My work these days takes me from New York to Washington, D.C. every month.

I always take Amtrak’s Acela high-speed train because it is a little more civilized, faster and has better WiFi. It is a far better experience than the shuttle Jet, and is comparable in speed when you factor in ground travel to and from airports.

More than that, my New York-DC Acela trip has become my most cherished time for thinking and getting work done. A lot of things come together just right to create the perfect thinking environment: the romanticism of trains; a smooth, rocking motion that calms; comfy recliner seats; pretty countryside; ambient noise from the wheels and wind; minimal talking and no phones  (in the quiet car); and three uninterrupted hours of all this.

I wish Amtrak would offer trips to nowhere.

Published by Max Kalehoff

Father, sailor and marketing executive.