On board the Acela

The Acela is America’s answer to high-speed rail.  It runs from Boston to Washington at speeds up to 140 mph.

The trainsets are fairly new and electric-powered, with leather seats (though gray).  The luggage bins above the seats have doors like in an airliner.  As with all trains, big windows run down both sides, featuring the outside world rolling by. There’s a quiet car where talking and phone use are forbidden.

The café car is minimal, with seven stools lined up to narrow counters.  It’s not a place to linger, though three people are seated on stools working on laptops right now.

As we settle into our seats, I hear the man behind me leaving a voicemail, saying, I’m on the train, and I’ll be making calls for the next several hours…”

It’s irritating.  He is as good as his word, making one phone call after another.  I turn to my seatmate and comment on being a captive audience to someone’s phone calls.  She agrees and says some people don’t understand how rude it is.  Our words fall on deaf ears.