Any changes to Acela First Class?
 

Anyone taken Acela F since the resumption today? Are there changes to amenities/service levels? I saw speculation on a blog that meal service would be a cold boxed meal.

So here’s my experience from this week.

Union Station sad, eerie, and desolate. Almost everything closed. Lights low. Many entrances and entire corridors blocked. Very few passengers.

Club Acela all to my own until one other customer arrived. Social distancing markers and plastic shields at front desk.

Acela F had five passengers over the course of my journey. Only two of us boarded at WAS.

Single attendant. She presented a drink menu and stated lunch would be boxed.

Said box had a wood grain look and included napkins, plastic ware, wet naps, Fiji Water, Bare apple chips, Amtrak savory snack mix, Hillshire Genoa salame, white cheddar, and toast rounds small plate, and a small chocolate caramel truffle cup dessert.

Not sure I would upgrade again until things are closer to normal.

Were they serving mixed drinks as usual?

I'm not familiar with their usual alcohol menu, but this one has seven liquors, five beers, unspecified wines (said to ask server), and one sparkling wine.

The non-alcoholic drinks seem no different than before - coffee, juices, sodas, waters, teas, hot chocolate, ginger ale.

(There is a copy of the drink menu in the boxed lunch.)

I agree -- not worth the upgrade ... thanks for the report.

Sounds like something I might burn an upgrade card for (since I have a pile of those) but otherwise the experience seems to be mainly useful for a quiet ride without much company. I might seriously consider taking the train if I finally hit "stir crazy"...

Could you tell if the rest of the train was equally empty? I guess no vegetarian option on the lunch other than skipping the salami?

I started watching a movie a few minutes after getting settled, but I'd say based on the few people that passed my window (and the low numbers in the station, in general), the entire train was extremely light.

No option for lunch - other than take it or leave it. Would've preferred a healthier choice. The contents of the box probably totaled 800-1,000 calories.

I understand COVID19 situation, but what a stretch to call this "lunch".

I follow the logic of COVID food service reductions on the long hauls but why the downgrade on the Acela? Preparation equipment and staff are still there.

Agreed. And, at minimum, they could do a sandwich, salad, or hot item from the cafe. Why a box of (mostly) junk food instead?

This. In fact, even post-coronavirus, I'd prefer they just let you order from the cafe menu. Seems more efficient, and I've found the cafe food to bee marginally better than FC Acela anyway (though this is admittedly splitting hairs; neither are great).

I've taken Acela several times since June 1st, and am on it right now. About 25 people leaving WAS towards NYP. But I am in business class so I can't comment on First.

Is the snack car open?
 

Is the snack car open? I rode a Talgo train from Eugene to Portland last week. That snack car was closed.

Yes it is open on all Acela trains.