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I will be on the Acela in First Class with the new menus soon. I looked them up, and I love at least one of the breakfast choices on each menu. For the lunch choices, however, only one of the menus had anything I would eat. And of course I’ll be on during lunch hours!

Is it possible to ask for a breakfast entree instead of a lunch/dinner one even if it’s lunch/dinner hours?

Also, what is the new dessert? Is it that delicious crème brûlée or is it a new dessert?

Thanks.😊
 
MARC Rider said:
The day before we returned, I got an email from Amtrak saying something about "check in" for the Acela. I ignored it and had no problem boarding the Acela at South station and having my ticket scanned. When we go to New York, all of the people boarding were taking out their phones and taking pictures of their seat numbers on the overhead rack. I asked one of them who was sitting next to us about it, and he said that he had gotten an email from Amtrak describing this new "check-in" requirement. They seemed to be some problems getting it to work, and when the conductor came by, he said he didn't know anything about this, and just scanned everybody's tickets, except mine, .of course, because my ticket has disappeared from the app. Don't know what that was about. I'm taking another trip at the end of the month, so I'll see if they still have it.
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I'm going to state that this is my opinion.

The check in is a way for Amtrak to attempt tp eliminate the AC job. The Conductor who worked FC on this train did the right thing and justified his or her job.
Mystic River Dragon said:
I have a question about Acela meals but will post it separately since it’s not related to the ticket discussion here.
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Keep in mind that this thread is "Acela Discussion", so feel free to post it! :)
 
Mystic River Dragon said:
Thanks, that is good information. I had the same thing happen even with a paper ticket the last time I was on a Regional, so it’s not just the Acela. The conductor scanned my ticket when I boarded, and it was fine. When the new conductor at NYP scanned it, it didn’t come up and he had to go look me up somewhere and it was fine.

I will be on the Acela First Class soon after quite a while, but I will be able to start at a lounge and confirm things there and get them to print me out an “official ticket printed from the lounge” as backup. I sincerely hope that is good enough!

I have a question about Acela meals but will post it separately since it’s not related to the ticket discussion here.
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There have been occasional issues with tickets disappearing from the app after departure (I think I've had it happen once or twice). Of course, if you've got the email handy, that usually helps as well...
 
Mystic River Dragon said:
I will be on the Acela in First Class with the new menus soon. I looked them up, and I love at least one of the breakfast choices on each menu. For the lunch choices, however, only one of the menus had anything I would eat. And of course I’ll be on during lunch hours!

Is it possible to ask for a breakfast entree instead of a lunch/dinner one even if it’s lunch/dinner hours?

Also, what is the new dessert? Is it that delicious crème brûlée or is it a new dessert?

Thanks.😊
Click to expand...
You can always ask, there may or may not be any left on board. They usually exchange entree carts at NYP.
 
Is Alcohol served on morning Acela first class? I wouldn't expect beer, but maybe a morning cocktail (or two)? I remember I was in FC many years ago, and boarded at Newark around 11AM (northbound); was told by the attendant they don't break out the wine until lunch time (wine isn't really a morning drink, though).
 
OBS said:
You can always ask, there may or may not be any left on board. They usually exchange entree carts at NYP.
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Thanks! I ended up trying a lunch after all, so for others choosing a meal from this menu, here’s what I thought.

I don’t eat meat often, but after eliminating the other meals for various reasons, I did choose the beef bourguignon. It was quite good.

I got thrown off by all the French and trendy restaurant speak in the description, but it’s essentially a pretty basic dish—pieces of beef, some carrots, mushrooms, and tiny (pearl?) onions, all in the juice, and a side of delicious mashed potatoes.

Dessert was tiramisu and pretty good.
 
Mystic River Dragon said:
Thanks! I ended up trying a lunch after all, so for others choosing a meal from this menu, here’s what I thought.

I don’t eat meat often, but after eliminating the other meals for various reasons, I did choose the beef bourguignon. It was quite good.

I got thrown off by all the French and trendy restaurant speak in the description, but it’s essentially a pretty basic dish—pieces of beef, some carrots, mushrooms, and tiny (pearl?) onions, all in the juice, and a side of delicious mashed potatoes.

Dessert was tiramisu and pretty good.
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I'm slightly grouchy - I took the train on Ash Wednesday, so I couldn't really do the beef. The tuna was quite good, however, if a bit on the small side (which actually suited the day just fine).
 
Anderson said:
I'm slightly grouchy - I took the train on Ash Wednesday, so I couldn't really do the beef. The tuna was quite good, however, if a bit on the small side (which actually suited the day just fine).
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I will say that the previous cycles of menus had a lasagna on it, and that was one of the best dishes I've ever had on Acela in FC. Kinda wish they kept that.

New menus are coming around May IINM.
 
MARC Rider said:
Just passed New Rochelle. We actually hit 78 mph on Metro North.!
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Is that the result of the ongoing work on NEC between NYP and Connecticut (the Hell Gate project)? Which I think they only did in one direction during the overnight shutdowns last summer (which was why 65/66/67 were suspended north of NYP)? Work continued without a complete overnight shutdown throughout the fall, which is why the 66 waits at NYP for 3-4 hours instead of less than an hour like it used to. The original plan was to shut down again to work on the tracks in the other direction this summer (2024), but I don't know if that is still the plan.
 
John Santos said:
Is that the result of the ongoing work on NEC between NYP and Connecticut (the Hell Gate project)? Which I think they only did in one direction during the overnight shutdowns last summer (which was why 65/66/67 were suspended north of NYP)? Work continued without a complete overnight shutdown throughout the fall, which is why the 66 waits at NYP for 3-4 hours instead of less than an hour like it used to. The original plan was to shut down again to work on the tracks in the other direction this summer (2024), but I don't know if that is still the plan.
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The Hell Gate Line is not Metro North. It is Amtrak.
 
nferr said:
That's the only short stretch on the New haven line in in Metro North territory where the commuter trains hit that speed.
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All of it in NY State I believe. Used to be 90mph. Then it was reduced after there were some issues on MNRR. Don't know what it has been set at since after that issue was cleared. Maybe @Dutchrailnut has more definitive info.
 
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Just a few notes on my most recent Acela trip to/from Boston. The trains ran on time in both directions (Southbound, at least into New York, where I am typing this) Did BOS-NYP in 3:45, just as scheduled. Then a mechanical problem with a door is causing a10+ mute delay out of New York. Make that a 30-minute delay out of New York. A door wouldn't fully close, so the conductor said. They tried to fix it, but they couldn't, so they just emptied the car affected and put them in extra seats in the other partd of the train. Sorry make t Seemed like more 70+ mph running between New Haven and New Rochelle than usual. The First Class car was close to full from Boston (most got on at Back Bay, some more at Providence) Nearly all got off in New York, and the car refilled with passengers heading south. It was a little different from my trip in January when there seemed to be more people traveling through New York.

Of course, this being AU, something has to be said about the food, pretty good selections on the southbound. The northbound had a different menu, and I wasn't so enamored of the omelet I had for breakfast. Southbound, The choices were better.

20240305_125529.jpg20240305_133409.jpgThe shrimp and grits were pretty good, if a bit spicy.

20240305_172504.jpg The lamb tagine wasn't bad, but it could have had a bit more lamb. Notice the bourbon pour. Generous, but not the heroic pour to the rim of the glass I used to get before the Pandemic.

Operationally, it was interesting that 2150 doesn't stop at New Haven, and 2167 doesn't stop at Newark (NJ).
 
MARC Rider said:
Just a few notes on my most recent Acela trip to/from Boston. The trains ran on time in both directions (Southbound, at least into New York, where I am typing this) Did BOS-NYP in 3:45, just as scheduled. Then a mechanical problem with a door is causing a10+ mute delay out of New York. Make that a 30-minute delay out of New York. A door wouldn't fully close, so the conductor said. They tried to fix it, but they couldn't, so they just emptied the car affected and put them in extra seats in the other partd of the train. Sorry make t Seemed like more 70+ mph running between New Haven and New Rochelle than usual. The First Class car was close to full from Boston (most got on at Back Bay, some more at Providence) Nearly all got off in New York, and the car refilled with passengers heading south. It was a little different from my trip in January when there seemed to be more people traveling through New York.

Of course, this being AU, something has to be said about the food, pretty good selections on the southbound. The northbound had a different menu, and I wasn't so enamored of the omelet I had for breakfast. Southbound, The choices were better.

View attachment 36028View attachment 36029The shrimp and grits were pretty good, if a bit spicy.

View attachment 36030 The lamb tagine wasn't bad, but it could have had a bit more lamb. Notice the bourbon pour. Generous, but not the heroic pour to the rim of the glass I used to get before the Pandemic.

Operationally, it was interesting that 2150 doesn't stop at New Haven, and 2167 doesn't stop at Newark (NJ).
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Oh, by the way, we left New York 30 minutes late because the door on the Quiet car couldn't close properly, but we got into Baltimore only 20 minutes late.
 
Acela150 said:
Interesting hearing you say something about the stops that 2150/2167 do and don’t make. Some Acela trains don’t make NWK, NHV, STM, and even WIL.

I’ll also add that the schedules have a lot of padding between WIL and BAL these days.
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Currently 2121/2170 do not stop at WIL. Previously 2163 was the southbound that did not stop.
It messes me up when I look to see what time 2121 left or is expected to leave WIL so I know when to look for it's headlight. :D
 
VentureForth said:
The fastest Nozomi is 2 hours and 25 minutes. You're giving a 20% improvement that doesn't exist. Amtrak spends BILLIONS to save 6 minutes on the NEC. the current proposed time from Tokyo to Osaka on MagLev is 67 minutes. That's a 54% time reduction (vs 44% if Nozomi was 2 hours). Even if it was only 2 hours, that's a HUGE time savings. The fastest flight is 65 minutes WITHOUT considering security and boarding times. I don't consider transit to the airport because you'd have to travel to the train station, too.

When you are talking about the sheer number of people who travel between these two locations, just having the extra land-based capacity (never mind speed) is a welcome addition, especially since it takes a significantly different route, allowing the incorporation of some previously underserved inland municipalities.

Overall, I can't wait to see this happen. When Shinkansen first opened back in 1967, it took 4 hours to get from Tokyo to Osaka. Today, it makes the trip in 60% of that time. I don't think we can comprehend future unknown technologies that could bring the 67 maglev trip down by another 40% - all with the potential of not using fossil fuels.

Nuclear power, hydroelectric power, wind farms, etc. can't propel an aircraft with 350 passengers those 500 km. I'm about as far right as this forum can tolerate, but I believe that we should do the best we can to preserve fossil fuels for routes that absolutely cannot be powered otherwise. I'm 1000% in for Maglev in Japan, China, but mostly here in the US. We are SO far behind. China is taking us to lunch on next gen power tech and utilizing it for transit. I prefer that the technology is developed and shared by a democratic ally of the USA.
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From what I recall from plans 10-15 years ago, there *are* some cheaper time savings to be had (don't forget that the Acelas were running like 10 minutes faster back in '18 or '19, and I legitimately speculated that a nonstop time of 2:30 WAS-NYP was in sight w/improvements and new trains, and that was a possible knockout blow to the DCA-NYC shuttle flights).
 
Anderson said:
From what I recall from plans 10-15 years ago, there *are* some cheaper time savings to be had (don't forget that the Acelas were running like 10 minutes faster back in '18 or '19, and I legitimately speculated that a nonstop time of 2:30 WAS-NYP was in sight w/improvements and new trains, and that was a possible knockout blow to the DCA-NYC shuttle flights).
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Amtrak already carries 75% of NY-WAS air+rail traffic, even with the current "slow" schedules. You'll never eliminate all NY-WAS air traffic, because some people are flying to make connecting flights, or maybe their final destination is near the airport. Where they need to speed up the service is NY - BOS, and the first thing they need to do is get consistent 70 mph service between New Haven and New Rochelle, but that will require the cooperation of Metro North and the State of Connecticut. No maglevs needed.
 

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