Results tagged “amtrak”

Image by light under a bushel

Know how it can cost like $200 to take Amtrak's Acela to New York? Know how that's crazy expensive, way costlier than flying? Well, apparently Amtrak got the memo, or noticed that nobody has $200 to go to New York in this economy, because it's lowered one-way (!) Acela fares from Boston to NYC to a mere $79 (though most fares were $89 when we tried to book a trip for this weekend, with a few $62 return trip options). Still doesn't beat the Fung Wah, but it's a slight improvement.

Well, sorta. The Herald reports that Amtrak is increasing service from Boston (among other cities) to DC for Barack Obama's inauguration on January 20, and many airlines plan to offer additional flights to the capital for the festivities as well. So that makes it seem kind of like Obama has made us all reconsider our addiction to cars, but that isn't quite the case—plus the increased train and plane usage is probably not that great for the environment anyway. Regardless, increasing train service for the day is better than having thousands of folks drive their cars into DC, create massive traffic, and attempt to park in nonexistent spaces, so kudos to Amtrak for making at least one smart (and lucrative) decision in its history.

As more concerns rise about the Big Dig bolts, the Green Line goes on the fritz, and the fact that our tunnels don't have sprinklers, Amtrak is adding its own small voice to the mix.

-- Former "Most Eligible Bachelor," and now infamous sleazeball, Gary Zerola has been acquitted of kidnapping and attempted rape by a jury after less than a day of deliberation. He still faces other charges. However charges that he's a major creep still pending in the court of public opinion. [Boston Globe]

MBTA General Manager Dan Grabauskas is on vacation in Thailand, which is in itself not a crime. However, the Herald is reporting that Grabauskas left for vay-cay as an Amtrak strike looms.