February 18, 2009

25 pct Acela fare cut still higher than air, bus options

Amtrak said it will cut the ticket price for its high-speed Acela trains from New York to as low as $79 one-way to Boston and $99 to Washington D.C.

The fares are good for travel from March 3 through June 26, require a 14-day advance purchase and “availability is limited,” Amtrak said in a statement announcing the fare cut. The fares are 25 percent lower than previously offered.

Although Amtrak posted record annual national ridership for the year-ended September 30, the economy has taken a toll since then, with the most recent four months showing a 10 percent drop on Acela trains compared with the same four months a year ago, Bloomberg News reported.

The high-speed Acela travels to 16 stations including Boston South Station, Providence, New Haven, Stamford, New York’s Penn Station, Newark, Philadelphia, Wilmington, Baltimore, BWI Airport and Washington’s Union Station.

Other Amtrak trains will get you from New York to D.C. for as low as $72, or to Boston from $62.

Those fares are closer to what it costs to fly or take a luxury bus with wi-fi along the same route. However, with an air ticket, most travelers also have to suck up taxi fare to and from the airport, plus the extra joy of airport security.

Up in the sky, the Delta Shuttle serves both Boston Logan and Reagan National in D.C. out of New York’s LaGuardia Airport. One-way coach fares to Boston or D.C. start at $63 with enough advance purchase. There are still free wine, beer and snacks onboard.

USAirways Shuttle flies the same route, also with free beer, wine and other drinks onboard. Fares start at $64 to either city from New York.

JetBlue flies from JFK to Washington Dulles or Boston Logan from $47.

American flies from JFK to Washington Reagan or Boston Logan from $47.

United flies to Dulles in Washington from $57.60, and you can choose LaGuardia, JFK or Newark for that price. United flies to Boston from LaGuardia from $74.60.

The business-class LimoLiner bus to Boston from New York remains $89 for a one-way ticket. That gets you free wi-fi, snacks, and other services.

In addition to the business-class travel options, there are many low-cost buses serving the northeast corridor, such as Vamoose, BoltBus, MegaBus and Fung Wah. Tripper Bus is the most recent to join the fray, with tickets from $1.

(All fares listed exclude any taxes, booking and security fees that may apply.)

Image source: Screengrab of Acela’s current TV commercial

Earlier: Amtrak exploring wi-fi options for train travel
Inauguration Day travel to Washington DC from NYC

February 18, 2009 8:30 AM in Arrivology, Cheap Stuff

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