Amtrak offers first-class seating on just a single train: the Acela, a Northeast express service featuring business and first-class cars with no coach section.
In 2022, I took a $270 first-class Acela trip from New York City to Baltimore and concluded the upgrade wasn’t justified. Yet I’m an Amtrak enthusiast — I’ve logged over 150 hours traversing the country on its rails.
So when Amtrak launched the NextGen Acela in August 2025, a brand-new fleet for the same route, I was eager to see if the first-class experience had evolved. I booked a Washington, DC, to New York City journey less than a month after the debut. The fare was $450 at the time, though a recent check shows the same trip for $275 when booked three weeks ahead.
The new train wowed me with its sleek, modern aesthetic, comfortable seating, and enhanced amenities. Ultimately, though, my verdict held: Amtrak first class still doesn’t justify the price tag.
The rail operator disagreed with my assessment, noting strong customer demand.
“Amtrak is setting records and experiencing historic demand for rail travel, and customers continue to respond positively to the experience, particularly on NextGen Acela and in First Class,” Amtrak interim chief commercial officer Dev Koushik said in a statement to Themoneytimes.
The cost and perks of upgrading to first class were nearly identical on both trains.
On both Acela versions, my first-class tickets cost more than double the standard business-class fare.
The added benefits were also the same: a larger seat with extra legroom, access to Amtrak station lounges, priority boarding, attendant service, and an included meal. Amtrak rewards members also earn more points when booking first class.
The new Amtrak Acela train looked futuristic compared to the older model.
The NextGen Acela was sleeker and more vibrant than the previous fleet.
Instead of silver, the new train’s glossy white exterior provided a sharper contrast to the red-and-white accents.
It also featured a rounder profile than the old train, making the front carriage resemble a sports car or spaceship.
The new first-class car had a fresh color palette and modern upgrades.
Both cars had a 2-1 seating configuration (two seats on one side of the aisle, one on the other). But the neutral-toned seats with red accents on the new train felt more contemporary than the old Acela.
The NextGen Acela also added ceiling-mounted screens with route details and eliminated overhead bin doors, removing the guesswork when retrieving luggage at your stop.
Once seated, I also noticed fabric curtains had been replaced with retractable window shades.
The old seat was thicker, but the new seat was more comfortable.
On the older train, my seat was bulky and less comfortable than it appeared. Though the new train’s seat looked much thinner, it was taller with deeper, wider cushions.
I found the NextGen seat significantly more comfortable, with softer padding and a winged headrest.
An Amtrak representative told Themoneytimes that the seat pitch — the amount of legroom — is identical in both cars.
The placement of amenities made more sense in the new seat.
Experiencing both seats highlighted the efficient design of the new train’s amenities. While reading lights on the old train were overhead like on a plane, the NextGen Acela featured headrest lights.
Both seats had power outlets, but the older one had two wall plugs, making it awkward for the aisle-seat passenger to charge devices. I was impressed that the NextGen Acela placed outlets between the seats.
Both tickets included a meal on board. The meal on the new train was elevated.
Breakfast was served on the first ride, lunch on the second. On both trains, I received a menu with several options.
On the first ride, I ordered a fresh fruit plate with a croissant. It wasn’t bad, but tasted like something from a budget diner. The fruit was juicy and flavorful, while the croissant tasted less fresh. Still, it satisfied my hunger.
On the second ride, I ordered charred bobo chicken with verde sauce and a hard roll. It tasted like it came from an upscale restaurant, with complementary flavor and texture pairings — the crispy, savory chicken balanced by the softness and sweetness of the roasted acorn squash side. The verde sauce added a refreshing twist, and the meal concluded with a cup of Key lime pie.
A few differences between these rides had nothing to do with class, like the café cars.
Everyone has access to the cafĂ© car on Amtrak trains, so this isn’t specific to first class.
Still, it’s worth noting the NextGen Acela’s cafĂ© car was far more stylish, evoking a classic retro diner. The new cafĂ© car also added a self-service grab-and-go station with premade meals.
The new train also had faster WiFi.
Both trains offered WiFi, but on the older train it wasn’t fast enough for video streaming. On the new train, I watched YouTube seamlessly with 5G WiFi.
The bathrooms on both trains were no different between business and first-class cars.
Both bathrooms were spacious with lit mirrors, but the new one received a modern makeover with brighter accents, automatic doors, and touch-free handwashing and drying. These fresh details made the new bathroom feel slightly luxurious.
Still, there were no differences between first and business-class bathrooms on either train.
The second ride felt smoother than the first.
My first ride was as bumpy as any other train I’ve taken. Parts felt like rolling over jagged rocks as the car rattled.
I was surprised by how smooth the second ride felt. The NextGen Acela has an innovative tilt system that allows cars to lean into turns and on curvy tracks at a steady speed. Bumps felt more like rolling over gentle hills.
Although my arrival times were similar on both trains, the NextGen Acela can travel 10 mph faster than the old fleet. With a top speed of 160 mph, it’s the fastest train in the US.
The Amtrak NextGen Acela nailed the first-class experience for me. Still, that wasn’t enough to make it worth the upgrade.
I couldn’t have asked for a more comfortable seat or a better meal on the rails. I also appreciated features all NextGen Acela passengers enjoy, like the modern bathrooms, cafĂ© car, and overall smoother ride.
I don’t think the premium class needs improvements beyond the price point. After riding in both classes, I found that even at its peak, first-class perks and comforts simply aren’t worth paying twice the price of business class, where I had a slightly smaller seat that was similarly comfortable.
At the same time, I would place a bid for a premium seat.
Amtrak’s BidUp program allows passengers to bid on open seats in premium cabins for a chance to upgrade.
Koushik told Themoneytimes that more than 45,000 Amtrak riders have used the program to snag a first-class seat at a lower price so far this year.
“We continue to introduce service enhancements that make the First Class experience even more special,” Koushik added.
With so many improvements on the new train, I could certainly see myself making an offer on a first-class seat on the NextGen Acela in the future, but I doubt I’ll ever pay full price again.