On Acela's 10-year Anniversary, Amtrak Looks Forward

"Acela has come of age as a popular alternative to flights or traversing Interstate 95 along the busy Northeast Corridor."

Patrons are for the most part pleased with the service (take the poll; 66% 'excellent' approval rating as of Dec. 15, 2010) but recognize that the trip is still longer than its competition - air shuttles.

"Amtrak's long-range vision (PDF) increases speeds of up to 220 miles per hour - cutting the trip from Washington to Boston from six and a half to just three hours and 20 minutes."

"Each Acela train has about 260 business class seats and 40 first-class seats with reclining leather chairs and tables in each car. [View 17-slide photogallery, includes Chinese high speed train.] An average of about 72 percent of the train's seats were sold on peak segments and 60 percent on all segments - figures that have improved substantially over the past five years, according to data from the rail agency."

Thanks to Kenyon Karl