I enjoy the extra $ in my pocket on the coach regional service. It's really not very much extra time compared with the Acela.

Totally true..Acela is great and a great time saver when you are doign WAS-BOS. Other times it is just fine and works cause it is at the best time:)

No, an airplane is a great time saver for was-bos. Taking the Acela is a comfort issue, not a time issue.

And if Amtrak goes ahead with what they've announced in their employee newsletter Amtrak Ink, Acela will get even more comfortable, at least in First Class.

While no time line was given other than some time next year, in the October employee newsletter it was announced that Amtrak plans to install leather seats in the First Class car. The article doesn't say if that will mean all new seats, or if they will just be recovering the existing seats.

That same article also mentions that they plan to install WiFi on all Acela trainsets, available to all passengers regardless of whether they are in Business or First Class. Again no mention of just when this will happen other than some time next year. The article also doesn't say if it will be free or if there will be a charge, but as long as it's not a huge amount, this will make taking the train even more productive than the plane.

I really don't care if they're leather, as long long as they do something ! The seat bottoms have deteriorated so much over the past five+ years, it's like sitting on plywood. Even new padding of the same type would be just fine with me! Oh, and while they're at it, they can also re-engineer the drop down table trays. The kind that are in use on the Amtrak Cascades Talgo Train work very well.

Thanks for the info:)

Has anyone notified PETA about this? :)

Well my guess is that they'll use the same faux leather that they used on the former Metroliner Club cars, now used as Business Class cars on many trains.

I thought they only serve wine with meals in FC on Acela...there are several reference to booze...what is actually available and in what quantity? :)

Since I usually have wines, I can tell you they serve the Australian Lindemans red/white wine in small bottles, about 187 ml. FYI, the retail price of that in Costco is $4.99 for 750 ml.

I also noticed they have Amstel Light, Beck's, and Heineken beer. Maybe there are others, I just don't remember.

Also, there are some liquers, the usual ones. Maybe others can elaborate more?

I have to say, don't count on the first-class meals, there is nothing to write home about.

I actually prefer the biz class seating on regionals. I also like the extended recline and leg/calf rest. It'd be nice if they removed a few rows to give the existing seats more room and better recline.

I'm with JT, I usually have wine with my meals. However, they do have many other hard liquors available, in traditional airline style bottles.

On the menu they list, Absolut vodka, Tanqueray gin, Bacardi Rum, Dewar's scotch, Canadian Club whiskey, Courvoisier cognac, Jim Bean Black bourbon, Bailey's Irish Cream, and Kahlua.

Beers are Heineken, Sam Adams, Bass Ale, Stella Artois, and Beck's Light.

Roger that, JT. What I've learned is that if you have two or more of the white wines, then the quality of the dinner really doesn't matter any more! :D

Your next drink in Acela First class in on me then. Just tell the attendants, since they know me well. Heck, make that two drinks! :)

Come to think of it, this would be a good benefit for Amtrak to consider, or at least add to the AGR redemption list. Drink coupons!

Thanks to a short weekend trip to Washington and some time yesterday afternoon, I had the opportunity to ride Acela for the first time. I took a conventional train from Washington to Baltimore and rode back on Acela 2121.

Seats on the conventional train in Coach were cleaner and much more comfortable. On Acela, they seemed narrower with thinner cushions and were quite soiled. I thought the tray tables were, um, interesting and not necessarily in a good way. The ride quality was excellent though. Much smoother and quieter.