Acela

The Acela connects Boston, MA and Washington, DC over a 457-mile route operated by Amtrak, calling at 16 stations across 9 states.

Route guide

The Acela is a acela (high-speed rail) service operated by Amtrak. Trains run Up to 20 weekday round trips over 457 miles of mainline track between Boston South Station and Washington Union Station, calling at 16 intermediate and terminal stations across 9 states. For background reading on the corridor, several archival route histories are available alongside the operator's own marketing pages.

What to watch for: Atlantic coast estuaries between New Haven and Providence; Long Island Sound vistas through Connecticut.

History & service notes

Launched in December 2000, Acela became the first high-speed rail service in North America. A new fleet of Avelia Liberty trainsets, capable of 160 mph, began phased introduction in 2024. Riders interested in pre-Amtrak operating history of the line can consult classic timetable archives for fuller context.

Equipment

Typical consist on the Acela includes avelia Liberty trainsets and legacy Acela Express sets, 2x2 First Class and 2x2 Business Class seating with Cafe car. Equipment assignments may vary by departure and season; consult the operator for the most current information.

Stops along the route

Stations are listed in geographical order from Boston to Washington. Times and exact stop sequencing depend on the specific train number and direction; refer to the operator's timetable for departures.

• Boston South Station — Boston, MA BOS
• Route 128 — Westwood, MA RTE
• Providence — Providence, RI PVD
• New Haven Union Station — New Haven, CT NHV
• Stamford — Stamford, CT STM
• New Rochelle — New Rochelle, NY NRO
• Moynihan Train Hall — New York, NY NYP
• Newark Penn Station — Newark, NJ NWK
• Metropark — Iselin, NJ MET
• Trenton Transit Center — Trenton, NJ TRE
• William H. Gray III 30th Street Station — Philadelphia, PA PHL
• Joseph R. Biden Jr. Railroad Station — Wilmington, DE WIL
• Baltimore Penn Station — Baltimore, MD BAL
• BWI Marshall Airport — Linthicum, MD BWI
• New Carrollton — New Carrollton, MD NCR
• Washington Union Station — Washington, DC WAS

Sample fares & travel times

Approximate one-way fare ranges and travel times for popular city pairs on this route. Fares vary widely by demand, time of booking, and class of service — these figures are reference midpoints suitable for planning, not booking. Click any pair for a fuller trip guide.

Connections & transfers

Major hubs along the route offer cross-platform transfers to other intercity and commuter services. From Boston, riders can change for connecting trains and intercity buses; the same is true at Washington. The corridor passes through cities including Boston, Westwood, and Washington, each with its own onward service map. A useful reference for cross-network connections is the consolidated national rail connection guide, updated each timetable change.