Northeast Regional

Route map:
Northeast Regional
Northeast Regional in Madison, Connecticut in April 2015
Overview
Service typeInter-city rail, higher-speed rail
LocaleNortheastern and Mid-Atlantic United States
First service2008 (renamed from Regional)
Current operator(s)Amtrak
Annual ridership9,163,082 (FY23) Increase 29.2%
Route
TerminiBoston, Springfield, MA, or New York City
Washington, D.C. or Newport News, Norfolk, Roanoke, or Richmond, Virginia
Stops55 (including all branches)
Distance travelled682 mi (1,098 km) (longest distance: Boston–Roanoke)
Average journey time14 hours (greatest travel time: Boston–Roanoke)
Service frequency50+ trains per day
Train number(s)65-198
On-board services
Class(es)
  • Coach Class
  • Business Class
Catering facilitiesCafé
Baggage facilitiesOverhead racks
Technical
Rolling stock
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
ElectrificationOverhead line:
Operating speed125 mph (201 km/h) (top)

The Northeast Regional is an intercity rail service operated by Amtrak in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic United States. In the past it has been known as the NortheastDirect, Acela Regional, or Regional. It is Amtrak's busiest route, carrying 9,163,082 passengers in fiscal year (FY) 2023. The Northeast Regional service earned over $787.7 million in gross ticket revenue in FY 2023.

The Northeast Regional offers daily all-reserved service, usually at least every hour. Trains generally run along the Northeast Corridor between Boston in the north to Washington, D.C. in the south with multiple stops, including in New York City, Philadelphia, and Baltimore. Extensions and branches provide service to Newport News, Norfolk, and Roanoke, Virginia, and Springfield, Massachusetts, with intermediate stops.

Trains cover the most popular stretch between New York Penn Station and Washington Union Station in approximately 3.5 hours. The section between New York and Philadelphia takes 1.5 hours, while the part between Philadelphia and Washington takes 2 hours.

North of New York, the travel time to Boston is 4 hours, while trips to Springfield take 3.5 hours. South of Washington, trains take 4.5 hours to reach Newport News, 4.5 hours to reach Norfolk, or 5 hours to reach Roanoke.

History

An HHP-8 locomotive and Amfleet I cars in Acela Regional branding at South Station in Boston, in March 2002
The NortheastDirect branding was used for most Northeast Regional services between 1995 and 2003

The services along the line, as inherited from Penn Central, once had their own names, such as the "Yankee Clipper" and the "Federal"; typically a name applied to at most one train and its "twin" in the opposite direction. Electrification ended at New Haven, Connecticut, requiring an engine change. On October 28, 1995, Amtrak introduced the "NortheastDirect" brand for all trains on the Northeast Corridor (and its extension to Newport News, Virginia) except for the express Metroliner and hourly Clocker services. The November 10, 1996, timetable restored the old names in addition to the NortheastDirect brand. The names (except the Twilight Shoreliner) were dropped with the May 16, 1999, schedule.

In 2000, Amtrak completed electrifying the route from New Haven to Boston in preparation for the introduction of the Acela Express, thereby eliminating the engine change at New Haven. The first two all-electric round-trips to and from Boston were branded Acela Regional and equipped with refurbished Amfleet cars painted in the Acela-like "Phase V" livery. All-electric service began on January 31, 2000. The NortheastDirect branding continued to be used for trains which changed from electric to diesel traction in New Haven.

Due to customer confusion with the Acela Express, the name was changed again on March 17, 2003, to simply "Regional." As part of rebranding and service improvements, the name was changed to "Northeast Regional" on June 23, 2008 (though it also appeared on schedules several months beforehand).

On May 12, 2015, Northeast Regional Train 188, traveling from Washington, D.C., to New York City, derailed in the Port Richmond neighborhood of Philadelphia, killing eight people and injuring more than 200 people. The train derailed along a curve and was determined to have been traveling at a speed of about 100 mph, exceeding the limit of 50 mph on that curve. This speed limit was not posted; engineers on that route are expected to rely on memory to control the speed of the train. Additionally, the train was suspected to have been hit by a projectile, as was a commuter train in the area shortly before the derailment.

Private sleeping rooms on overnight trains 65/66/67, last available in 2004 on the Federal, were made available effective April 5, 2021. The overnight trains were temporarily cancelled in January 2022; they resumed in July 2022 without sleepers. They were temporarily cancelled north of New York City effective April 4, 2023, due to Penn Station Access construction.

Virginia service

A Northeast Regional crosses the James River near Lynchburg, Virginia, in April 2011

Some Northeast Regional trains continue into Virginia, serving three branches to Norfolk, Newport News, and Roanoke, serving points in between. These tracks are not electrified and are partially owned by both freight railroads and the State of Virginia.

Virginia and Amtrak partnered in 2009 under the brand Amtrak Virginia to expand passenger rail service within the Commonwealth, making Virginia the 15th state to fund state services in addition to federally funded routes.

One daily Northeast Regional round trip was extended to from Washington to Lynchburg via Manassas and Charlottesville on October 1, 2009, supplementing the existing Crescent service. Service was extended from Lynchburg to Roanoke starting October 31, 2017. A second daily Roanoke round trip was added on July 11, 2022. An extension from Roanoke to Christiansburg, Virginia, near Virginia Tech, is in planning, as is an infill station in Bedford, Virginia.

On July 20, 2010, Amtrak added an additional Northeast Regional frequency from Washington to Richmond Staples Mill Road station, increasing the Washington-Richmond corridor to eight daily round trips with hourly northbound morning service. One round trip was extended from Richmond to Norfolk starting December 12, 2012. A second daily Norfolk round trip on weekdays was added on March 4, 2019. One round trip was extended from Staples Mill to Main Street in September 2021. Service changes on July 11, 2022, added an additional Norfolk weekday round trip (making three round trips on weekdays and two on weekends).

Proposed expansion

In spring 2021, Amtrak proposed extending three Northeast Regional round trips from New York Penn Station to Ronkonkoma station along the Main Line of the Long Island Rail Road, with stops at Jamaica, Mineola, Hicksville, and Deer Park. The move would enable one-seat rides between Long Island and points south on the Northeast Corridor, provide express train service within Long Island, and connect JFK International Airport to the Amtrak network. In December 2023, the Federal Railroad Administration accepted the project into its Corridor Identification and Development Program, granting $500,000 toward service planning and prioritizing the route for future federal funding.

Operation

Equipment

A typical Northeast Regional with an ACS-64 locomotive and Amfleet I passenger cars at New London Union Station

As of 2018, most Northeast Regional trains consist of 7 to 9 passenger cars hauled by a locomotive.

The passenger cars are the Amfleet I series passenger cars built by the Budd Company in the mid-to-late 1970s. Most trains include a Business Class car, a Café car (food service/lounge), and up to seven Coach Class cars, one of which is designated the Quiet Car, where passengers are asked to refrain from loud talking and mobile phone conversations.

Between Boston and Washington, the service has overhead electric wires and is pulled by Siemens ACS-64 electric locomotives at speeds up to 125 mph (201 km/h). Northeast Regional trains operating south of Washington, D.C., into Virginia and on the New Haven–Springfield Line use GE Genesis diesel locomotives which have a slightly lower top speed of 110 mph (180 km/h).

In the coming years all equipment will be replaced with Amtrak Airo trainsets, the railroad's branding of its combination of Siemens Venture passenger cars and a Siemens Charger diesel-electric locomotive. The trainsets for the Northeast Corridor will have eight passenger cars, which will include a food service area and a mix of 2×2 Coach Class and 2×1 Business Class seating. The car closest to the locomotive will be a specialized "Auxiliary Power Vehicle" which will include a pantograph to collect power from overhead lines and will feed it to four traction motors in the car, and via a DC link cable, to the four traction motors in the locomotive. Outside of electrified territory, the locomotive's diesel engine will generate power for the traction motors. The arrangement will offer a near seamless transition between power sources on through trains to Virginia and Springfield, Massachusetts, a process that currently requires a time-consuming locomotive change.

Classes of service

All classes of service include complimentary WiFi, an electric outlet (120 V, 60 Hz AC) at each seat, reading lamps, fold-out tray tables. Reservations are required on all trains, tickets may be purchased online, from a station agent, a ticketing machine, or, at a higher cost, from the conductor on the train.

  • Coach Class: 2×2 seating. Passengers self-select seats on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Business Class: 2×2 or 2×1 seating with more legroom than coach. Passengers receive a complimentary soft drink. Seats are assigned in advance.

Route

Northeast Regional route map

Most Northeast Regional trains operate over the Northeast Corridor between Boston and Washington (via New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore). The corridor is owned, in part, by Amtrak, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), Metro-North Railroad (MNRR), and the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CDOT).

  • MBTA Attleboro Line: Boston to MA/RI state line (dispatched and maintained by Amtrak)
  • Amtrak Northeast Corridor: MA/RI state line to New Haven, Connecticut
  • CDOT New Haven Line: New Haven to CT/NY state line (dispatched and maintained by MNRR)
  • MNRR New Haven Line: CT/NY state line to New Rochelle, New York
  • Amtrak Northeast Corridor: New Rochelle to Washington, D.C.

Some trips diverge at New Haven and turn north to serve Springfield, Massachusetts, operating over Amtrak's New Haven–Springfield Line. For trains that don't, Amtrak's Hartford Line trains provide connecting service along the line, with timed transfers to and from many Northeast Regional trips.

Several trips continue south of Washington D.C. to Virginia, running to either Roanoke, Richmond, Newport News, or Norfolk. All Virginia services use the northernmost portion of the ex-Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad (now owned by CSX Transportation) between Washington and Alexandria, Virginia. South of Alexandria, trains to Roanoke use the Norfolk Southern Railway (ex-Southern Railway, ex-Virginia Midland Railway). Trains to Richmond, Norfolk and Newport News use the CSX RF&P, Richmond Terminal, and Bellwood subdivisions between Alexandria and Richmond.

South of Richmond, trains to Newport News use the CSX Peninsula Subdivision (ex-Chesapeake and Ohio Railway). Trains to Norfolk use the CSX North End Subdivision and Norfolk Southern's Norfolk District (ex-Norfolk and Western Railway).

Funding

Amtrak receives federal funding for its operations between Boston and Washington, D.C. Northeast Regional operations south of Washington are funded in part by the Commonwealth of Virginia. Operations along the New Haven–Springfield Line are funded by the State of Connecticut and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Station stops

Boston–Washington, D.C.

State Town/City Station Connections
MA Boston South Station Amtrak Amtrak: Acela, Lake Shore Limited
MBTA Commuter Rail MBTA Commuter Rail: Fairmount Line, Framingham/Worcester Line, Franklin/Foxboro Line, Needham Line, Old Colony Lines, Greenbush Line, Providence/Stoughton Line
MBTA subway:  Red Line   Silver Line 
MBTA Bus
Bus interchange Intercity bus service at South Station Bus Terminal
Back Bay Amtrak Amtrak: Acela, Lake Shore Limited
MBTA Commuter Rail MBTA Commuter Rail: Framingham/Worcester Line, Franklin/Foxboro Line, Needham Line, Providence/Stoughton Line
MBTA subway:  Orange Line 
MBTA Bus
Westwood Route 128 Amtrak Amtrak: Acela
MBTA Commuter Rail MBTA Commuter Rail: Providence/Stoughton Line
RI Providence Providence Amtrak Amtrak: Acela
MBTA Commuter Rail MBTA Commuter Rail: Providence/Stoughton Line
Bus interchange Local bus: Rhode Island Public Transit Authority
Bus interchange Amtrak Thruway
West Kingston Kingston Bus interchange Local bus: Rhode Island Public Transit Authority
Westerly Westerly Bus interchange Local bus: Rhode Island Public Transit Authority
CT Mystic Mystic
New London New London Shore Line East CTrail: Shore Line East
Bus interchange Local bus: Southeast Area Transit
Bus interchange Intercity bus: Greyhound Lines Greyhound
Old Saybrook Old Saybrook Shore Line East CTrail: Shore Line East
Bus interchange Local bus: Estuary Transit District
New Haven Union Station Amtrak Amtrak: Acela, Hartford Line, Vermonter
Hartford Line CTrail: Hartford Line, Shore Line East
Metro-North:  New Haven Line
Bus interchange Local bus: CTtransit New Haven
Bus interchange Intercity bus: Greyhound Lines Greyhound, Peter Pan
Bridgeport Bridgeport Amtrak Amtrak: Vermonter
Shore Line East CTrail: Shore Line East
Metro-North:  New Haven Line,  Waterbury Branch
Bus interchange Local bus: Greater Bridgeport Transit Authority
Stamford Stamford Amtrak Amtrak: Acela, Vermonter
Shore Line East CTrail: Shore Line East
Metro-North:  New Haven Line,  New Canaan Branch
Bus interchange Local bus: CTtransit Stamford
Bus interchange Intercity bus: Greyhound Lines Greyhound
NY New Rochelle New Rochelle Metro-North:  New Haven Line
Bus interchange Local bus: Bee-Line
New York City New York Penn Station Amtrak Amtrak (long-distance): Cardinal, Crescent, Lake Shore Limited, Palmetto, Silver Meteor, Silver Star
Amtrak Amtrak (intercity): Acela, Adirondack, Berkshire Flyer, Carolinian, Empire Service, Ethan Allen Express, Keystone Service, Maple Leaf, Pennsylvanian, Vermonter
Long Island Rail Road:  Main Line,  Port Washington Branch
NJ Transit NJ Transit:  North Jersey Coast Line,  Northeast Corridor Line,  Gladstone Branch,  Montclair-Boonton Line,  Morristown Line
NYC Subway: "1" train"2" train"3" train"A" train"C" train"E" train
Port Authority Trans-Hudson PATH: HOB-33 JSQ-33 JSQ-33 (via HOB)
Bus interchange Local bus: MTA Bus
NJ Newark Newark Penn Station Amtrak Amtrak: Acela, Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Keystone Service, Palmetto, Pennsylvanian, Silver Meteor, Silver Star, Vermonter
Newark Light Rail Newark Light Rail
NJ Transit NJ Transit:  North Jersey Coast Line,  Northeast Corridor Line,  Raritan Valley Line
Port Authority Trans-Hudson PATH: NWK-WTC
Bus interchange Local bus: NJ Transit Bus
Bus interchange Intercity bus: Greyhound Lines Greyhound, Coach USA, Fullington Trailways
Newark Airport Newark Liberty International Airport AirTrain Newark to Newark Liberty International Airport
Amtrak Amtrak: Keystone Service
NJ Transit NJ Transit:  North Jersey Coast Line,  Northeast Corridor Line
Iselin Metropark Amtrak Amtrak: Acela, Crescent, Keystone Service, Palmetto, Vermonter
NJ Transit NJ Transit:  Northeast Corridor Line
Bus interchange Local bus: NJ Transit Bus
New Brunswick New Brunswick Amtrak Amtrak: Keystone Service
NJ Transit NJ Transit:  Northeast Corridor Line
Bus interchange Local bus: NJ Transit Bus
Bus interchange Intercity bus: Suburban Transit
West Windsor Princeton Junction Amtrak Amtrak: Keystone Service
NJ Transit NJ Transit:  Northeast Corridor Line,  Princeton Branch
Bus interchange Local bus: NJ Transit Bus
Trenton Trenton Amtrak Amtrak: Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Keystone Service, Palmetto, Pennsylvanian, Silver Star, Silver Meteor, Vermonter
NJ Transit NJ Transit:  Northeast Corridor Line,  River Line
SEPTA Regional Rail:  Trenton Line
Bus interchange Local bus: SEPTA Suburban Bus, NJ Transit Bus
PA Philadelphia 30th Street Station Amtrak Amtrak: Acela, Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Keystone Service, Palmetto, Pennsylvanian, Silver Meteor, Silver Star, Vermonter
SEPTA Regional Rail: all lines
NJ Transit NJ Transit:  Atlantic City Line
SEPTA City Transit: Market-Frankford Subway-Surface
Bus interchange Local bus: SEPTA City Bus, SEPTA Suburban Bus, NJ Transit Bus
Bus interchange Intercity bus: Megabus (North America) Megabus, Martz Trailways
DE Wilmington Wilmington Amtrak Amtrak: Acela, Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Palmetto, Silver Meteor, Silver Star, Vermonter
SEPTA Regional Rail:  Wilmington/​Newark Line
Bus interchange Local bus: DART First State
Bus interchange Intercity bus: Greyhound Lines Greyhound
Newark Newark SEPTA Regional Rail:  Wilmington/​Newark Line
Bus interchange Local bus: Cecil Transit, DART First State, UNICITY
Bus interchange Intercity bus: FlixBus
MD Aberdeen Aberdeen MARC:  Penn Line
Bus interchange Local bus: Harford Transit
Bus interchange Intercity bus: Greyhound Lines Greyhound
Baltimore Penn Station Amtrak Amtrak: Acela, Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Palmetto, Silver Meteor, Silver Star, Vermonter
MARC:  Penn Line
Light RailLink
Bus interchange Local bus: MTA Maryland, Charm City Circulator
Hanover BWI Airport Baltimore/Washington International Airport Amtrak Amtrak: Acela, Crescent, Vermonter
MARC:  Penn Line
Bus interchange Shuttle to Baltimore/Washington International Airport Baltimore/Washington International Airport
Bus interchange Local bus: MTA Maryland, UMBC Transit
New Carrollton New Carrollton Amtrak Amtrak: Vermonter
MARC:  Penn Line
Metro: Orange Line
Bus interchange Local bus: Metrobus, TheBus, MTA Maryland
Bus interchange Intercity bus: Greyhound Lines Greyhound
Washington, D.C. Washington Washington
Union Station
Amtrak Amtrak: Acela, Capitol Limited, Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Palmetto, Silver Meteor, Silver Star, Vermonter, Amtrak Thruway
MARC:  Brunswick Line,  Camden Line,  Penn Line
Virginia Railway Express Virginia Railway Express:  Manassas Line,  Fredericksburg Line
Metro: Red Line
DC Streetcar: H Street/Benning Road Line
Bus interchange Local bus: Metrobus, DC Circulator, MTA Maryland, Loudoun County Transit, PRTC Buses
Bus interchange Intercity bus: Greyhound Lines Greyhound, Megabus (North America) Megabus, BestBus, Peter Pan, OurBus

Springfield–New Haven

State Town/City Station Connections
MA Springfield Springfield Amtrak Amtrak: Lake Shore Limited, Hartford Line, Vermonter, Valley Flyer
Hartford Line CTrail: Hartford Line
Bus interchange Local bus: Pioneer Valley Transit Authority
Bus interchange Intercity bus: Greyhound Lines Greyhound, Peter Pan
CT Windsor Locks Windsor Locks Amtrak Amtrak: Hartford Line, Vermonter, Valley Flyer
Hartford Line CTrail: Hartford Line
Bus interchange Local bus: CTtransit
Windsor Windsor Amtrak Amtrak: Hartford Line, Valley Flyer
Hartford Line CTrail: Hartford Line
Bus interchange Local bus: CTtransit
Hartford Hartford Amtrak Amtrak: Hartford Line, Vermonter, Valley Flyer
Hartford Line CTrail: Hartford Line
Bus interchange Local bus: CTtransit Hartford
Bus rapid transit BRT: CTfastrak CTfastrak
Bus interchange Intercity bus: Greyhound Lines Greyhound, Peter Pan
Kensington Berlin Amtrak Amtrak: Hartford Line, Valley Flyer
Hartford Line CTrail: Hartford Line
Bus interchange Local bus: CTtransit New Britain
Meriden Meriden Amtrak Amtrak: Hartford Line, Vermonter, Valley Flyer
Hartford Line CTrail: Hartford Line
Bus interchange Local bus: CTtransit Meriden
Wallingford Wallingford Amtrak Amtrak: Hartford Line, Valley Flyer
Hartford Line CTrail: Hartford Line
Bus interchange Local bus: CTtransit Wallingford
New Haven State Street Amtrak Amtrak: Hartford Line, Valley Flyer
Hartford Line CTrail: Hartford Line, Shore Line East
Metro-North:  New Haven Line
Bus interchange Local bus: CTtransit New Haven
To New Haven Union Station

Washington, D.C.–Newport News / Norfolk

State Town/City Station Connections
DC From Washington Union Station
Washington L'Enfant Virginia Railway Express VRE:  Fredericksburg Line,  Manassas Line
Metro:  Blue Line,  Silver Line,  Orange Line,  Green Line,  Yellow Line
Bus interchange Local bus: Metrobus, DC Circulator, MTA Maryland Commuter Bus, OmniRide
VA Alexandria Alexandria Amtrak Amtrak: Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Crescent, Silver Meteor, Silver Star
Virginia Railway Express VRE:  Fredericksburg Line,  Manassas Line
Metro:  Blue Line,  Yellow Line
Bus interchange Local bus: Metrobus, DASH
Woodbridge Woodbridge Virginia Railway Express VRE:  Fredericksburg Line
Bus interchange Local bus: OmniRide
Quantico Quantico Amtrak Amtrak: Carolinian
Virginia Railway Express VRE:  Fredericksburg Line
Bus interchange Local bus: OmniRide
Fredericksburg Fredericksburg Amtrak Amtrak: Carolinian, Silver Meteor
Virginia Railway Express VRE:  Fredericksburg Line
Bus interchange Local bus: FRED
Ashland Ashland
Richmond Richmond Staples Mill Road Amtrak Amtrak: Carolinian, Palmetto, Silver Meteor, Silver Star, Thruway Motorcoach
Bus interchange Local bus: Greater Richmond Transit Company
Service to Newport News, Virginia
Richmond Richmond–Main Street Bus interchange Local bus: Greater Richmond Transit Company
Williamsburg Williamsburg Bus interchange Local bus: Hampton Roads Transit, Williamsburg Area Transit Authority
Newport News Newport News Amtrak Amtrak: Thruway Motorcoach
Bus interchange Local bus: Hampton Roads Transit
Service to Norfolk, Virginia
Ettrick Petersburg Amtrak Amtrak: Carolinian, Palmetto, Silver Meteor, Silver Star
Norfolk Norfolk Light rail interchange Tide Light Rail
Amtrak Amtrak Thruway

Washington, D.C.–Roanoke

State Town/City Station Connections
Virginia From Alexandria Union Station
Burke Burke Centre Virginia Railway Express VRE:  Manassas Line
Bus interchange Local bus: Metrobus, Fairfax Connector
Manassas Manassas Amtrak Amtrak: Cardinal, Crescent
Virginia Railway Express VRE:  Manassas Line
Bus interchange Local bus: OmniRide
Culpeper Culpeper Amtrak Amtrak: Cardinal, Crescent
Charlottesville Charlottesville Amtrak Amtrak: Cardinal, Crescent, Amtrak Thruway
Bus interchange Local bus: Charlottesville Area Transit
Lynchburg Lynchburg Amtrak Amtrak: Crescent
Bus interchange Local bus: Greater Lynchburg Transit Company
Roanoke Roanoke Bus interchange Local bus: Valley Metro, SmartWay
Amtrak Amtrak Thruway

This page was last updated at 2024-03-17 01:02 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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