Passenger Trains > NG Acela Notes After Riding One

We''ve all seen hours of Youtube content about the new Acelas, but after riding one I'll say that much of that commentary was extremely surface level and veteram/frequent riders are likely to notice different things. I'll make a quick bullet list while it is fresh in my head.

• The seats are "fine". They aren't plush like a couch, but they aren't hard like a bus. The designers appear to have set them to "median recline" as in the level that I typically recline my Amfleet or AX Classic seat to. I feel that passengers might be more in need of lumbar cushions to prop themselves into a more upright position, especially if at a table. For sleeping the head wings easily do the job one used to accomplish with "differential recline" on an Amfleet seat. A more potentially impactful design choice its that the first class seats are the same as the business class seats with most of the extra space going into the aisle width. Those willing to pay for exclusivity might be turned off compared to airlines that make those first class seats special.
• Car interior height was not as "European" as I expected, but there is about 4-6 inches of wasted space above each passenger that in an Amfleet or Classic is used for baggage storage. This might be due to window height or HVAC duct placement, but also may have been an intentional choice to reduce head-bumping on the luggage rack. I've whalloped my head several times on the low Amfleet racks so that could have been a priority in testing over thicker luggage.
• Joint window screens might cause some friction. The screens are shared by at least two rows so it looks like the recline fights will be replaced by window shade fights.
• Baggage space was better than I expected, but the cars have less slack space to stash an influx of bags Overhead racks can fit carry-ons larger than airline size, but not if everyone brings one.
• The motorized bathroom doors are slow. While a few people might benefit from the push-button doors, they are super slow and it wasn't clear if they could be reversed mid-travel. This will hit capacity and annoy folks who really have to go.  This probably could have been better designed with an optional motor assist or some counterbalanced low force mechanical door.
• Lack of bathroom paper towels feels super cheap and the air dryer is awful. Be prepared because you are absolutely leaving those restrooms with wet hands.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/29/25 09:24 by mbrotzman.

Thank you for a fair , sober and insightfull review of these trains .

Thank you for the review.  I haven't ridden the new Acela yet, but I have been on BrightLine many times.  There are points of difference.

The bathrooms on BLF are fine. Room for people with mobility issues, even wheelchairs. Didn't notice slow doors or low power dryers.

Luggage racks are angled more sharply than I expected, which can be a problem for shorter people. And they are clear, which allows you to see what's up there.  Didn't notice people banging their heads. Big European style luggage racks at the end of each car.

I don't usually deploy a recline, so no comment there

I just rode aboard the new Acela and I think that's a fair review.  I didn't find the bathroom doors to be an issue but the hand dryer does kind of suck!  

The ride seems a bit smoother than the 1st gen Acela, except maybe for the end cars where you're sitting on the truck/bogie adjacent to the power cars. I took 1st class on the return and sat in dreaded row 3, which is right over the end truck and has zero window, as it is right where there is a large gap between the first and second window. ​The Jacobs bogies on the remainder of the articulated trainset help to make for a smooth ride, and the Pendolino tilt system works more seamlessly than the LRC-based tilt system in the first gen Acela fleet. However, these trains have yet to be approved for their intended curve speeds, so the active tilt doesn't do a whole lot as of yet. The seats are meh - maybe I'd give them a grade of B at best, as the cushions are quite firm and the seatbacks are fixed in place. In lieu of recline, the lower cushions slide out but the lack of lumbar support is evident. Overall though it's a nice evolution of the Acela and it's good to see investment in some modern rail equipment.

mvrr10 Wrote:
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> Thank you for a fair , sober and insightfull
> review of these trains .

Agreed! Thank you! Although I do believe Amtrak needed to create a "better seat" for First Class passengers. That's a distinguishing mark across the industry. 

Definitely a little less smooth than I remember the TGVs in France being at top speed, but since this is an actual TGV that's gotta come down to track quality I assume.

---

I will add that the tray tables are much better than those on the legacy Acela. They are easier to operate, are level when in place, and the tray surface has a texture that helps keep items from sliding.
 

10-29-25 : 2154 cancelled at NYP ; 2173 cancelled BOS-NYP  " no equipment avaiable ".  2173 turns off of 2154  , if it makes it , at Boston.

Which Acela train #s are using the new equipment? 
 

2153  to 2170 at DC , 2154 to 2173 at BOS ,weekdays only . Five NGA  trains available - two are needed to protect the trains mentioned ; three are available /standby /OKM  at SHSY /SSYD  or Ivy City we guess .  Thanksgiving Holiday Program in about a month , get some popcorn ready.   Hopefully things go "OK" .

mvrr10 Wrote:
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> 2153  to 2170 at DC , 2154 to 2173 at BOS
> ,weekdays only . Five NGA  trains available - two
> are needed to protect the trains mentioned ; three
> are available /standby /OKM  at SHSY /SSYD  or
> Ivy City we guess .  Thanksgiving Holiday Program
> in about a month , get some popcorn ready. 
>  Hopefully things go "OK" .

So if three are on "stand-by" - why was there a "late turn of equipment?" Get the stand-by equipment ready!!!!

jp1822 Wrote:
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> mvrr10 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > 2153  to 2170 at DC , 2154 to 2173 at BOS
> > ,weekdays only . Five NGA  trains available -
> two
> > are needed to protect the trains mentioned ;
> three
> > are available /standby /OKM  at SHSY /SSYD 
> or
> > Ivy City we guess .  Thanksgiving Holiday
> Program
> > in about a month , get some popcorn ready. 
> >  Hopefully things go "OK" .
>
> So if three are on "stand-by" - why was there a
> "late turn of equipment?" Get the stand-by
> equipment ready!!!!


Then it's not a turn?

Don't kill the messenger just recapping the obvious - 5 trains , 2 in service , 3 at terminals in NEC . Unlike friends of Amtrak meriting extra respsect I'm not privvy to more than what is visible "off the wood (platform) " or equipment status reports .

The question of "spares" is interesting, though.  If these are stored trains that happen to be stored in an active coach yard, OK. But for me, "spare" suggests something that could be fitted into a schedule on short notice.

Has anyone seen any of these spares in revenue service yet?

Lackawanna484 Wrote:
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> The question of "spares" is interesting, though. 
> If these are stored trains that happen to be
> stored in an active coach yard, OK. But for me,
> "spare" suggests something that could be fitted
> into a schedule on short notice.
>
> Has anyone seen any of these spares in revenue
> service yet?

EXACTLY - otherwise, why are they NOT in service. I would think they should be able to get two more sets in operation by Thanksgiving, but this is Amtrak, so I guess what we take what we can get these! days!

The first day of revenue service 2154 was already in a bad way with door issues and losing time ; Boston had the spare NGA at South Station when 2154 arrived and was able to protect an on-time departure of 2173 .

kids and other miscreants love to clog toilets with towels, bring your own paper towels

dan Wrote:
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> kids and other miscreants love to clog toilets
> with towels, bring your own paper towels

Yes, I agree. While unfortunate, it probably was smart of them to get rid of the paper towels. They caused nothing but problems because people are jerks. Nobody can plug up the toilet with air from an air dryer. They probably should get rid of the paper towels on the other trains as well.

Posted from iPhone

Maintaining the electric blowers can be a challenge.

Witness the number out of service in high volume stores, etc.

Posted from Android

alan2955 Wrote:
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> Yes, I agree. While unfortunate, it probably was
> smart of them to get rid of the paper towels. They
> caused nothing but problems because people are
> jerks. Nobody can plug up the toilet with air
> from an air dryer. They probably should get rid of
> the paper towels on the other trains as well.
>


Good observation, but the real issue is that they used a 1980's grade blower instead of a modern high flow dryer. Amtrak even has these in their new station bathroom sinks, but not the new trains.