Passenger Trains > A not so fast Next Gen Acela

My son was booked on #2259, Next Gen Acela, out of New Haven at 6:34 with arrival in DC at 11:28, yesterday March 5th.

Train arrived New Haven around 7:30, and finally made it into DC at 1:17 AM Monday March 6th almost 2 hours late.

I followed its progress on Amtrak's Train Status web site.  Reason given for delays was the usual "mechanical assesment" followed by "the train will not be able to operate at normal speeds" hence the almost 2 hour late arrival into DC. 

I told him he should have taken an earlier Regional. So far, for state of the art trains, the Next Gen Acela's don't seem to be able to carry Amtrak into the "Next Generation". 

The NextGen fleet performance thus far is concerning. Poor on time performance, lots of mechanical issues. Last I heard the active tilt was deactivated. This was on top of already being limited to Regional speeds on curves even when the tilt was working. 

Thing is also they sat collecting dust in Philly for 3 years!

Posted from Android



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/07/26 19:05 by ProAmtrak.

ProAmtrak Wrote:
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> Thibg is also they sat collecting dust in Philly
> for 3 years!

And rain water.

fulham Wrote:
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> My son was booked on #2259, Next Gen Acela, out of
> New Haven at 6:34 with arrival in DC at 11:28,
> yesterday March 5th.
>
> Train arrived New Haven around 7:30, and finally
> made it into DC at 1:17 AM Monday March 6th almost
> 2 hours late.
>
> I followed its progress on Amtrak's Train Status
> web site.  Reason given for delays was the usual
> "mechanical assesment" followed by "the train will
> not be able to operate at normal speeds" hence the
> almost 2 hour late arrival into DC. 
>
> I told him he should have taken an earlier
> Regional. So far, for state of the art trains, the
> Next Gen Acela's don't seem to be able to carry
> Amtrak into the "Next Generation". 

He get any sort of point bonus or voucher for the lateness? I got $100 Acela Bucks last year for an hour initial terminal delay out of Boston. Well worth it. 

The Next Generation Acela train sets are perhaps representative of Amtrak's state of affairs. They look nice on the outside, but don't expect them to perform up to an consistent expected standards. Harsh? Yes. Amtrak front line and maintenance staff do some fine work, but sadly, it lacks consistency across the system. Great plans, great ideas - lackluster execution. VERY expensive equipment on Amtrak's books, yet a lot of the equipment (even the newer Viewliner fleet) is sidelined and have low utilization rates. Is Amtrak projecting the best it can be as a showcase of United States passenger rail in 2026? 

jp1822 Wrote:
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> The Next Generation Acela train sets are perhaps
> representative of Amtrak's state of affairs. They
> look nice on the outside, but don't expect them to
> perform up to an consistent expected standards.
> Harsh? Yes. Amtrak front line and maintenance
> staff do some fine work, but sadly, it lacks
> consistency across the system. Great plans, great
> ideas - lackluster execution. VERY expensive
> equipment on Amtrak's books, yet a lot of the
> equipment (even the newer Viewliner fleet) is
> sidelined and have low utilization rates. Is
> Amtrak projecting the best it can be as a showcase
> of United States passenger rail in 2026?

It seems they can’t do much of anything right. Just look at the Chicago car washer situation. Out of service for at least a couple of years. Finally reopened last summer to great fanfare. ‘Look what we did’ crowed Amtrak But oh, they can’t wash the trains in the winter. They shut it down all winter. My local car wash stays open even in subzero temperatures. There’s zero excuse why they can’t wash the trains in the winter. They’re almost out of locomotives in Chicago because so many chargers are out of service. These things are complete garbage, and what did Amtrak do? They kept buying more of them.  The onboard experience on the trains is still wildly variable, depending on which crew you get. Some of them do a great job and other ones wouldn’t last a week at a real restaurant or hotel. A friend just rode the Canadian in Canada. The train was spotlessly clean, everything works, and the employees are uniformly nice. She came back on the Empire builder with lazy, rude dining car crew, a steak dinner served with a plastic knife. No rolls at dinner and no apology, was snapped at for even asking if she could have one. New equipment will do little to solve Amtrak’s problems. Just wait till the Aiero trains come along. No doubt they will be a trouble plagued disaster, like everything else they buy from Siemens. This is the gang that can’t shoot straight.

Posted from iPhone

I was on 2172 yesterday (4/6) from DC up to PHL.  The train was quiet and on-time, but that's all that I can say positive about the experience.  It was one of the least comfortable trains I've ever been on.  The seats were awful - tipped too far back for comfort, the protrusion in the lower back was painful, and the protrusion on the foot rest was right in the middle of where one would typically put a bag, and a bag (such as a backpack) of any normal size won't fit in the middle, causing a need for poor foot positioning.  We didn't have any mechanical issues on this trip, but I was in the quiet car, and the door alarms when the exteriior door was opened/closed was jarringly loud, expecially for a quiet car.  If a passenger had made such a jarring and loud sound in the quiet car, they probably would have been kicked off the train, or at least vehemanetly admonished in a way that only veteran New Yorker would be able to do.  Unless they change the seats, I will never willingly ride in one of the NextGen Acelas again - my back just can't tolerate that much discomfort.  For me, I'll stick with the tried and true legacy NE Regionals where the seats (although sometimes worn) don't cause pain.  

milwrdfan Wrote:
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> I was on 2172 yesterday (4/6) from DC up to PHL. 
> The train was quiet and on-time, but that's all
> that I can say positive about the experience.  It
> was one of the least comfortable trains I've ever
> been on.  The seats were awful - tipped too far
> back for comfort, the protrusion in the lower back
> was painful, and the protrusion on the foot rest
> was right in the middle of where one would
> typically put a bag, and a bag (such as a
> backpack) of any normal size won't fit in the
> middle, causing a need for poor foot
> positioning.  We didn't have any mechanical
> issues on this trip, but I was in the quiet car,
> and the door alarms when the exteriior door was
> opened/closed was jarringly loud, expecially for a
> quiet car.  If a passenger had made such a
> jarring and loud sound in the quiet car, they
> probably would have been kicked off the train, or
> at least vehemanetly admonished in a way that only
> veteran New Yorker would be able to do.  Unless
> they change the seats, I will never willingly ride
> in one of the NextGen Acelas again - my back just
> can't tolerate that much discomfort.  For me,
> I'll stick with the tried and true legacy NE
> Regionals where the seats (although sometimes
> worn) don't cause pain.  

Thanks for the review. Wow! Telling!

Time to pull the pin, and cut the whole enterprise loose.

Posted from Android