Looking for a rare bit of good Amtrak news? Look no further than Boston.
Last year, Amtrak's high-speed Acela Express train carried a record 593,000 passengers from Boston to New York. An Amtrak rep says Acela's market share on the busy route grew from 36 percent in 2006 to 41 percent last year.
Bostonians aren't hopping the train for lack of other options. Greyhound runs something like 30 busses a day between Boston and New York, and the slightly sketchy Fung Wahbus links the Chinatowns of the two cities. As far as flights go, the New York-Boston route is the seventh busiest in the country. Delta and US Airways fly hourly shuttles from Boston Logan to LaGuardia; American, Delta and JetBlue to JFK; and
Continental flies hourly from Boston to its hub at Newark.
But despite this stiff competition, Amtrak is gaining ground on the airlines. And when you break it down, the reasons are fairly obvious:
- The Acela is fast -- Hop on the train at Boston's South Station and you'll find yourself pulling into New York Penn three and a half hours later. Sure, flight time on the route is just under an hour, but add transportation to and from the airport, security screening, and waiting on the runway, and you could be looking at four hours or more.
- You can get some work done -- On the Acela, you can use your cellphone (and service is decent for most of the trip), there are power ports at every seat, and you can start up your laptop without waiting for a flight attendant to tell you that the use of approved electronic devices is now permitted.
- I*t's cheaper* -- A roundtrip flight between NYC and Boston will run you between $350 to $425. The Acela will put you out $204, $325 if you upgrade to first class.
- You might actually get there on time -- According to Amtrak, the Acela ran on time 73 percent of the time in 2007. Not great, but not horrible considering that Boston to LaGuardia flights scored a 67 percent on time record; Boston to JFK 61 percent; and Boston to Newark, a dismal 51 percent. If you're flying to New York, make sure you bring a book. If you're going to Newark, bring two.
- Tasty snacks -- On the Acela, you have the option to scarf down braised short ribs with cheesy grits, four-cheese lasagna, pancakes or a variety of other culinary delights. The airlines certainly can't compete with that (though you do get free booze on the shuttle).
Despite the FAA's best efforts, gridlock in the skies isn't going to get better anytime soon, and with fuel costs out of control, you can bet the airlines will be trying to raise ticket prices wherever they can. After a long, slow start, Amtrak seems to have found a way to compete with the airlines, at least in the Northeast Corridor. Could this signal a renewed interest in U.S. passenger rail, at least in short haul markets where an Acela-like operation might be viable?
Sources: Amtrak, Air Transport Association, FlightStats, Greyhound.
Photo courtesy Amtrak
