Amtrak tries out high-speed rail line
Acela Express from New York to Washington
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Friday, August 10, 2007
WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) - The morning train ride between New York and Washington just got 10 minutes shorter.Amtrak recently began offering once-a-day Acela Express service between the two cities that stops only in Philadelphia. The move shaves 6 percent off the trip time of a standard five-stop ride, which takes 2 hours and 45 minutes.
The special weekday Acela service, which is intended to appeal to business travelers, was quietly added to Amtrak's schedule in July.
"We wanted to make sure that we could consistently meet the schedule" before promoting the service later this year, Amtrak spokeswoman Karina Romero said.
Amtrak will not charge more for the service, Romero said, and at the moment only one roundtrip per day is planned.
Passenger demand statistics for the new service are not yet available, though Acela riders interviewed Thursday at Washington's Union Station had mixed opinions.
The new weekday one-stop service leaves New York's Penn Station at 6:50 a.m., stops in Philadelphia at 7:53 a.m. and arrives at Washington's Union Station at 9:25 a.m. In the evening, it leaves Washington at 3:55 p.m., stops in Philadelphia at 5:20 p.m. and arrives in New York at 6:30 p.m.
