I rode Amtrak's new Acela train, the fastest in the US. The 6 most surprising parts had nothing to do with speed.

"I took Amtrak's NextGen Acela train - a brand-new fleet for the express service between Boston and Washington, DC, that launched in late August. It has a max speed of 160 miles per hour, making it the fastest train in the US. The Acela has two classes: business and first. I wanted to try both, so I took the new train from my home in NYC to Washington, DC, in business class for $180."

"I had no business in Washington, DC, when I traveled there on a rainy day in September. I was just in it for the ride. Less than an hour after I arrived in the US capital, I traveled home in first class for $450. Each ride was three hours long. Although the travel time was pretty similar to Acela trains I've taken in the past, my trip was full of unexpected details that had nothing to do with speed."

Amtrak launched the NextGen Acela fleet in late August with a top speed of 160 miles per hour, the fastest in the United States. The service runs express between Boston and Washington, DC, and offers two classes: business and first. A traveler rode both classes on a rainy September trip, taking business class from New York City to Washington for $180 and returning less than an hour later in first class for $450. Each leg lasted about three hours, with overall travel time similar to previous Acela runs, and the journey featured unexpected details unrelated to speed.

Read at Business Insider