I gave Amtrak first class another shot on a new train fleet. It was better in every way — but still not worth the price.

• I told myself I'd never upgrade to first class on the Amtrak Acela again.
• But when the train line debuted a new Acela train in 2025, I decided to give it another chance.
• My second ride was much better than the first, but I still thought it was too expensive.

There's only one Amtrak train with first-class seating. I've ridden it twice.

The train line's first-class cars are exclusive to the Acela, a Northeast express service that has business and first-class cars (no coach).

In 2022, I took a $270 first-class Acela ride from New York City to Baltimore and thought it wasn't worth the upgrade. But I love Amtrak — I've spent more than 150 hours traveling the country on its trains.

So in August 2025, when Amtrak debuted the NextGen Acela, a fresh new fleet for the same service, I was excited to see if the first-class experience had changed.

I booked a trip from Washington, DC, to NYC less than a month after the launch. It cost $450 back then, but a recent search shows the same ride for $275 three weeks in advance.

The new train impressed me with its sleek, modern design, comfortable seats, and added amenities. In the end, though, my verdict remained the same: Amtrak first class isn't worth the price.

The rail line said that, despite my opinion, customers are opting in.

"Amtrak is setting records and experiencing historic demand for rail travel, and customers continue to respond positively to the experience, particularly on NextGen Acela and in First Class," Amtrak interim chief commercial officer Dev Koushik said in a statement to Business Insider.

The cost and perks of upgrading to first class were similar on both trains.

On both Acela trains, my first-class tickets were more than twice the price of the standard, business-class ticket.

The added perks were the same on both trains, too, including a larger seat with more legroom, access to Amtrak station lounges, priority boarding, attendant service, and a meal on board.

Amtrak rewards members also earn more points when booking first class.

The new Amtrak Acela train looked futuristic compared to the older model.

The NextGen Acela was sleeker and more vibrant than the previous fleet.

Instead of silver, the new train's shiny coat of white paint provided a starker contrast to the red-and-white accents on the exterior.

It also had a rounder shape than the old train, making the front carriage look more like a sports car or a spaceship.

The new first-class car had a fresh color palette and modern upgrades.

Both cars had two seats on one side of the aisle and one seat on the other. But the neutral-colored seats with red accents on the new train made it feel more current than the old Acela.

The NextGen Acela also added screens to the ceiling with details about the route and did away with the doors on overhead bins, so there was no guessing game when it was time to get off and find your luggage.

Once I sat down, I also noticed that the fabric curtains had been replaced with retractable window shades.

The old seat was thicker, but the new seat was more comfortable.

On the older train, my seat was bulky and less comfortable than it looked. And although my seat on the new train looked much thinner, it was also taller with deeper, wider cushions.

I thought the NextGen seat was much more comfortable, with softer padding and a winged headrest.

An Amtrak rep told Business Insider that the seat pitch, or the amount of legroom, is the same in both cars.

The placement of amenities made more sense in the new seat.

Traveling in both seats made me appreciate the efficient design of the new train's amenities. While the reading lights on the old train were overhead, as on a typical flight, the NextGen Acela had headrest lights.

Both seats had power outlets, but the older one had two wall plugs, making it awkward for the person in the aisle seat to charge devices. So I was impressed that the NextGen Acela had outlets in between the seats.

Both tickets included a meal on board. The meal on the new train was elevated.

Breakfast was served on the first ride, and lunch on the second. On both trains, I got a menu with a handful of options.

On the first ride, I ordered a fresh fruit plate with a croissant. It wasn't bad, but it tasted like something you'd get at a cheap diner. The fruit was juicy and flavorful, while the croissant tasted less fresh. Still, it filled me up, so I was satisfied.

On the second ride, I ordered charred bobo chicken with a verde sauce and a hard roll. It tasted as if it came from an upscale restaurant, with complementary flavor and texture pairings — the crispy, savory chicken was balanced by the softness and sweetness of the roasted acorn squash side.

The verde sauce added a refreshing twist to the meal, which concluded with a cup of Key lime pie.

A few differences between these rides had nothing to do with class, like the café cars.

Everyone has access to the café car on Amtrak trains, so this isn't specific to first class.

Still, it's worth mentioning that the NextGen Acela was much more stylish and reminded me of a classic, retro dinner. The new café car also added a self-service grab-and-go station with premade meals.

The new train also had faster WiFi.

Both trains had WiFi, but on the older train, it wasn't fast enough for me to stream videos. On the new train, I watched YouTube seamlessly with 5G WiFi.

The bathrooms on both trains were no different in the business and first-class cars.

Both bathrooms were spacious with lit mirrors, but the new one got a modern makeover, with brighter accents, automatic doors, and touch-free handwashing and drying. These fresh details made the new bathroom feel a tad luxurious.

Still, there were no differences between the first and business-class bathrooms on either train.

The second ride felt smoother than the first.

My first ride was as bumpy as any other train I've taken. Parts of the ride felt like rolling over jagged rocks as the car rattled.

I was surprised by how smooth the second ride felt. The NextGen Acela has an innovative tilt system that allows the cars to lean into turns and on curvy tracks at a steady speed. Bumps felt more rolling over like tiny hills.

Although my arrival times were similar on both trains, the NextGen Acela can travel 10 miles per hour faster than the old fleet. The NextGen Acela has a top speed of 160 miles per hour, making it the fastest train in the US.

The Amtrak NextGen Acela nailed the first-class experience for me. Still, that wasn't enough to make it worth the upgrade.

I couldn't have asked for a more comfortable seat or a better lunch on the rails. I also appreciated the features that all NextGen Acela passengers can enjoy, like the modern bathrooms, café car, and an overall smoother ride.

I don't think the premium class needs any improvements other than the price point. After riding in both classes, I found that even at its peak, first-class perks and comforts simply aren't worth paying twice the price of business class, where I had a slightly smaller seat that was similarly comfortable.

At the same time, I would place a bid for a premium seat.

Amtrak's BidUp program allows passengers to bid on open seats in premium cabins for a chance to upgrade.

Koushik told Business Insider that more than 45,000 Amtrak riders have used the program to snag a first-class seat at a lower price so far this year.

"We continue to introduce service enhancements that make the First Class experience even more special," Koushik added.

With so many improvements on the new train, I could certainly see myself making an offer on a first-class seat on the NextGen Acela in the future, but I doubt I'll ever pay full price again.

Read the original article on Business Insider