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Did you miss Amtrak’s viral ‘Trak Suit’ launch? You may get another shot.

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  • Amtrak’s ”Trak Suit,’ designed by a New York School of Design student, was on sale for four days.
  • The limited release, which ended February 2, was popular enough that Amtrak is considering a second run.
  • The rail line is considering mass production with more versions at varying price points.

As someone who has spent more than 150 hours on Amtrak trains, let me tell you, comfort and functionality are key when selecting an outfit. Bonus points if you can make it look cool.

Enter Amtrak’s ‘Trak Suit, a blue and white microfiber fleece poly fabric set that has a detachable sleep mask in the hood, a color block pant design, and an embroidered Amtrak logo. The suit sold for $279 on the rail line’s website from January 29 to February 2.

The limited release was so popular that Amtrak is thinking about bringing it back.

“Given the great response we are seeing from fans, we are evaluating an extension or second run,” an Amtrak representative told Business Insider. “If we choose to mass produce these in larger quantities, we may even consider a few different versions of the design at different price points.”


A model wears the Amtrak 'Trak Suit on a staircase

Amtrak’s ‘Trak Suit was designed by a student the New York School of Design, Anastasiia Lukinskaia.

Amtrak



The ‘Trak Suit was designed by New York School of Design student Anastasiia Lukinskaia last fall.

When Amtrak launched the NextGen Acela train in August 2025, the rail line selected seven students from the New York School of Design to create two track suits to showcase during New York Fashion Week in fall 2025.

“When we revealed the ‘Trak Suits collection during fashion week in New York, the response from our fans was incredible,” Amtrak Vice President, Digital & Brand Management, Jessica Davidson, said in a press release.

I plan to spend hundreds more hours on Amtrak trains, so if the ‘Trak Suit comes back, I just might get one.




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I rode in business and first class on Amtrak’s NextGen Acela, the fastest train in the US. Here’s how they compared.

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  • The Amtrak NextGen Acela is the fastest train in the US.
  • I booked a business-class ticket from New York City to Washington, DC, for $180.
  • Then, I traveled from Washington, DC, to NYC in first class for $450.

I spent six hours and $630 on the fastest train in America.

The Amtrak Acela is the express option for travelers in the Northeast with only business and first-class seating. In August 2025, the route got a fresh new fleet called the NextGen Acela. In addition to a futuristic look and modern amenities, the train has a top speed of 160 miles per hour, making it the fastest train in the US.

In September 2025, I booked round-trip tickets between my home in New York City and Washington, DC, on the NextGen Acela. I got a taste of both classes.

First, I spent $180 for a three-hour business-class ride from New York City to Washington, DC.

A business-class car on the NextGen Acela train.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Since the Acela doesn’t have coach seating, business class is the standard ticket.

Then, I rode home to New York in first class for $450.


Passengers on the left board a first-class train car on the Amtrak Acela NextGen

Passengers board a first-class car on the NextGen Acela train.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

My first-class ticket included a meal, priority boarding, attendant service, and lounge access at the train station.

The differences between these two bookings began when I arrived at each station.


A composite image of passengers standing with luggage in a train station and a wide view of an Amtrak lounge with two tiers of seating

Inside NYC’s Penn Station (left) and inside the Metropolitan Lounge at DC’s Union Station.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I waited for my business-class train to Washington, DC, on the floor of NYC’s Penn Station. The waiting room was full, and it would have cost me $50 to access the Metropolitan Lounge, which is complimentary for first-class passengers.

Since I held a first-class ticket for my ride home from Washington, DC, I had access to the Metropolitan Lounge at Union Station. Other passengers can pay $35 to enter the space.

The lounge was quiet and calm. There were couches, comfy chairs, tables, and colorful works of art on the walls. I especially appreciated the espresso and beverage station, snack bins stocked with a variety of treats — all of which were complimentary — and the clean bathroom.

I boarded earlier for the first-class ride.


Passengers walk into the priority boarding line inside a train station

The priority boarding line at Union Station in Washington, DC.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

After relaxing in the lounge, I waltzed into the priority boarding lane for my first-class ride to New York. There were fewer than a dozen people in front of me.

Unlike when I rode in business class, where I was toward the back of a long line, I had several minutes to get situated on board before the train departed.

Inside the train, the cars were color-coded.


A composite image of the inside of a blue business-class train car and a red first-class train car

Inside a business-class car (left) and a first-class car (right) on the NextGen Acela train.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Aboard the Acela train, I quickly caught on that blue meant business class and red meant first class. From the headrests to the bathroom doors, the matching colors made it easy to tell which car I was in.

Another key difference was the layout. There were two rows of seats on either side of the aisle in business class, while first class had a single row of seats on one side of the aisle.

The seats had all the same amenities, but my first-class one was slightly more spacious.


A composite image of a business-class seat and two first-class seats on an Amtrak NextGen Acela train

A business-class seat (left) and a first-class seat (right).

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

The NextGen Acela seats had smooth lining, soft cushions, and supportive, winged headrests. They also had reading lights, USB ports between seats, and a reclining function.

The only significant difference I noticed was that the first-class seats were larger and had more legroom. I found both to be more comfortable than any other Amtrak seat I’ve booked.

Only the first-class ticket included a meal.


An aerial view of an Amtrak chicken dinner on a tray table

The author’s complimentary lunch on the NextGen Acela.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

During my business-class ride, I grabbed a bite in the café car, where passengers can purchase grab-and-go meals from a self-service station, as well as snacks, drinks, and quick hot meals prepared by an attendant. I ordered a breakfast sandwich, which I thought tasted pretty decent for a microwaved meal, and brought it back to my seat.

In first class, I received attendant service and had a menu of complimentary meals to choose from.

I selected the chicken dish, which consisted of a charred thigh paired with roasted squash, verde sauce, a hard roll, and a Key-lime pie in a jar.

It was the most delicious and satisfying meal I’d ever had on an Amtrak train.

The bathrooms were identical.


The author stands in front of a mirror in an Amtrak NextGen Acela train with a red shelf on the left

Inside a bathroom on the NextGen Acela train.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Save for the color of the door, the bathrooms in each class are the same, an Amtrak representative told Business Insider. I was impressed by how clean, spacious, and high-tech they were.

These bathrooms featured automatic doors, lights to indicate when the space was in use, and ample room to stretch. I also appreciated the touch-free faucets, soap dispensers, and hand dryers.

Ultimately, I discovered that the fastest train in America was also the most comfortable.


A composite image of the author sitting in a first-class Amtrak NextGen Acela seat and the exterior of the front of the train

The author enjoys her ride on the NextGen Acela.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

After my back-to-back three-hour journeys on the Amtrak NextGen Acela train, I expected to be thrilled to get off the rails. But my experiences were so comfortable that I was in no rush to exit. When we pulled into NYC’s Penn Station, I let other passengers get off first while I soaked up a few more minutes in my first-class seat.




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Amtrak’s unionized workers are getting $900 holiday bonuses after their managers gave up half of theirs

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Amtrak is redistributing the wealth this holiday season at the urging of the Trump administration.

Amtrak is giving $900 holiday bonuses to its over 18,000 unionized workers, the Department of Transportation said this week.

The bonuses are the result of a deal between the DOT and Amtrak management and its board of directors, the agency said, adding that Amtrak’s executive leadership agreed to give up half of their own bonus package to make it happen.

“Christmas is coming a little early this year for 18,000 @Amtrak frontline workers, thanks to leadership who gave back their holiday bonuses,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in an Instagram post on Friday. 

President Donald Trump’s administration has been critical of the existing bonus structures for Amtrak leadership, with the DOT saying they resulted in “exorbitant payouts for senior staff.” As part of the agreement, Amtrak’s board has agreed to get rid of long-term incentive bonuses for its senior executives, DOT said.

“We applaud Amtrak and its executive leadership team for doing the right thing,” Steven G. Bradbury, the deputy secretary of Transportation and a representative for Duffy to Amtrak’s board, said in a statement.

Amtrak did not respond to a request for comment.

The Wall Street Journal reported that around 246 Amtrak managers gave up part of their bonuses that totaled $16.2 million. The DOT did not provide additional comment or confirm those figures when reached by Business Insider.

In its announcement, the DOT touted Amtrak’s record-breaking year. The national passenger rail service had a record 34.5 million customer trips in the fiscal year that ended in September, posting a record adjusted ticket revenue of $2.7 billion.

The bonuses were reminiscent of some received by other transportation workers this holiday season. The Federal Aviation Administration said it was giving $10,000 bonuses to the nearly 800 air traffic controllers who had perfect attendance during the government shutdown.

Have a tip? Contact this reporter via email at kvlamis@businessinsider.com or Signal at @kelseyv.21. Use a personal email address, a nonwork WiFi network, and a nonwork device; here’s our guide to sharing information securely.




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