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I have wanted to try the Acela service for quite some time. I'm lucky enough to have pass privileges on Continental Airlines so on 11 February 05 I flew to Boston, did some sightseeing and spent the night at the Wyndham Boston on Broad Street. After an excellent buffet breakfast (free as a "bonus" as a Wyndham by Request Member booking online) I checked out and did the easy walk to Boston South Station in about ten minutes.
I tried the elevator to the Club Acela but it would not go up to that level. It would, however, go down to the subway/bus level. I then went around to the front entrance to the Club and hiked up the stairs. The attendant was "doing his job", but just barely. He pointed to the coffee bar and I found the computers on my own. Both needed to be rebooted which must be a frequent problem since there was a laminated instruction sheet on the desk. I checked e-mail and heard a group getting ready to leave the lounge.
This group was "with the porter" and I and several other passengers were told to wait. In about five minutes we were taken down the stairs (Perhaps the elevator is out of order) and to the track where train #2253 was waiting for it's departure.
I didn't get the consist but can tell you that the First Class Car was at the rear of the train so it was a short walk. I took a single seat on the left hand side which turned out to be great for the views along the ocean and Long Island Sound. Before we left, one car attendant (Eric) asked for tickets which he put on each headrest to make the conductor's job easier while the other attendant (T. Hodge) came around with menus and small tumblers of "Savory Cocktail Snack". She also took drink orders and lunch orders. We pulled out right on time at 11:11AM and I was enjoying the first of two Bloody Marys before we reached Route 128. The lunch menu was very nice and included Lighter Fare (Tapas including Tuscan bean salad, a skewer of olives and dried beef, peppered salami and crakers), an Italian Sub or Seared Salmon Salad. I chose the last and although the salad greens were just chopped iceberg lettuce the salmon was very good. I had two glasses (actually very large tumblers) of a nice Casa Lapostolle chardonnay. They also offered several beers, soft drinks, teas, coffee and hot chocolate.
Both attendants did a great job on this sector and later NYP-WAS. The only disappointment was that apparently Amtrak no longer offers audio entertainment although it is still mentioned on the menu.
The ride was very comfortable and the huge windows make sightseeing easy. The views of snow and frozen ponds were something unusual for this Californian. We made a longer than normal stop at New Haven where I got out to walk the train. I forgot my notebook so didn't get the engine and car numbers. I walked back through the cars and found virtually every Business Class seat full. I was very impressed by the design and cleanliness of the equipment.
We had an ontime arrival into NYP and left on time as well. It seemed odd to be in the city but to have only had a glimpse of the skyline before we went underground.
The NYP/WAS sector had a lighter load in both First and Business. The menu again featured the Tapas as lighter fare with hot entrees of pasta, seafood pie or seared beef tenderloin. I had the seafood pie, which was excellent. I was a saffron flavored cream sauce with shrimp, scallops, salmon, red peppers and green beans with a mashed potato crust topped with parmesan cheese. It came with a small salad and roll and what was listed as creme brulee for dessert. It was actually more like flan but very tasty. A couple of more tumblers of that white wine and we were into WAS Union Station a couple of minutes early. Walking the length of the train I spotted Mr. Gunn's car, Beech Grove, on Track 1 and took a picture. Using the Metro Red Line I was checked in and in my room at Jury's Doyle Hotel at Dupont Circle in less than 25 minutes.
All in all, a very impressive travel experience. It's not an inexpensive way to travel but it certainly was an enjoyable way to spend a Winter Saturday.
Frank in once again trainless SBA (No Surfliner service today because of slides/flooding near Moorpark.)
Posts: 2160 | From: Santa Barbara, CA, USA | Registered: Oct 2003
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