"I rode business class on the old Acela in 2022 and again in 2025 on the new train. The NextGen Acela featured a sleek new design, more comfortable seats, and elevated amenities. The seats were softer, the car was brighter, and the rails felt smoother. I was able to fully appreciate Amtrak's brand-new Acela train because I'd ridden the old one."
"As a seasoned Amtrak rider, I didn't think much of the original Acela's exterior when I rode it back in 2022. To me, it looked as plain and boxy as any other on the train line - save for the Acela branding. But the NextGen Acela had a fresh, new appearance. Parked next to the older model, its shiny paint, round shape, and sports car-like headlights made it look like a ride from the future."
"Compared to the old Acela, the new train has 27% more seats and can travel 10 miles per hour faster, with a top speed of 160 miles per hour, according to Amtrak. The business-class seating cars had the same layout, but the NextGen Acela had more modern interiors. When I stepped aboard the new train, I noticed the seating arrangement hadn't changed. It was still two sets of two seats on either side of the car."
Amtrak launched the NextGen Acela in August 2025 as a high-speed upgrade to the Northeast express service. The NextGen features a sleek, rounded exterior with sports car-like headlights and shiny paint. The new fleet offers 27% more seats and a top speed of 160 mph, about 10 mph faster than the older model. Business-class seating retains a two-by-two layout but includes more modern interiors, exposed overhead bins for brighter space, softer seats, and smoother ride feel. Example fares cited: $120 business-class NYC–Baltimore on the older Acela in 2022 and $180 NYC–Washington, DC on the NextGen in 2025.
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