Hi all,

My wife and I are planning a quick trip to Baltimore, MD from Wilmington, DE next weekend. I am familiar with both trains, but not sure on seat pitch and recline. Can anyone comment on the differences?

Thanks for the help!

JG

Depending on what equipment Amtrak throws onto your Regional, Business seats might be superior to Acela First. Regional Business generally has a 2-2 configuration with footrests (and sometimes calfrests), and seat pitch approaching 50". However, a former "Club" car may be used, giving you giant leather seats in a 2-1 configuration, even more legroom, a great degree of recline, and cupholders between paired seats. These cars have bar none the nicest seats on any Amtrak equipment anywhere. They're most likely to appear on trains with two-digit train numbers, but can crop up anytime. Sometimes regular coach seating will include such cars, making Regional coach nicer than Business!

Acela First does have a 2-1 configuration, but the seats are no wider than the 2-2 configured seats in Acela Business. Seat pitch is probably about 60", and footrests are included. Amtrak is in the process of converting Acela First seats to leather upholstery, but that does not of course make up for the lack of extra width or lack of calfrests.

Where Acela First really shines is the personalized service, meals, booze, and ClubAcela access.

Hope this answers your question!

I don't know the numbers for the regional cars, but I don't believe that the seat pitch is 50", especially in the 2 by 2 cars. It might be in the Club-Dinette cars that have 2 & 1 seating, but even then I think that 50" is pushing it. I'd guess that it's closer to 40".

Acela First class seats are indeed wider than the 2 & 2 BC seats. There isn't a huge difference, only 2 inches wider, but they absolutely are wider! I'm also not sure where you're getting your pitch numbers for any of these cars, as that 60" is a huge number.

Here are the Acela demensions:

First Class:

Seat Height 31"
Seat Width 23"
Seat Pitch 42"

Business Class:

Seat Height 31"
Seat Width 21"
Seat Pitch 42"

The Acela numbers, as well as pictures and other info can be found in this interactive at Amtrak's website.

Agreed! Although some FC crews can be weak in that personalized service.

I am a frequent WAS - NYP Amtrak rider for many years

As a very high milage flyer forever I enjoy the relaxed

"no security" quick boarding (senior) aspects of the train

I have had many opportunies to travel on virtually all

the different car styles and vintages and find that the

more recently refurbished "blue seat" cars on the NE

Corridor "regional service" to be the most comfortable

and are equipped with A/C outlets at each set of seats

Online advance purchase when possible offers savings

Chic

My apologies for misstating some of the numbers. My upper legs are quite short, so even cramped seats are fine for me and I do tend to overestimate seat pitch.

As for Acela FC seats being 2" wider, that honestly is news to me. I have not found the difference to be discernible, possibly because a 21" width is already quite generous as it is. This might make a difference to a larger person.

Guess I should stick to the anecdotes and avoid numerical guesstimations from now on!

From Wilmington, DE to Baltimore, MD, it shouldn't make much of a difference- regardless, I'd take the Acela Express just because it's a nicer train than those '70s Amfleet cars.

__________________________________________________ ___________

Those '70s coaches were heavier and are still smoother riding than the
newer Bombardier crappy cars with bad wheels that won't last long

Some older 50s & 60s coaches are still around and are better riding yet

I used to live on a show train (true story)

Chic

Fair point; however, I absolutely loathe those Amfleet cars because the windows are so tiny. I understand one reason for having small windows was because of rock-throwers along the Northeast Corridor. What a bummer of a reason to have unpleasant equipment.

If you sit in the row that's at the trailing edge of a window
pair (they are all pairs) you have plenty of viewing angle

The window dimensions (going back to about 1948) had
more to do with car construction and FRA regs
They are of half inch polycarbonite (Lexan) and cannot be
broken by rocks (or anything else)

Chic

Is there any news on the leather seating that was scheduled for "early 2007" yet still is nowhere to be seen?

I can't find the story where I read that two trainsets were in the shop for an overhaul, which I believe will include the new faux leather seating in First Class.

To close this out - we were lucky enough to have a former club car (2-1 with leather seats) on the way down, but ended up with a coach car with a 'Business Class' paper taped over it for the ride home. 2-2 with blue cloth seats. No big deal, though. It was still very quiet ride.

Thanks all for the help.

JG

AlanB: Didn't you (or maybe it was someone else) mention that if you complain to Amtrak about getting a standard coach car for business class, they'll refund part of the upgrade or something?

Jumpeddie--might be worth looking into, unless it really didn't bother you...

I can't say that I recall saying that, but they might give you something back.

WIL to BAL is about at 45 minute ride. If you don't care about price just take the train that fits your schedule the best. While some seats may be nicer than others your only on the train for 45 minute ride is insignificant.

Just wondering how long do you have to be on an Acela in FC to get meal service? I think in theory is any ride but if your only on it for 20-25 minutes will they still give it to you?