Acela Express Garners Raves

B O S T O N, Nov. 17, 2000 -- For decades, the people running Amtrak had towince when Americans returning from overseas train tripsproclaimed: “Why can’t you do that here?”

U.S. rail officials think they’ve finally got an answer: theAcela Express, a 150 mph bullet train that hit record speeds andgrabbed rave reviews Thursday on its debut Washington-to-Bostonrun.

A full load of VIPs nibbled on salmon, filet mignon, prosciuttoand caviar hors d’oeuvres as they made history aboard the first of20 sleek new trains that will barrel along Amtrak’s NortheastCorridor at speeds approaching those of trains in Japan, France andelsewhere.

“Today’s inaugural run symbolizes the beginning of a new era ofAmerican transportation,” Transportation Secretary Rodney Slatersaid at a kickoff ceremony in Washington.

Just the Beginning

Regular service on the train begins Dec. 11 in the Northeast.Legislation pending in Congress would help Amtrak raise $10 billionover 10 years to construct other high-speed corridors around thenation.

A nationwide system of high-speed rail would require billions ofpublic dollars to lay new track, straighten curves, eliminatehighway crossings and perform other upgrades of the nation’s railnetwork.

“This is all about money,” said Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson, the Amtrak chairman. He said the federal government gives shortshrift to railroads compared with its spending on highways and airtravel.

“You get what you pay for,” Thompson said.

Amtrak received the first of 20 eight-car train sets last monthfrom the consortium building Acela Express — Canada’s Bombardier Transportation and France’s Alstom Ltd. All 20 trains should be in service by next summer.

Problems with the tilt technology that helps speed the trainthrough curves, along with premature wheel wear, forced a delay inplans to begin Acela Express in October 1999.

Acela Express will cut about a half-hour off the currentMetroliner service between Washington and New York and about 45minutes off the New York-to-Boston trip.

Historic Turns on the Rail

The 300 passengers invited for Thursday’s inaugural run firstenjoyed breakfast inside a stately restaurant in Washington’s UnionStation that once served as a VIP suite for presidents and otherdignitaries preparing to ride the great trains of America’s past.

“We gather in the same place this morning to prepare to ridethe great train of the future, Acela,” said John Robert Smith, themayor of Meridian, Miss., and member of Amtrak’s governing board.

Thompson christened the train by shattering a bottle ofCalifornia champagne on its tapered nose.

On board, passengers quickly remarked about the spaciousrestrooms, overhead luggage bins, oversized windows and brightlycolored blue-and-purple seats. The cafe car includes bar stoolsand, once regular service begins, will serve beer on tap.

Acela Express pulled out of Washington just before 10 a.m. Ithit 135 mph through a portion of New Jersey, a record for theWashington-to-New York corridor. The train arrived at New York’sPenn Station in two hours and 26 minutes — two minutes ahead ofschedule.

“We deliver!” Thompson said emphatically to the crowd gatheredto welcome the train.

Among those greeting Acela Express passengers in New York wereGov. George Pataki, former New York Mets star Keith Hernandez,actor Henry Winkler and cast members from the Broadway showFosse, who stuck to the railroad theme by performing the song“Steam Heat.”

Winkler said he became a fan of high-speed trains during a tripseveral years ago to Japan. Hernandez said that when the Metstraveled to Philadelphia for games with the Phillies, he would takeAmtrak while his teammates traveled on a team bus.

“I got there in an hour 20 minutes. They were still on the NewJersey Turnpike,” Hernandez said.

Dr. Ruth Weighs Sex Appeal

Shortly before the train left New York for its beeline toBoston, sex therapist Dr. Ruth Westheimer hopped aboard to sayhello to Michael Dukakis, the former Massachusetts governor andpresidential nominee who is now Amtrak’s vice chairman.

“I think it’s a very sexy train,” she said. “Maybe you can walk around and find a partner here. Those of you who don’t have partners …”

“… find them on Acela,” Dukakis finished.

The day’s highlight came at 4:18 p.m. A palpable surge nearKingston, R.I., brought the train to its top speed of 150 mph,faster than any train in Amtrak’s 29-year history.

Amtrak employees had distributed glasses of champagne inpreparation for the big moment. “Congratulations, and let’stoast,” Walt Peters, Amtrak’s chief scheduler, said over theloudspeaker as passengers applauded.

The train arrived in Boston — two minutes early, again, after athree-hour, 13-minute ride from New York — and was greeted byfireworks shot from the top of South Station.

“This is the future,” Dukakis told several hundred peoplegathered to greet the train. “We’ve seen it.”