First time on the Avelia (next-gen Acela) today, you can almost mistake it for civilized rail on the stretch just outside of Boston. Doesn't last long at all, though, once you hit Connecticut you're basically at Northeast Regional speeds anyway 😭
@SnoopJ whoa! That's the kind of speed that the Lincoln service in Illinois should have (though that would require getting freight out of the way and fixing all the rural IL crossings, changing them all away from at-grade).
Oct 9, 2026, 4:06 PM@SnoopJ Ah, Amtrak. I think I've told the tale of the one time I've taken American rail (LA to Oceanside, which is like a 2-hour drive).
Think it was 14 hours all told, with all the waits for freight trains.
Hope you have a better time.
@Two9A thankfully the Northeast Corridor is much less volatile than other parts of their system (no doubt because it serves the interest of those who have the power to influence it!)
It's been smooth sailing today, I think we had one slow stretch waiting on signal priority, but it wasn't even a stop and hold
@SnoopJ I'm always tickled by how the country's fastest rail segment is basically only in...Rhode Island
Oct 9, 2026, 9:45 PMMost of the route in MA is pretty fast too. Once it’s out of route 128 it reaches peak speed I think
I’ve heard the seats on the next gen Acela aren’t very comfortable…