If you’ve ever come back from a vacation in Italy or Japan, you’ve probably been left wondering why on earth the U.S. has not developed better and faster trains. Well, it’s been a long time coming, but we’re finally onboard, no pun intended, with the launch of Amtrak’s NextGen Acela .

With a speed of up to 160 mph, the NextGen Acela is the first of its kind when it comes to high-speed trains in the U.S. I got to experience it firsthand as one of the first to ride the NextGen Acela on its launch route along the Northeast Corridor, ahead of its public launch on August 28 (specifically, I was whisked from New York City to New Haven).

My immediate impression was that it is very similar in style to Italy’s sleek and modern Frecciarossa trains, and the speed certainly added to that effect. T

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