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New York → Washington · Amtrak Northeast Regional · Acela
New York → Washington
America’s fastest corridor: Moynihan Train Hall to Union Station in about three and a quarter hours, downtown to downtown, no baggage fees, no airport ritual. The Northeast Regional runs dozens of times a day; the premium Acela shaves roughly half an hour.
≈3h 15Duration
0Transfers
7×CO₂ vs flying
From $20Ticket budget
TrainTransport
Booked 2–3 months ahead$20–60
Booked this week$60–130
One-way fares, per person, 2nd class · verified 4 Oct 2026
Day · Leg
Leg
| Leg | Transport / Operator | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New York → Washington | Amtrak | ≈3h 15 |
Pass advice
Pass advice
Amtrak pricing is dynamic: the same seat can triple by travel day — Tuesday and Wednesday departures book cheapest.
Acela first class is a different world of money (from ~$99): the Regional is usually less than half and only ~30 minutes slower.
Union Station sits under Congress itself — the Capitol and the National Mall are a ten-minute walk from the platforms.