I'm a native Bostonian, and I'm so sorry that you had such a bad experience at Back Bay Station. When that first opened in the late 1980s, it was a gorgeous place. It was bright and open, it had cool colorful neon lights along the large arches in the main hall, it was clean and modern. It's sad to see it in such a poor state now. :(
Agree. I lived in the South End in the '80s and BB station was a real asset. Still,the statue of A. Phillip Randolph, who led the drive -- against fierce opposition -- to create the Pullman Porters Union, which lifted many African Americans into the Middle class at a time when there were few other avenues to economic advancement, is very moving.
The Amtrak Pacific Surfliner business class on the west coast is even better. Morning rides get coffee or drinks plus a (packaged) sweet roll or several. After noon, Amtrak ups the game by providing a nice "snack box" with half a dozen fun packaged snacks and an individual bottle of wine. My husband has a service dog and they welcome her onboard, she likes train travel on the Surfliner. Coastal views from the train are breathtaking, too.
Amtrak California is basically always a couple of notches better at everything than standard Amtrak. The trains are newer and better maintained. Everything you s cleaner. Even the staff is somehow nicer. California has been investing in rail for a while now and it really shows. Now California has the most popular rail lines outside of the Northeast. And they basically started from scratch 20-30 years ago. I wish the other states also started to take investment in rail seriously! If it can work in formerly car-hellscape states like California, it can work anywhere! You just need to pony up to get decent rail service!
A couple of points about some of the things in your video. The station at Back Bay is primarily a commuter rail station run by the MBTA. Amtrak closed it's ticket office in the station account the fans that were installed by the MBTA were not powerful enough to keep diesel fumes out of the station. I believe additional fans were installed and the Amtrak ticket office reopened. The MBTA, like most transit systems in the US, is grossly underfunded. The Orange line, which you showed pacing your train, is currently shut down for emergency repairs after a series of derailments, fires and other mishaps. The MBTA commuter trains system is 100 percent diesel operated. The catenary between Boston and Providence is only set up for Amtrak operation. Some of the station tracks that the MBTA uses on this line are NOT electrified nor are the MBTA yards. Further more the substations only have enough transformer capacity for Amtrak however space was left for additional transformers to be added. There are plans to electrify the MBTA system, at least on the southside, assuming they can find the money. The catenary on the Boston to New Haven line should look familiar to your European eye as it was installed by Balfour Beatty which is a UK engineering and construction firm. Not sure if BB has done any work on the SNCF. Ridership on the NEC has rebounded now that the pandemic is winding down. Almost all the trains that were dropped at the height of the pandemic have been restored. Trains are mostly back up to 9 cars (7 coaches, 1 business class and 1 snack bar car) and are now very crowded. The Amfleet cars are showing their age as they were built about the same time the SNCF Corail cars. Amtrak has been giving them a light overhaul to get a few more years out of them. New cars from Siemens based on the OBB Railjets sets are now on order. The Business Class on the NER trains is kind of a let down considering it's basically the same seats as in coach. Amtrak used to operate First Class cars with 2x1 seating and at your seat meal and beverage service on the NER trains. This service, called Amclub, was dropped when the ACELA trains started running. This was done to force anyone wanting First Class to ride the more expensive ACELA trains. Glad you enjoyed your trip.
In fairness Back Bay used to be pretty elegant. Boston South Station was a dump before they restored it as well. There's always talk of electrifying the MBTA lines but right now they have trouble just keeping the system running.
Since not all of the MBTA lines are electrified, MBTA continues to run diesels on the northeast corridor line... Keep in mind this wasn't electrified north of New Haven until Amtrak extended the northeast corridor to Boston for Acela...
I guess it also depends on the country and wether they really invested in the rail infrastructure. I know the U.S. rail service is stuck in the past compared to Europe's or Japan's. Hopefully one day this country will come to a realization that rail is superior to planes or cars.
In Europe it is also much faster if you're in Metropolitan areas. Example: Living cologne, My train takes 4h20 (5h20 door to door) to get me to my friend in Munich for mostly under 150 euros return. It would take me around 7 hours without traffic jams plus ~170 euros in fuel, not counting maintenance, regular repairs, etc. With such offers around, it's an absolute no brainer!
5 minutes in, car 82998 was originally built as an Amfleet Cafe car, then was one of some 30 café cars rebuilt to full coach, with added windows in the center of the car. Between New Haven and New Rochelle, Amtrak goes over Metro North tracks. The diesel push pull train at New Haven was one of Connecticut DOT's Shore Line East trains with cars originally from Virginia Railway Express.
You passed right by my house at 7:34, but were on the wrong side of the train to see it! I agree with your assessment of the Regional service versus Acela; the only advantage to Acela is a trip time that’s 30-60 minutes shorter, but the Acelas tend to be more crowded and less comfortable. My rule of thumb is that if my company is paying, I take Acela (the higher fares also net me more reward points), but if I’m paying, the Regional is a much better value.
Dreary Boston. I've lived through that a few times. Growing up in Rhode Island, those dreary rainy days are often a part of daily life. However, I like the coziness of the Amfleet cars. The lighting is dimmer than on a commuter train like the MBTA which gives a comfy ambience.
I’ve seen Amfleet II’s a lot more recently, and as far as the ALC-42 Leading after DC is a stretch, there hasn’t been one on the RF&P probably due to the cab signals soon not being required.
Ha. The only reason to take the Back Bay station is if you're staying in the Westin Hotel and can get there via the mall and don't have to be outside for long in the winter. When it's not the height of the pandemic, that station is packed (and watch your valuables). The Business Class (or maybe on another business class train) used to have a 2-1 configuration so it was better to take the local train to South Street Station to get on first for that single seat! I live on the east end of long island, NY, and to go to/from Boston I often park my car in Orient Point, NY walk on the ferry to New London, and then walk the 100 feet to the New London Amtrak station. it's a great service! BTW, you were on the Long Island Sound after Rhode Island, which in all fairness does lead to the ocean. :) Thanks for another great video.
@@chickenpommes19 Probably because most of the lines of the MBTA are not electrified. Only the one line owned by Amtrak is electrified. So it's just not worth buying and maintaining electric locomotives. After all diesel locomotives can run anywhere. Electric can only run on an electrified line.
There also is a completely electrified branch between Frankfurt-Hoechst and Bad Soden, Germany that used to be served by diesel trains for a long time until they got new trains a few years ago. That branch used to be part of the electrified commuter rail system, but the service was dropped because it was inconvenient, especially for the train operator. There are numerous other train lines in that area that run beneath catenary, but still use diesel trains because the branches aren‘t electrified. That’s probably also the case in other parts of Germany. The MBTA will eventually electrify its commuter rail system. It‘s only worthwhile to order the appropriate rolling stock when those can be used on multiple lines.
@@greatwolf5372 Also as to not have to pay Amtrak for the costs of using the catenary. Same reason Marc's Penn Line between DC and Baltimore is diesel (except for the few HHP-8's still in use).
That section at 9:43 will resemble France even more in a year or so, as that's one of the stretches where the Acela II / Avelia Liberty will be running at 160 mph (257 km/hr). Not quite TGV speed, but close!
One of the best things about this video is the fact I took the train at the same time in business class in late 2020 for a business trip. I got confused Coach to business until I reach Washington. I took the train from Aberdeen to Richmond. Business class is a good general class to take though if you think about it and it is quiet, one thing I did like about business class.
South Station is, I think, actually a very nice place to wait for a train. Back Bay, not so much. And as a North Shore resident I of course think the continued absence of a North-South rail link is a scandal. The challenge of getting to South Station from where I am means that for me, it's usually more convenient to get to NYC by bus--there are coaches that leave directly from local hotels, with free long-term parking offered in the hotel lot. That said, when I lived in Cambridge, I would routinely ride the regular Northeast Corridor trains (then called the "Yankee Clipper") all the way down to Washington, DC from Boston when I was visiting my family, mostly because it took no advance planning. Around Thanksgiving and Christmas, the coach trains would be standing-room-only full by the time they went through New York. The thing I've found riding those Amfleet coaches on very rainy days is that sometimes, they *leak*. I don't know how that's even possible, but I've had rainwater dripping on me in these coaches. I guess it gets caught in the corrugations on the outside, and gets in somehow?
Great video as always😊. Definitely quieter than Coach Class. Not sure if NER Business Class was doing pandemic-related limited service in Dec 2020, but (as Diane W mentioned) Pacific Surfliner Business Class typically includes a conductor coming to your seat with a free snack box of several items (e.g., nuts, hummus, crackers, cookies) along with a gratis small bottle of white or red table wine and/or a soft drink. The other perk is a guaranteed seat (open seating) so you’re assured of having one, super helpful on weekends if coach fills up and you might have to stand for a stop or two.
Because there is limited high speed track between Boston and New York, one does not get the advantage of the Acela's speed. Indeed, between New Haven and New York the speed of both the NER and the Acela are the same as the MTA commuter rail. I routinely travel between Stamford and Boston and choose the NER over the Acela. On the other hand, when traveling from Stamford to Washington, I choose the Acela. 😊
You’re actually wrong about this. There is far more 150 MPH territory between Boston and NYC than between NYC and Washington. In fact there wasn’t any 150 MPH territory south of NYC until just this year. Prior to that it was 135 MPH max for the Acela between NY and Washington. As for the comment that the speed of a NER and Acela is the same as an MTA train between New Haven and NY? That is also False. The fastest speed anywhere on the MTA New Haven line is 80 MPH. Once Amtrak trains get on to Amtrak’s Hell Gate like the max speed goes up to 100 MPH
@FFred-us9tw you can hit max speed btwn NYC and Bos but the NYC to DC trip is still faster overall than NYC to Bos. Going to Bos you spend alot of time running with Metro North when it's limited to 80 or so. NYC to DC even the regional is doing 100 - 120 mph for the bulk of the trip.
The Northeast Corridor actually has pretty good rail service by Japanese standards. Unfortunately, it is literally the only such corridor in the whole country. The other regions are slowly expanding and speeding up some of the services, but there’s nothing like the Northeast Corridor yet. It’s worth a visit to experience how rail feels in the US. Plus the Acela is getting new Alstom Horizon/Avelia TGV trains that will go 160mph rather than the current 150mph top speed. They’ll be getting these even before SNCF in France gets their Horizons, so definitely worth a ride!
When you come into NYC from the North, you go over my favorite bridge in NYC - the Hell Gate Bridge. I’m not sure if you’ve ever noted it in a video (and apologies if you have and I’ve missed it), but it is a beautiful bridge with a lot of history. It was also the inspiration for the famous Sydney Harbor Bridge among others. A great vantage point for viewing this bridge and watching trains cross it is Astoria Park in Queens. ☺️ Love your content!
The rainy weather on the Northeast Regional you encountered was the same kind of weather my son and I encountered back in August when we took the Acela from Boston to DC. We weren’t able to see the NYC skyline because of the fog.
When my father returned to the states from Europe after the Second World War he arrived in New York City on his birthday. He was supposed to arrive a day earlier, but the ship was delayed by fog...
I really like your posts. It looks like so much fun to explore all these different places and trains. I am a 71 y/o women who have always wanted to experience train travel. I live in So. Calif. and have used the train to travel south a few times, which all were very short trips. What I would like to do is travel to a not touristy place, spend a day or two (or three) and travel home again. It would be great to go to Canada this way, but I haven't figured out a way to do that via train (I do have a passport). When I researched AmTrac, I found it difficult to navigate what I am trying to accomplish. The sleeping rooms are very expensive but seem to be the most comfortable for a longer trip. Do you have any suggestions for me? (I also think about traveling through the US, however, it seems the trains stop at very large cities.)
Hi Andi, I don't know if there's a train station with an Amtrak office near you but I would suggest going there in person and just ask them there. I'm sure they'd be glad to help you figure it out. :) The website and the apps can be quite confusing.
@@paradoxparade1 Thanks for the reply. Yes the website was very confusing and didn't yield any of the information I was searching for. I was thinking I may need to get to Settle, by either plane or train and then from there catch a via Rail.....I still have a little time to figure it out!
@@andi2234 You're quite welcome, Andi. :) I live in Europe myself and the trains are much better organised here than in the US (except for the bigger cities like NYC or LA). Google Maps can give you a first idea of what your (train)trip will look like. I love Seattle by the way! All thanks to Frasier! :)
@@paradoxparade1 as someone living in Europe as well, I like that they still have train names and treat each service specially compared to my country at least, like the “Silver Star” or “Empire Builder”. Just like we in Sweden used to have “Nordpilen”, “Skåningen”, ”Bottenviken” etc. but not any more :(
@@andi2234 after a quick glance, there is the Amtrak “Coast Starlight” from LA to Seattle. Another interesting one worth checking out (on my list!) is definetly the California Zephyr and Empire Builder. One can make a triangle route of sorts with all three as well, although that would of course be a cost considering the price of US long distance rail travel.
Seats looked comfy. Sorty the weather was crappy. Back Bay Station is dreadful. MBTA commuter trains use diesel because their lines are not electrified Thank Thibault for the review😀😀💚💚
Here's a few suggestions for you to check out... Connecticut has a new line that goes from New Haven to Springfield Mass. The Amtrak route from Boston to Albany New York. The Amtrak route that goes up to Vermont.
Amtrak fares vary significantly depending upon when you book and when you travel. Like the rest of the hospitality/travel industry prices are dynamic. Simply put, the fuller the train the more expensive the fare. Even a day's difference when you travel can make a difference. Furthermore, if you join Amtrak rewards program on their website, you get notified of special promotions. Sometimes I ride for free, but not often. THERE IS NO ONE SET PRICE!
The first time I traveled on Amtrak, was fron Penn Station to Backbay, 2 of the dirtiest and more depressing Stations in the whole Amtrak system. And I remember there was a suicidal in the platform, screaming and waving, lets say my first image of the Amtrak was awful, but thankfully I give it one more try and the second time was way better, up to the point now I choose amtrak over any other transportation option 😊
Perhaps check out the 1970 film The Out-of-Towners, starring Jack Lemmon and Sandy Dennis. The two experience a nightmare. Partly on the train from Boston to New York. - Fictitious, of course.
In high school, I had a Saturday job and commuted home through a sparsely-populated South Station. One Saturday, I arrived to find ropes holding us back from the concourse. We were informed that a movie was being shot and crowds were needed and asked -- if time allowed -- to wait until the next take before heading to our trains. The appointed time came and we were instructed to walk to our trains "normally" and not look at the actors. So I did and Sandy Dennis practically ran me over! Alas, when the movie was released they had used a different take and I wound up on the cutting room floor. 😔
I’ve traveled by train since Amtrak’s inception in 1973 and firmly believe the best mode of travel is passenger train/now we must encourage the rest of America that passenger train service is not a communist fascist plot but an economically and environmentally healthy way to travel!!!
Slight nitpick, Amtrak came around in 1971. I think ‘73 is when the ill-fated SDP40F!s started showing up. I could be wrong though, and therefore reserve the right to be.
I couldn't find a comment on one thing: All along the Connecticut coast the water is Long Island Sound, an arm of, but not the actual Atlantic Ocean. It is wide enough that it might seem like an ocean, but it is protected from the Atlantic by Long Island, NY.
Just so you know, All Amfleet 1 cars and most ACS64 locomotives will be replaced between 2025 and 2029 with new Siemens Venture Trainsets as part of Amtrak's $7.3 billion deal with Siemens Mobility in July 7th 2021
At the 5:40 mark there is announcement regarding the restrooms and a reminder to please be thoughtful of other passengers while using the restrooms, but once a restroom goes out of service it will stay out of service for the remainder of the trip meaning. If a passenger goes inside the restroom and does not use the facility properly or to put it bluntly! Deposits bodily fluids and excrements on common areas and exposed on surfaces, no one is going to clean and sanitize these restrooms while the train is in route! The times have changed. it's not funny, it's sad.
I rather liked the rainy/foggy/snowy trip. Didn't Business Class have it's own bar/food once upon a time? How much longer a trip is the NER vs Acela? Didn't you terminate at the new Moynahan Station?
Back Bay station is depressing and the people who work at the Dunkin are rude. The refurbished seats on the Amfleets make a huge difference in both comfort and looks in my opinion.
There's a new effort to create an overnight Boston-Montreal sleeper train that would "take advantage" of poor track conditions to be able to go slow & take more time to cover the route. Amtrak's "Adirondack" train between NYC-Montreal has yet to be re-started since the Covid stoppage. Maybe?: video of a Boston-Albany trip that would continue from Albany north to Montreal on the "Adirondack", once the Adirondack train to Montreal resumes operation.
I am spoiled by travelling business class on Via Rail Canada,although the rail bed is rocky,the service is better than on the airlines with free drinks and a meal included with wine and liquers after dinner.
I've only ever travelled thorugh or walked past Back Bay station - and your review won't change that! As a tourist, the extra time on the NER doesn't matter over Acela, and I quite like the Amfleet vibe. You sure know you're in a staid USA. As for the side of the train, LHS for most of the trip south, switching to RHS for the Manhattan skyline only.
While it may be better than Acela Business Class, I don't think what you wind up paying is worth it unless you're a soda junkie. How many beverages can you drink to make up the difference? Other than that perk, there's not much of a difference.
My wife and I did this trip almost 10 years ago as our first trip as a couple, our hotel was next to the north end of Back Bay, being close to several T stop was also helpful. Honestly, I prefer the “slow” Northeast Regional to Acela, but I haven’t tried the new Acela train sets yet.
(16:Sep/22) Que demostración de lo que es un país de 1er. mundo. Insuperable lo mostrado, estaciones e interiores de los carros de ese ferrocarril, tanto confort e implementos para la comodidad de los pasajeros. Pero, lo que más me gustó, fueron esos carros con un 2do. piso. Ya quisiéramos tener un tren así acá en largo país, Chile🇨🇱, para viajes de larga distancia.Bueno, Soñar no cuesta tanto o más bien , nada. Tres hurras por U.S.A.🇺🇸. 👏👏👏
Chile tiene infrastructura ferroviaria y servicios de pasajeros modernos. Lo que deberíais procurar es no quemarlos y destruirlos cada vez que hay protestas callejeras. Por lo demás, no es necesario que le hagas la pelota a EE.UU. de esa manera, ten un poco de dignidad
@@osasunaitor (17/Sep/22) De donde sacaste la idea que le hago la pelota a USA y que no tengo dignidad. Simplemente es reconocer “ al Cesar lo que es del César y ...,,....”, Has generalizado una situación que no es cierto, la infraestructura ferroviaria que tiene nuestro país, está recién en una etapa incipiente, con unos trayectos recién modernizados. Que tiene de indigno el dar testimonio de una gran nación cómo USA? Amo a mi país y no por tú chovinista comentario debo ver lo bueno que tienen otros países. Tú eres un miope patriotero.
Hey Simply Railway, when are you going to make a train trip report in Southeast Asia? (Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia) Looking forward to your next train trip report there! I live in Malaysia by the way and our jungle train operated by KTM Malayan Railways are currently the most hot selling sleeper train service ever.
![Amtrak Downeaster #683 Full Ride From Boston North Station to Brunswick [8-10-20]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/67tFZBlNRWM/mqdefault.jpg)
I'm a native Bostonian, and I'm so sorry that you had such a bad experience at Back Bay Station. When that first opened in the late 1980s, it was a gorgeous place. It was bright and open, it had cool colorful neon lights along the large arches in the main hall, it was clean and modern. It's sad to see it in such a poor state now. :(
I used to work at Hancock tower and back bay station was just a homeless shelter station to us.
@@hwoarang2001¹
Agree. I lived in the South End in the '80s and BB station was a real asset. Still,the statue of A. Phillip Randolph, who led the drive -- against fierce opposition -- to create the Pullman Porters Union, which lifted many African Americans into the Middle class at a time when there were few other avenues to economic advancement, is very moving.
Ah murica murica 🇺🇸
Ah murica murica 🇺🇸
The Amtrak Pacific Surfliner business class on the west coast is even better. Morning rides get coffee or drinks plus a (packaged) sweet roll or several. After noon, Amtrak ups the game by providing a nice "snack box" with half a dozen fun packaged snacks and an individual bottle of wine. My husband has a service dog and they welcome her onboard, she likes train travel on the Surfliner. Coastal views from the train are breathtaking, too.
Love business class on the Surfliner
Amtrak California is basically always a couple of notches better at everything than standard Amtrak. The trains are newer and better maintained. Everything you s cleaner. Even the staff is somehow nicer.
California has been investing in rail for a while now and it really shows. Now California has the most popular rail lines outside of the Northeast. And they basically started from scratch 20-30 years ago. I wish the other states also started to take investment in rail seriously! If it can work in formerly car-hellscape states like California, it can work anywhere! You just need to pony up to get decent rail service!
A couple of points about some of the things in your video.
The station at Back Bay is primarily a commuter rail station run by the MBTA. Amtrak closed it's ticket office in the station account the fans that were installed by the MBTA were not powerful enough to keep diesel fumes out of the station. I believe additional fans were installed and the Amtrak ticket office reopened. The MBTA, like most transit systems in the US, is grossly underfunded. The Orange line, which you showed pacing your train, is currently shut down for emergency repairs after a series of derailments, fires and other mishaps.
The MBTA commuter trains system is 100 percent diesel operated. The catenary between Boston and Providence is only set up for Amtrak operation. Some of the station tracks that the MBTA uses on this line are NOT electrified nor are the MBTA yards. Further more the substations only have enough transformer capacity for Amtrak however space was left for additional transformers to be added. There are plans to electrify the MBTA system, at least on the southside, assuming they can find the money.
The catenary on the Boston to New Haven line should look familiar to your European eye as it was installed by Balfour Beatty which is a UK engineering and construction firm. Not sure if BB has done any work on the SNCF.
Ridership on the NEC has rebounded now that the pandemic is winding down. Almost all the trains that were dropped at the height of the pandemic have been restored. Trains are mostly back up to 9 cars (7 coaches, 1 business class and 1 snack bar car) and are now very crowded.
The Amfleet cars are showing their age as they were built about the same time the SNCF Corail cars. Amtrak has been giving them a light overhaul to get a few more years out of them. New cars from Siemens based on the OBB Railjets sets are now on order.
The Business Class on the NER trains is kind of a let down considering it's basically the same seats as in coach. Amtrak used to operate First Class cars with 2x1 seating and at your seat meal and beverage service on the NER trains. This service, called Amclub, was dropped when the ACELA trains started running. This was done to force anyone wanting First Class to ride the more expensive ACELA trains.
Glad you enjoyed your trip.
In fairness Back Bay used to be pretty elegant. Boston South Station was a dump before they restored it as well. There's always talk of electrifying the MBTA lines but right now they have trouble just keeping the system running.
Since not all of the MBTA lines are electrified, MBTA continues to run diesels on the northeast corridor line... Keep in mind this wasn't electrified north of New Haven until Amtrak extended the northeast corridor to Boston for Acela...
I don't get to travel that often, and these videos are like an escape to the world.
progen :3
Honestly Traveling by train is better than driving and getting stuck in rush hour traffic
But cars = freedom /s
I guess it also depends on the country and wether they really invested in the rail infrastructure. I know the U.S. rail service is stuck in the past compared to Europe's or Japan's. Hopefully one day this country will come to a realization that rail is superior to planes or cars.
@@tonywalters7298 freedom and constant awareness
In Europe it is also much faster if you're in Metropolitan areas.
Example: Living cologne, My train takes 4h20 (5h20 door to door) to get me to my friend in Munich for mostly under 150 euros return.
It would take me around 7 hours without traffic jams plus ~170 euros in fuel, not counting maintenance, regular repairs, etc.
With such offers around, it's an absolute no brainer!
@@tropicalsimonthirty2283 ...and semi drivers playing the "trucker game"... give us a decent cross-country high-speed rail corridor!!!
5 minutes in, car 82998 was originally built as an Amfleet Cafe car, then was one of some 30 café cars rebuilt to full coach, with added windows in the center of the car.
Between New Haven and New Rochelle, Amtrak goes over Metro North tracks. The diesel push pull train at New Haven was one of Connecticut DOT's Shore Line East trains with cars originally from Virginia Railway Express.
You passed right by my house at 7:34, but were on the wrong side of the train to see it!
I agree with your assessment of the Regional service versus Acela; the only advantage to Acela is a trip time that’s 30-60 minutes shorter, but the Acelas tend to be more crowded and less comfortable. My rule of thumb is that if my company is paying, I take Acela (the higher fares also net me more reward points), but if I’m paying, the Regional is a much better value.
Dreary Boston. I've lived through that a few times. Growing up in Rhode Island, those dreary rainy days are often a part of daily life. However, I like the coziness of the Amfleet cars. The lighting is dimmer than on a commuter train like the MBTA which gives a comfy ambience.
I’ve seen Amfleet II’s a lot more recently, and as far as the ALC-42 Leading after DC is a stretch, there hasn’t been one on the RF&P probably due to the cab signals soon not being required.
Ha. The only reason to take the Back Bay station is if you're staying in the Westin Hotel and can get there via the mall and don't have to be outside for long in the winter. When it's not the height of the pandemic, that station is packed (and watch your valuables). The Business Class (or maybe on another business class train) used to have a 2-1 configuration so it was better to take the local train to South Street Station to get on first for that single seat! I live on the east end of long island, NY, and to go to/from Boston I often park my car in Orient Point, NY walk on the ferry to New London, and then walk the 100 feet to the New London Amtrak station. it's a great service! BTW, you were on the Long Island Sound after Rhode Island, which in all fairness does lead to the ocean. :) Thanks for another great video.
In Denmark, DSB, the national state railway operator, runs diesel trains under catenary on many routes...
@@chickenpommes19 Probably because most of the lines of the MBTA are not electrified. Only the one line owned by Amtrak is electrified. So it's just not worth buying and maintaining electric locomotives. After all diesel locomotives can run anywhere. Electric can only run on an electrified line.
There also is a completely electrified branch between Frankfurt-Hoechst and Bad Soden, Germany that used to be served by diesel trains for a long time until they got new trains a few years ago. That branch used to be part of the electrified commuter rail system, but the service was dropped because it was inconvenient, especially for the train operator.
There are numerous other train lines in that area that run beneath catenary, but still use diesel trains because the branches aren‘t electrified. That’s probably also the case in other parts of Germany.
The MBTA will eventually electrify its commuter rail system. It‘s only worthwhile to order the appropriate rolling stock when those can be used on multiple lines.
@@greatwolf5372 Also as to not have to pay Amtrak for the costs of using the catenary. Same reason Marc's Penn Line between DC and Baltimore is diesel (except for the few HHP-8's still in use).
That section at 9:43 will resemble France even more in a year or so, as that's one of the stretches where the Acela II / Avelia Liberty will be running at 160 mph (257 km/hr). Not quite TGV speed, but close!
Even though it's probably not great for filming, I love rainy day train rides.
Excellent video, nice train ride and great presentation! Big LIKE
All the best from Romania
Andrew
What is the train number?
@@willgibson9718 Looks like 137
One of the best things about this video is the fact I took the train at the same time in business class in late 2020 for a business trip. I got confused Coach to business until I reach Washington. I took the train from Aberdeen to Richmond. Business class is a good general class to take though if you think about it and it is quiet, one thing I did like about business class.
South Station is, I think, actually a very nice place to wait for a train. Back Bay, not so much. And as a North Shore resident I of course think the continued absence of a North-South rail link is a scandal. The challenge of getting to South Station from where I am means that for me, it's usually more convenient to get to NYC by bus--there are coaches that leave directly from local hotels, with free long-term parking offered in the hotel lot.
That said, when I lived in Cambridge, I would routinely ride the regular Northeast Corridor trains (then called the "Yankee Clipper") all the way down to Washington, DC from Boston when I was visiting my family, mostly because it took no advance planning. Around Thanksgiving and Christmas, the coach trains would be standing-room-only full by the time they went through New York.
The thing I've found riding those Amfleet coaches on very rainy days is that sometimes, they *leak*. I don't know how that's even possible, but I've had rainwater dripping on me in these coaches. I guess it gets caught in the corrugations on the outside, and gets in somehow?
I love riding a cozy warm train dashing through the snowy landscape.
Great video as always😊. Definitely quieter than Coach Class. Not sure if NER Business Class was doing pandemic-related limited service in Dec 2020, but (as Diane W mentioned) Pacific Surfliner Business Class typically includes a conductor coming to your seat with a free snack box of several items (e.g., nuts, hummus, crackers, cookies) along with a gratis small bottle of white or red table wine and/or a soft drink. The other perk is a guaranteed seat (open seating) so you’re assured of having one, super helpful on weekends if coach fills up and you might have to stand for a stop or two.
Thibault, Back Bay may not be nicest station on the NE Corridor, but it’s my Boston station 😁 Glad you showed it!
Because there is limited high speed track between Boston and New York, one does not get the advantage of the Acela's speed. Indeed, between New Haven and New York the speed of both the NER and the Acela are the same as the MTA commuter rail. I routinely travel between Stamford and Boston and choose the NER over the Acela. On the other hand, when traveling from Stamford to Washington, I choose the Acela. 😊
You’re actually wrong about this. There is far more 150 MPH territory between Boston and NYC than between NYC and Washington. In fact there wasn’t any 150 MPH territory south of NYC until just this year. Prior to that it was 135 MPH max for the Acela between NY and Washington. As for the comment that the speed of a NER and Acela is the same as an MTA train between New Haven and NY? That is also False. The fastest speed anywhere on the MTA New Haven line is 80 MPH. Once Amtrak trains get on to Amtrak’s Hell Gate like the max speed goes up to 100 MPH
@FFred-us9tw you can hit max speed btwn NYC and Bos but the NYC to DC trip is still faster overall than NYC to Bos. Going to Bos you spend alot of time running with Metro North when it's limited to 80 or so. NYC to DC even the regional is doing 100 - 120 mph for the bulk of the trip.
I haven't seen many American railroad videos, but somehow I felt the same atmosphere as the one in Japan. Someday come to Japan. 👍from🇯🇵
The Northeast Corridor actually has pretty good rail service by Japanese standards. Unfortunately, it is literally the only such corridor in the whole country. The other regions are slowly expanding and speeding up some of the services, but there’s nothing like the Northeast Corridor yet.
It’s worth a visit to experience how rail feels in the US. Plus the Acela is getting new Alstom Horizon/Avelia TGV trains that will go 160mph rather than the current 150mph top speed. They’ll be getting these even before SNCF in France gets their Horizons, so definitely worth a ride!
Beautifull views for introducing of trains and railway zone.. Thanks to Simply Railway for this good presentation.. ❤️
👍👍👍👍
I took the Northeast Regional between NYC and New Haven back in 2018, those views from NYC’s skyline were breathtaking as an European haha
I love how you point out all the small details I would have missed. Pretty cool
When you come into NYC from the North, you go over my favorite bridge in NYC - the Hell Gate Bridge. I’m not sure if you’ve ever noted it in a video (and apologies if you have and I’ve missed it), but it is a beautiful bridge with a lot of history. It was also the inspiration for the famous Sydney Harbor Bridge among others. A great vantage point for viewing this bridge and watching trains cross it is Astoria Park in Queens. ☺️
Love your content!
英語は全然分からないけれど、鉄道に言葉は要らないなと思わせる素晴らしい動画でした。
カフェがあるのは流石アメリカ、素敵ですね。
鉄ヲタは世界共通がとても嬉しい、鉄オタは世界を救う。
The best Amtrak TH-camr 🙌
The rainy weather on the Northeast Regional you encountered was the same kind of weather my son and I encountered back in August when we took the Acela from Boston to DC. We weren’t able to see the NYC skyline because of the fog.
When my father returned to the states from Europe after the Second World War he arrived in New York City on his birthday. He was supposed to arrive a day earlier, but the ship was delayed by fog...
you should do vermonter from springfield to white river junction
Muy buena calidad! felicitaciones buen video me gustaria saber que camara utilizo para grabar
"Sunny state of Massachusetts..." 😆
I really like your posts. It looks like so much fun to explore all these different places and trains. I am a 71 y/o women who have always wanted to experience train travel. I live in So. Calif. and have used the train to travel south a few times, which all were very short trips. What I would like to do is travel to a not touristy place, spend a day or two (or three) and travel home again. It would be great to go to Canada this way, but I haven't figured out a way to do that via train (I do have a passport). When I researched AmTrac, I found it difficult to navigate what I am trying to accomplish. The sleeping rooms are very expensive but seem to be the most comfortable for a longer trip. Do you have any suggestions for me? (I also think about traveling through the US, however, it seems the trains stop at very large cities.)
Hi Andi, I don't know if there's a train station with an Amtrak office near you but I would suggest going there in person and just ask them there. I'm sure they'd be glad to help you figure it out. :)
The website and the apps can be quite confusing.
@@paradoxparade1 Thanks for the reply. Yes the website was very confusing and didn't yield any of the information I was searching for. I was thinking I may need to get to Settle, by either plane or train and then from there catch a
via Rail.....I still have a little time to figure it out!
@@andi2234 You're quite welcome, Andi. :)
I live in Europe myself and the trains are much better organised here than in the US (except for the bigger cities like NYC or LA).
Google Maps can give you a first idea of what your (train)trip will look like. I love Seattle by the way! All thanks to Frasier! :)
@@paradoxparade1 as someone living in Europe as well, I like that they still have train names and treat each service specially compared to my country at least, like the “Silver Star” or “Empire Builder”. Just like we in Sweden used to have “Nordpilen”, “Skåningen”, ”Bottenviken” etc. but not any more :(
@@andi2234 after a quick glance, there is the Amtrak “Coast Starlight” from LA to Seattle. Another interesting one worth checking out (on my list!) is definetly the California Zephyr and Empire Builder. One can make a triangle route of sorts with all three as well, although that would of course be a cost considering the price of US long distance rail travel.
Can't wait to see the amfleets go their replacement is so much better
Amazing video as always, good job
What really completed the vibe of back bay was the pigeon skittering by at 02:17 😂
Great trip. Free non alcoholic beverages for Business Class Passenger on NER? That's a great deal, even better if they added snack too.
Seats looked comfy. Sorty the weather was crappy. Back Bay Station is dreadful.
MBTA commuter trains use diesel because their lines are not electrified
Thank Thibault for the review😀😀💚💚
Great trip report
This video is great!
Here's a few suggestions for you to check out... Connecticut has a new line that goes from New Haven to Springfield Mass. The Amtrak route from Boston to Albany New York. The Amtrak route that goes up to Vermont.
It's hardly a "new line". Hartford Line opened in June 2018, and Amtrak Shuttles had been running on the line for years before that.
The line to Vermont is getting new stops up to Burlington (either it’s running now or soon). Makes more sense than stopping in Rutland.
The only trade off I can see with NER is you have more stops than the Acela, but it's doable.
Nice to know that this is a better deal, how much was a coach ticket?
Thanks for posting, Thibault!
Amtrak fares vary significantly depending upon when you book and when you travel. Like the rest of the hospitality/travel industry prices are dynamic. Simply put, the fuller the train the more expensive the fare. Even a day's difference when you travel can make a difference. Furthermore, if you join Amtrak rewards program on their website, you get notified of special promotions. Sometimes I ride for free, but not often. THERE IS NO ONE SET PRICE!
The first time I traveled on Amtrak, was fron Penn Station to Backbay, 2 of the dirtiest and more depressing Stations in the whole Amtrak system. And I remember there was a suicidal in the platform, screaming and waving, lets say my first image of the Amtrak was awful, but thankfully I give it one more try and the second time was way better, up to the point now I choose amtrak over any other transportation option 😊
South Station would have been a nicer start point, station is a world difference over back bay and not much further distance
This was definitely filmed a while ago....as the Orange Line is running! 🤣
Is the locomotive on the sticker in the café car a swedish rc6?
Perhaps check out the 1970 film The Out-of-Towners, starring Jack Lemmon and Sandy Dennis. The two experience a nightmare. Partly on the train from Boston to New York. - Fictitious, of course.
In high school, I had a Saturday job and commuted home through a sparsely-populated South Station. One Saturday, I arrived to find ropes holding us back from the concourse. We were informed that a movie was being shot and crowds were needed and asked -- if time allowed -- to wait until the next take before heading to our trains. The appointed time came and we were instructed to walk to our trains "normally" and not look at the actors. So I did and Sandy Dennis practically ran me over! Alas, when the movie was released they had used a different take and I wound up on the cutting room floor. 😔
Love all your videos! This station looks pretty rundown and depressing though
I’ve traveled by train since Amtrak’s inception in 1973 and firmly believe the best mode of travel is passenger train/now we must encourage the rest of America that passenger train service is not a communist fascist plot but an economically and environmentally healthy way to travel!!!
Slight nitpick, Amtrak came around in 1971.
I think ‘73 is when the ill-fated SDP40F!s started showing up. I could be wrong though, and therefore reserve the right to be.
mentally healthy too- its relaxing and de-stressing and helps enjoy the nature, sights and scenes.
I couldn't find a comment on one thing: All along the Connecticut coast the water is Long Island Sound, an arm of, but not the actual Atlantic Ocean. It is wide enough that it might seem like an ocean, but it is protected from the Atlantic by Long Island, NY.
Just so you know, All Amfleet 1 cars and most ACS64 locomotives will be replaced between 2025 and 2029 with new Siemens Venture Trainsets as part of Amtrak's $7.3 billion deal with Siemens Mobility in July 7th 2021
At the 5:40 mark there is announcement regarding the restrooms and a reminder to please be thoughtful of other passengers while using the restrooms, but once a restroom goes out of service it will stay out of service for the remainder of the trip meaning. If a passenger goes inside the restroom and does not use the facility properly or to put it bluntly! Deposits bodily fluids and excrements on common areas and exposed on surfaces, no one is going to clean and sanitize these restrooms while the train is in route! The times have changed. it's not funny, it's sad.
I rather liked the rainy/foggy/snowy trip. Didn't Business Class have it's own bar/food once upon a time? How much longer a trip is the NER vs Acela? Didn't you terminate at the new Moynahan Station?
He mentioned at the end that this was filmed before Moynihan opened.
Was Amfleet ride bumpy and jerky?
Super cool 👍🏻
Wonderful ! 👍
コーチの台車がバッド風で、バックゲージ軸受が面白い。でも華奢に見えますね。車内のシートは肉厚で座り心地良さそう、ビジネスクラスかな？
RIP your lungs, having gone into Back Bay. At least you didn't go down to tracks 5 and 7 (where Worcester-bound trains board).
The Springfield line I think that's what it's called
I have used it from Providence to NYC/DC.
Скорость соизмерима с Ласточкой Краснодар - Ростов-на-Дону. Примерно то же расстояние примерно за то же время.
Amazing!
passing the people in cars on the train is priceless
Back Bay station is depressing and the people who work at the Dunkin are rude.
The refurbished seats on the Amfleets make a huge difference in both comfort and looks in my opinion.
If it’s like NJT/MTA they are only running diesel because it’s heading to a section of track with no catenary
Brrr...but another GREAT review....thank you...keep safe.... !!
We have this Route in Train Sim World 2 and 3. This is very interesting now😂
Is Acela better?
Try Via Rail business class,, i
There's a new effort to create an overnight Boston-Montreal sleeper train that would "take advantage" of poor track conditions to be able to go slow & take more time to cover the route. Amtrak's "Adirondack" train between NYC-Montreal has yet to be re-started since the Covid stoppage. Maybe?: video of a Boston-Albany trip that would continue from Albany north to Montreal on the "Adirondack", once the Adirondack train to Montreal resumes operation.
I am spoiled by travelling business class on Via Rail Canada,although the rail bed is rocky,the service is better than on the airlines with free drinks and a meal included with wine and liquers after dinner.
I've only ever travelled thorugh or walked past Back Bay station - and your review won't change that! As a tourist, the extra time on the NER doesn't matter over Acela, and I quite like the Amfleet vibe. You sure know you're in a staid USA. As for the side of the train, LHS for most of the trip south, switching to RHS for the Manhattan skyline only.
It feels very comfortable when in a business class train car
Olá. Muito bom o vídeo. Só faltou legenda em português. Abraço desde São Carlos SP Brasil.
Makes me want to take that train
0:36 not so sunny though lol. Amazing video though!
Superbe voyage ♥️ ils est où le TGV Avelia Liberty 😉🤭
Ahhhh yes...the squall of the wheels....the constant wafting of cigarette smoke....gray, brown, black, wet, cold....Boston. : )
I hope you trip report the Connectcut commuter rail train
interesting, nice pictures, I like, LIKE
Now you have seen Boston’s three biggest stations. Which is the best so far?
Try the New York to Albany route
Nice video :)
Lucky you
While it may be better than Acela Business Class, I don't think what you wind up paying is worth it unless you're a soda junkie. How many beverages can you drink to make up the difference? Other than that perk, there's not much of a difference.
What is the train number?🎉
My wife and I did this trip almost 10 years ago as our first trip as a couple, our hotel was next to the north end of Back Bay, being close to several T stop was also helpful. Honestly, I prefer the “slow” Northeast Regional to Acela, but I haven’t tried the new Acela train sets yet.
The new Acela Trainsets aren’t in service yet.
Nice video
Bom dia simply e muito confortável quanto que um 1⃣ vagão de trem clássico
Acela it is😊
When you come to Romania?
For traveling
He already did one last year I think
Business Class is often packed and sold out - especially on the south end - and very noisy.
(16:Sep/22) Que demostración de lo que es un país de 1er. mundo. Insuperable lo mostrado, estaciones e interiores de los carros de ese ferrocarril, tanto confort e implementos para la comodidad de los pasajeros. Pero, lo que más me gustó, fueron esos carros con un 2do. piso. Ya quisiéramos tener un tren así acá en largo país, Chile🇨🇱, para viajes de larga distancia.Bueno, Soñar no cuesta tanto o más bien , nada. Tres hurras por U.S.A.🇺🇸. 👏👏👏
Chile tiene infrastructura ferroviaria y servicios de pasajeros modernos. Lo que deberíais procurar es no quemarlos y destruirlos cada vez que hay protestas callejeras. Por lo demás, no es necesario que le hagas la pelota a EE.UU. de esa manera, ten un poco de dignidad
@@osasunaitor (17/Sep/22) De donde sacaste la idea que le hago la pelota a USA y que no tengo dignidad. Simplemente es reconocer “ al Cesar lo que es del César y ...,,....”, Has generalizado una situación que no es cierto, la infraestructura ferroviaria que tiene nuestro país, está recién en una etapa incipiente, con unos trayectos recién modernizados. Que tiene de indigno el dar testimonio de una gran nación cómo USA? Amo a mi país y no por tú chovinista comentario debo ver lo bueno que tienen otros países. Tú eres un miope patriotero.
Great video! Business class on Amtrak is a rip off.
я такую дорогу знал только от гулькевичей до краснодара и больше не по какой не ездил как вам везет а
Frankly, none of Boston’s stations is a box of chocolates.
basically railjet exotic edition
Baby Bay station is a damn disgrace. The station didn't even have heat in the 90's, but I don't know about now because I avoid it like the plague.
Acs-64 Siemens Amtrak
Hey Simply Railway, when are you going to make a train trip report in Southeast Asia? (Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia)
Looking forward to your next train trip report there! I live in Malaysia by the way and our jungle train operated by KTM Malayan Railways are currently the most hot selling sleeper train service ever.