Amtrak has rolled out on Monday a direct service between New York City and Washington, D.C., which will take much less time to commute from one of the two cities to the other.
Dubbing it “a quicker alternative to buses,” Amtrak explained in a press release that Acela Nonstop (the express high-speed train) will be approximately two hours and 35 minutes and help riders “save up to 90 minutes of travel time each way compared to NYC – D.C. buses.”
An average bus from D.C. to New York takes four to four and a half hours, according to Amtrak, which states that travel time is cut down to around three hours and 20 minutes.
Commuters are also offered 25 percent off if they book 14 days ahead of their trip.
The new train will be running hourly between NYC Penn Station or Washington, D.C. Union Station, with more than 20 departures every weekday. The company stated that it could enlarge the service in the future.
From NYC to DC and back – no interruptions, no extra stops. Our Acela Nonstop route launches today! It's an #Acelabration! Book your tickets!
— Amtrak (@Amtrak) September 23, 2019
“So if you’re considering the bus from Washington, D.C. to New York, instead book your ticket on Amtrak and enjoy a quicker ride with greater conveniences,” Amtrak said its statement.
You can also purchase business class tickets for $130, and first-class tickets for $276 for a one-way trip.
“The new Acela Nonstop service will have you halfway to your New York City or D.C. destination in the time it would take you to board a flight,” Amtrak CEO Richard Anderson said last July in a statement. “This new service will offer an ideal solution for travelers who want to save time and travel between city center D.C. and New York.”
Another nonstop service from New York to Boston (and vice versa) is scheduled for 2021.