A press release from Amtrak; April 16, 2019:
More Saturday service will be available beginning in May
WASHINGTON – Weekend travelers will soon have more high-speed rail options along the Northeast Corridor (NEC) between Boston, New York, and Washington, D.C., as Amtrak expands its popular Acela Express service with an additional round trip on Saturday. These changes will go into effect beginning on May 4, 2019. Tickets are now available for sale at Amtrak.com, via the mobile apps, and through other sales channels.
“Amtrak continuously works to be responsive to customer feedback and looks for opportunities to expand our highly popular Acela Express service between Boston, New York, and Washington,” said Amtrak President & CEO Richard Anderson.
The increase in Acela Express service on Saturdays is in direct response to customer requests. Beginning on May 4, Train 2252 will depart Washington, D.C. mid-morning and Train 2255 will depart Boston in the early afternoon, filling gaps in the current schedule. Regular, scheduled service on the weekends will continue.
“These additional departures aim to serve our customers’ needs as we prepare for the roll-out of our next generation Acela Express service beginning in 2021,” added Anderson.
The new Acela Express fleet, scheduled to begin entering service in the NEC in 2021, will provide travelers with world-class accommodations and amenities, along with a smoother and even more comfortable ride. Additionally, the new modern trainsets will accommodate 386 passengers, an increase of nearly 30%, while preserving the spacious, high-end comfort of the current Acela Express service that customers enjoy today.
The prototype of the new trainsets, in production at Alstom’s manufacturing plant in Hornell, N.Y., are scheduled to be ready this year, with the first train entering service in 2021. All the trainsets are expected to be in service by the end of 2022.