Originally Posted by
paytonc
Each new train has 27% more seats, and there will be
28 Avelia trainsets vs. the 15 Original Acelas still in operation. So combined, there will be 137% more seats to sell -- which pretty much guarantees that prices will fall. That won't be anytime in the immediate future; only two Avelias are currently on the schedule, not even enough to replace the five OG Acelas that have been forcibly retired. But we could see the return of
the $69 base fare for NYP-WAS, vs. the current $85.
The seat itself scooches forward. However, only the very lowest part of the back slides with it, so you end up slouching rather than reclining. I didn't find it comfortable.
FWIW, Amtrak has stopped using the "Avelia" branding. It's exclusively called "NextGen Acela" now. There are five NextGen sets certified for public operation. Currently, there are two round-trips on weekdays, with the other sets being held as spares. I'm told that in the next month or so there will be additional trips scheduled as more sets are certified. Speculation is two new sets per month for the next year, with all 28 available in late 2027.