Jaunted

The long-awaited ACES train (Atlantic City Express Service), which launched on February 6th, is a joint venture between Harrah’s, Caesars, The Borgata and the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority. These big guns are trying to make it as easy as possible for you to experience how dramatically the destination has changed. Oh yeah, and to do some gambling/clubbing/shopping/dining while you’re in town.

“There was a New York to Atlantic City train many, many years ago that eventually ended its run due to lack of ridership,” says Elaine Shapiro Zamansky, a rep for the AC Convention & Visitors Authority. “With the new, higher-end attractions that have opened in Atlantic City the past five years or so, there’s been a noticeable growth in New York visitors, so this was a logical step.”

As of right now, there are only two departures from New York City on a Friday--one at 2:30pm, the other at 8:17--so we opted for the former to maximize our time at the poker tables. The flash-driven ACES website is easy enough to navigate, but we were routed to the Amtrak website (or an 877 number) in order to book our tickets. Three seating options are available: coach ($39 – $99 each way), first class (an additional $25) and the lounge ($200 to $300).

We opted for coach--the downstairs section of the double decker train--and to our surprise, the ride was incredibly comfortable. The trains themselves aren’t brand new, but their interiors have been redesigned top to bottom: The luggage carriers are large enough to stash plenty of bags (no stumbling over suitcases like we normally do on the train to Fire Island) large leather seats with lots of legroom and food & beverage kiosks on each end of the train.

We were given menus by a purser and we able to charge our $3.90 yogurt parfait (actually, you can only use credit cards on the train) a service typically reserved for first-class passengers. We’re guessing that since the train was only about 1/3 full, we were given the first-class treatment anyway. We didn’t check out the lounge, but learned it’s available for larger groups to rent so they can drink, watch movies and party on the way to AC.

The arrival point in Atlantic City is ultra-close to the casinos and hotels along the boardwalk, but there’s a free shuttle service that will drop you off at Harrah’s, Caesars and the Borgata, and return you to the station at the end of your stay.

Overall, the ride was smoother, faster and infinitely more comfortable than it might have been on the bus. Other than a quick stop in Jersey City to pick up passengers and a six-minute delay to switch from electric to a diesel engine, you’ll be hustling down to the AC in about as much time than it took you to watch Casino Royale.

Related Stories:
· Atlantic City Gives Trains Another Try [Jaunted]
· Skip the Parking Fees: Catch the ACES Train to Your AC Hotel [HotelChatter]
· ACES [Official Site]