Passenger Trains > New Acela Weekend Service Starting

Amtrak to Double Acela Express Service in New England April 29


PHILADELPHIA, March 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Amtrak will double its high-speed Acela Express service between Boston, Providence and New York on April 29, providing two morning and two afternoon roundtrip trains on weekdays, and introduce weekend service.

"Boston and Providence already account for more than one third of our initial Acela Express ridership and the demand is growing," said Amtrak President George D. Warrington. "Adding more trains will offer travelers more choice and continue to position Acela Express as a bona fide alternative to the air shuttles."

Starting April 29, Amtrak will offer Acela Express weekday departures from Boston South Station at 6:12 a.m. and 7:12 a.m., arriving in New York at 9:40 a.m. and 10:42 a.m., respectively. Afternoon departures will be available at 3:12 p.m. and 5:12 p.m. with arrival in New York at 6:42 p.m. and 8:42 p.m. The Providence departure times will be 6:47 a.m., 7:47 a.m., 3:47 p.m. and 5:47 p.m.

From New York, Acela Express will leave for Boston at 7:03 a.m., 8:03 a.m., 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.

The schedules are designed to allow for same-day business trips between Boston and Providence, and New York.

The new schedule also introduces weekend Acela Express service as Amtrak moves to tap the leisure travel market. Amtrak has been increasing its premium Metroliner weekend service between New York and Washington because of increased demand and will aggressively utilize Acela Express high-speed trains for weekend leisure travel all along the Northeast Corridor as it continues to phase in service.

Weekend Acela Express service will be offered at 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. from Boston (8:35 a.m. and 4:35 p.m. from Providence) to New York and continuing through to Washington. Northbound service to Boston and Providence will include a train that departs New York at 8:03 a.m. and a 1 p.m. train from Washington that leaves New York at 4:03 p.m.

"Getting off to a good start in New England was critical to the ultimate success of Acela Express and the early numbers show the market is responding," Warrington said. "In January, we averaged 152 boardings a day in the Boston area, comparable to our established and profitable Metroliner service which averaged 114 boardings in Washington and 154 in New York."

Since Acela Express was launched December 11, over 47,000 passengers have used the service, a number that is expected to exceed 55,000 by the end of March. Revenue estimates have beaten expectations by 10 percent.

When the manufacturers, Bombardier and ALSTOM, deliver all 20 Acela Express trains, Amtrak will run 10 roundtrips a day between Boston and New York with nine continuing on to Washington.

SOURCE Amtrak

Metroliners Nos. 109 and 118 will be converted over to Acela Express Service. These will probably both go to and from Boston.

The additional A.X. Trains are no. 2180 and 2183. They began service March 1st with the schedule update. They are dubbed Super Expresses, Making only station stops Boston, New Haven, New York, & Washington.

Over and out...
MR

NECJerry wrote:
>
> Amtrak to Double Acela Express Service in New England April 29
>
>
> PHILADELPHIA, March 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Amtrak will double its
> high-speed Acela Express service between Boston, Providence and
> New York on April 29, providing two morning and two afternoon
> roundtrip trains on weekdays, and introduce weekend service.
>
> "Boston and Providence already account for more than one third
> of our initial Acela Express ridership and the demand is
> growing," said Amtrak President George D. Warrington. "Adding
> more trains will offer travelers more choice and continue to
> position Acela Express as a bona fide alternative to the air
> shuttles."
>
> Starting April 29, Amtrak will offer Acela Express weekday
> departures from Boston South Station at 6:12 a.m. and 7:12
> a.m., arriving in New York at 9:40 a.m. and 10:42 a.m.,
> respectively. Afternoon departures will be available at 3:12
> p.m. and 5:12 p.m. with arrival in New York at 6:42 p.m. and
> 8:42 p.m. The Providence departure times will be 6:47 a.m.,
> 7:47 a.m., 3:47 p.m. and 5:47 p.m.
>
> From New York, Acela Express will leave for Boston at 7:03
> a.m., 8:03 a.m., 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.
>
> The schedules are designed to allow for same-day business trips
> between Boston and Providence, and New York.
>
> The new schedule also introduces weekend Acela Express service
> as Amtrak moves to tap the leisure travel market. Amtrak has
> been increasing its premium Metroliner weekend service between
> New York and Washington because of increased demand and will
> aggressively utilize Acela Express high-speed trains for
> weekend leisure travel all along the Northeast Corridor as it
> continues to phase in service.
>
> Weekend Acela Express service will be offered at 8 a.m. and 4
> p.m. from Boston (8:35 a.m. and 4:35 p.m. from Providence) to
> New York and continuing through to Washington. Northbound
> service to Boston and Providence will include a train that
> departs New York at 8:03 a.m. and a 1 p.m. train from
> Washington that leaves New York at 4:03 p.m.
>
> "Getting off to a good start in New England was critical to the
> ultimate success of Acela Express and the early numbers show
> the market is responding," Warrington said. "In January, we
> averaged 152 boardings a day in the Boston area, comparable to
> our established and profitable Metroliner service which
> averaged 114 boardings in Washington and 154 in New York."
>
> Since Acela Express was launched December 11, over 47,000
> passengers have used the service, a number that is expected to
> exceed 55,000 by the end of March. Revenue estimates have
> beaten expectations by 10 percent.
>
> When the manufacturers, Bombardier and ALSTOM, deliver all 20
> Acela Express trains, Amtrak will run 10 roundtrips a day
> between Boston and New York with nine continuing on to
> Washington.
>
> SOURCE Amtrak

Also 2180 and 2183 are M-F cuurently.

And what was Vranich's comments about this new high speed train becoming a failure or something like that? VRANICH, seems you've been proven wrong on that part, but look out, if Amtrak keeps punching and all that good stuff, you're really gonna be dumbfounded by your so called prophecies of Amtrak failing.