• Amtrak launched a new high-speed Acela train in August 2025. • I rode business class on the old Acela in 2022 and again in 2025 on the new train. • The NextGen Acela featured a sleek new design, more comfortable seats, and elevated amenities.

The seats were softer, the car was brighter, and the rails felt smoother. I was able to fully appreciate Amtrak's brand-new Acela train because I'd ridden the old one.

The Amtrak Acela is an express service in the Northeast with only business and first-class seating. I rode it for the first time from my home in NYC to Baltimore in 2022 and paid $120 for a business-class ticket.

Cut to three years later — Amtrak launched its new NextGen Acela fleet in August. I wanted to see how it compared to the older model, so I booked a $180 business-class

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