and trains 2248, 2258, 2259, and 2271 will run on Sundays. In order to better inform customers, the Amtrak website will include a “NextGen” tag for each corresponding trip.
As more Americans experience issues and delays with air travel, we’ll see if more travelers opt to take the train to their destination of choice.
