'' Acela '' travels between Boston and New York in about three and a half hours ( an improvement of half an hour ) ; New York to Washington runs take a minimum two hours and forty-five minutes . These schedules , as well as the relative convenience of direct downtown-to-downtown rail service as opposed to air travel , especially after the September 11 attacks , have made the '' Acela Express '' more competitive with the air shuttles . Due to this competition , Southwest Airlines canceled service between Washington and New York
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Acela Express