Amtrak Moves to Digital Newspapers for those in First and Business Class

I guess I didn’t realize this sooner, but effective just a few months ago Amtrak ceased distribution of newspapers in hard copy on several of its service lines. This amenity will be replaced with free digital access for First Class and Business passengers traveling on certain Amtrak routes. To be honest, it was hit or miss whether hard copy newspapers were loaded on the train to begin with, so I guess having them offered online will improve the chance of actually receiving them. 🙂

Travelers in those two cabins can now enjoy free access to the digital editions of both the New York Times and the Washington Post. At the present time, this service is only available on certain routes in the Eastern half of the country, with the notable exception of any long distance routes. For routes without digital access, hard copies of the two papers will continue to be distributed.

Access to the papers is built in to the on-board entertainment system. Utilizing Amtrak‘s wifi service and a personal mobile device, visit the AmtrakConnect page and then navigate to the Entertainment tab. Click on the newspaper of your choice and then enter the access code printed on the card located in the seat back pocket in front of you. Travelers on the Acela Express will access the papers in the same manner but an access code will not be necessary.

At the time of this writing, this perk is only available on certain routes, namely: the Acela Express,Maple Leaf, Carolinian, Northeast Regional, Downeaster, Palmetto, Empire Service, Pennsylvanian, Ethan Allen, and Vermonter. Check out Amtrak.com for more information regarding which cities these routes service, and remember, Amtrak Guest Rewards members earn a 25% point bonus for a Business Class booking.

Acela Express really ups the ante for First Class passengers with complimentary at-seat meal service including beverages, as well as hot towel service and access to ClubAcela lounges. Perks for Business Class travelers in the Northeast (non Acela Express service) enjoy such amenities as larger seats with additional legroom along with complimentary beverage service.