I’ve spent 100 hours on Amtrak trains. No seat has been more comfortable, no complimentary meal more upscale, and no bathroom more pleasant than my recent ride in first class on the NextGen Acela train.
Still, it wasn’t worth the price.
I spent $450 to ride in first class on Amtrak’s NextGen Acela train from Washington, DC, to New York City.
The Amtrak Acela is a high-speed express train that runs between Massachusetts and Washington, DC. The NextGen Acela is a new fleet launched in August 2025 that reaches up to 160 miles per hour — faster than any other train in the US.
Acela trains have only business- and first-class seating. A business-class ticket on the same route would have cost $180.
My $450 first-class ticket included a more comfortable seat with extra legroom, a meal and attendant service, priority boarding, and access to the Amtrak Metropolitan Lounge at stations that have them, which include New York City, Boston, and Washington, DC, among others.
When I got to Union Station in Washington, DC, I headed straight to the Amtrak Metropolitan Lounge.
I arrived at Union Station about an hour before my train departed. I spent most of it in the Amtrak Metropolitan Lounge, which is free to access for first-class passengers, while others can pay $35 to get in.
I rang a doorbell to enter the space. Inside, I found two tiers of comfy seating. There was also a clean bathroom free of lines. Unlike the rest of the train station, the lounge was quiet and calm.
There was a variety of complimentary snacks and refreshments.
The lounge was stocked with bananas, oranges, and classic snacks like Milano and Famous Amos cookies, Miss Vickies potato chips, Boom Chicka Pop popcorn, and Rold Gold pretzels.
There was also an espresso machine and a fridge stocked with soda, juices, and bottled water.
I appreciated all of these perks of the lounge, but I wouldn’t pay $35 to access it if I hadn’t booked a first-class ticket.
After grabbing some refreshments in the lounge, I headed to the priority boarding line.
I hung out in the lounge until about 10 minutes before departure.
I was still among the first to board because I used the priority boarding lane reserved for first-class passengers. There were only about 10 passengers in front of me when I got in line.
Inside the first-class car, there were pairs of seats on one side of the aisle and a single row on the other.
I was able to select my seat when I booked my ticket. There weren’t any more seats available in the single row, but I think this is a great perk of first class.
Business-class cars have two rows of seats on either side of the aisle.
This was the most comfortable Amtrak seat I’d ever sat in.
A cushy, supportive back with a winged headrest, two soft yet firm armrests, and a deep recline made this the coziest Amtrak seat I’d ever sat in — not to mention the footrest and ample legroom.
First-class seats on the Amtrak NextGen Acela train are 21 inches wide with a 42-inch seat pitch, a representative of the train line told Business Insider.
There were also convenient amenities like a reading light on the headrest, power outlets between seats, and a cupholder that stuck out of the tray table in front of me.
Business-class seats on the same train have all the same amenities, but they’re 20 inches wide with a 39-inch seat pitch.
My ticket included lunch on board. Once in my seat, I browsed the menu.
Only first-class tickets on this train include a complimentary meal and attendant service. Business-class passengers may purchase snacks and quick meals from the café car.
I had four lunch options, including a salad, a fruit-and-cheese plate, and Korean barbecue short ribs, but I went with the special — charred Bobo chicken with a verde sauce, and a hard roll.
I’d never seen a special on an Amtrak menu before, so I was excited to try it.
The special felt like a dish I’d order at an upscale restaurant.
The first thing I noticed was the presentation of my lunch. Unlike most Amtrak meals I’ve had, which were served on plastic plates or in paper boxes, this dish was on glass plates with metal silverware wrapped in a cloth napkin.
The meal itself was much better than I anticipated based on my previous Amtrak experiences. The chicken was crispy and flavorful, and the roasted acorn squash added a complementary soft texture and sweetness. The verde sauce was refreshing, and the Key-lime pie dessert I didn’t know I’d be getting was a satisfying way to end my lunch.
I would pay up to $35 for this dish if it were in a restaurant.
In my experience, there’s no better Amtrak bathroom than the one on the NextGen Acela.
The bathrooms on the NextGen Acela train were more modern and high-tech than any other Amtrak bathrooms I’ve been in.
The automatic door led to a spacious lavatory with a touch-free faucet, soap dispenser, and dryer. The bathrooms in the business-class cars are the same, the Amtrak rep told Business Insider.
Although it was more luxurious than any other Amtrak I’ve been on, the NextGen Acela first-class ticket wasn’t worth the price point for me.
The lounge access, larger seat, and meal made my trip extremely comfortable, but the perks weren’t worth an additional $270 compared to business class.
“Acela First Class provides an exceptional experience with Metropolitan Lounge access, boarding made easy by the dedicated car at the front of the train, spacious seating, including solo seats, and at-seat meal service, featuring the dishes of James Beard award-winning restaurateur, Stephen Starr,” an Amtrak representative told Business Insider in an email.
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