Acela Regional is Amtrak's service between Washington D.C and Boston. It is also known as NortheastDirect. There is frequent daily daily service. Most trains are unreserved. Most have Business Class and a Cafe Car. Trains run all hours of the day, and one train, "The Federal" provides late-night/early morning service between Washington and Boston, giving the corridor 24-hour service.
Trains are usually 3-10 cars long, with a electric locomotive pulling at the head end. The electric locomotives are AEM7 class, built 1978-1987 with 7000 horsepower, or a Acela HHP-8 built 1999-2002, with 8000 horsepower. The cars are Amfleet I and II series passenger cars built by the Budd Company in the mid to late 1970s. At leat several of the cars are coaches, one or two may be Business Class, and there is one Cafe Car (sometimes two).
There is frequent service Washington D.C-New York and Washington-Boston throughout the day. There is some service to Springfield, Massachusetts, either through to Washington or via a connection at New Haven. Some trains go as far south as Newport News or Richmond in Virginia
Classes of service:
- Coach class: This class has large, comfortable seats with reading lamps and folding tables. This class is unreserved.
- Business Class: Seating with extra legroom, and complimentary non-alcoholic beverages are available. Reservations are required.
- First Class: This class offers deluxe, spacious seating. Complimentary meals and wine by the glass are included.
Amtrak Acela Regional/NortheastDirect trains stop at these stations:
- Newport News, Virginia (limited service)
- Williamsburg, Virginia (limited service)
- Richmond, Virginia (Main Street Station) (limited service)
- Richmond, Virginia (Staples Mill Road) (limited service)
- Ashland, Virginia (limited service)
- Fredericksburg, Virginia (limited service)
- Quantico, Virginia (limited service)
- Woodbridge, Virginia (limited service)
- Alexandria, Virginia (limited service)
- Washington D.C (Union Station)
- New Carrollton, Maryland
- BWI Airport
- Baltimore, Maryland (Penn Station)
- Aberdeen, Maryland
- Newark, Delaware (limted service)
- Wilmington, Delaware
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (30th Street Station)
- North Philadelphia (limited service)
- Cornwells Heights, Pennsylvania (limited service)
- Trenton, New Jersey
- Princeton Junction, New Jersey
- New Brunswick, New Jersey (limited service)
- Metropark, New Jersey
- Newark International Airport
- Newark, New Jersey
- New York City, New York (Penn Station)
- New Rochelle, New York
- Stamford, Connecticut
- Bridgeport, Connecticut
- New Haven, Connecticut
- Old Saybrook, Connecticut
- New London, Connecticut
- Mystic, Connecticut
- Westerly, Rhode Island
- Kingston, Rhode Island
- Providence, Rhode Island
- Route 128
- Boston, Massachusetts (Back Bay station)
- Boston, Massachusetts (South Station)
Inland Route (via Hartford and Springfield)
- New Haven, Connecticut
- Wallingford, Connecticut
- Berlin, Connecticut
- Hartford, Connecticut
- Windsor, Connecticut
- Windsor Locks, Connecticut
- Springfield, Massachusetts
- Framingham, Massachusetts (limited service)
- Boston, Massachusetts (Back Bay station)
- Boston, Massachusetts (South Station)
