Copyright Business Insider
The Superliner, which runs west of Chicago and New Orleans, looked like a typical Amtrak train with its boxy shape, silver metal exterior, and red and blue stripes. Still, unlike other fleets I've ridden, it was two stories tall. The Superliner I took got interior upgrades earlier this year, Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari told Business Insider. The Amtrak Acela is a high-speed Northeast express train that runs from Massachusetts to Washington, DC. The NextGen Acela, the only Amtrak service with first-class seating, is the new fleet's flagship, boasting the highest top speed of any train in the US — 160 miles per hour. It looked more modern than any other Amtrak train I've seen. Its rounded shape and sleek front car reminded me of a spaceship. The roomette sleeps up to two passengers. Two comfy chairs flatten to form the bottom bunk, and another bed lowers from the ceiling. Additional amenities include a tiny closet, a mirror, and a pullout table, as well as reading lights, power outlets, and room temperature controls. My Acela ticket only included one meal, which made sense considering that the ride was only three hours long. It was the best meal I've had on an Amtrak train. A charred chicken thigh paired with roasted acorn squash tasted fresh, and the flavors were complementary — especially when dipped in the verde sauce. The hard roll and Key-lime pie dessert finished the job of filling me up. I also noticed that the presentation was elevated compared to the roomette meals, with plates and glassware instead of plastic dishes. A curved sliding door opened to reveal a spacious bathroom with red accents. There was a small shelf next to the brightly lit mirror. I appreciated the high-tech amenities, including touch-free water, soap, and dryer dispensers, as well as lights that indicated when the room was occupied. "We dynamically revenue manage all departures per demand, regardless of the equipment type used for any given departure," an Amtrak representative told Business Insider in an email. Although the Acela was more modern, served a better meal, and provided WiFi, I didn't think it was luxurious enough to be worth more than my tiny, moving hotel room on the overnight ride across the Southwest.
