Northeast Regional |
Two AEM-7s lead a Regional through New Jersey in 2005. |
| Overview |
| Service type |
Regional rail |
| Status |
Operating |
| Locale |
Northeastern United States |
| Current operator(s) |
Amtrak |
| Average ridership |
7,148,998 (2010 total)[1] |
| Route |
| Start |
Boston or Springfield, Massachusetts |
| No. of intermediate stops |
35 between Boston and Newport News, 7 on Springfield branch |
| End |
Newport News or Lynchburg, Virginia |
| Distance travelled |
664 mi (1,069 km) |
| Average journey time |
12 hours 30 minutes |
| Service frequency |
18 trains per day[2] |
| On-board services |
| Seating arrangements |
Airline-style coach seating |
| Catering facilities |
On-board café |
| Baggage facilities |
Checked baggage available at selected stations |
| Technical |
| Gauge |
4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) |
| Operating speed |
max: 125 mph (201 km/h) |
|
|
The Northeast Regional is an intercity rail service operated by Amtrak in the Northeastern United States. In the past, it has also been known as the NortheastDirect, Acela Regional, and Regional. It is by far the busiest Amtrak route, carrying 7.15 million passengers in fiscal year 2010.[1] The second-busiest Amtrak service is the Acela Express which carried around 3.2 million passengers the same year.[1] The Northeast Regional had a total revenue of $458,105,798 in fiscal year 2010, up from $431,430,679 in 2009.[1]
There is frequent daily all-reserved service, operating every hour of every day. Trains generally operate between Boston, Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C., with extra service between New York City and Washington with branches going to Springfield, Massachusetts, Richmond, Virginia, Newport News and Lynchburg, Virginia.
Travel times are approximately 4.5 hours between Newport News and Washington, two hours between Washington and Philadelphia, 1.5 hours between Philadelphia and New York, 3.5 hours between New York and Springfield, and four hours between New York and Boston.
Equipment
Trains are usually 6 to 10 cars long, with a single locomotive pulling at the head end. Today's Northeast Regional uses equipment that is roughly equivalent to the last iteration of the defunct Metroliner service, which had used the same AEM-7 electric locomotives at speeds up to 125 MPH, and used Amfleet II passenger cars. Many Northeast Regional trains have their southern terminus at Washington D.C. However, the number of daily NE Corridor trains that extend into Virginia is increasing annually, according to Amtrak Virginia.
Today, the passenger cars are rebuilt Amfleet I series passenger cars built by the Budd Company in the mid to late 1970s. Prior to March 2008, when Amtrak changed its format for the new Northeast Regional service, the first car was Business Class (formerly the last car), and the second car was the operational Café Car (formerly the second-to-last car). Today, all regional trains have the cafe in the middle of the train, but the business class car is still on the front. If a second Café Car is present, it is only used for passenger seating. Some trains offer a limited number business class seating at the front of the Café Car, instead of having a dedicated Business Class car. The Coach Class car adjacent to business class usually is designated the quiet car, where passengers are asked to refrain from loud talking and mobile phone conversations. In extremely rare occasions, an ex-Metroliner cab car used for the Keystone Service and the New Haven–Springfield Shuttle will be included at the front (after the locomotive) or end of the train.[3] This is usually a deadheaded car, and the locomotive will be leading anyway as all Amtrak trains on the Northeast Corridor with the exclusion of the Keystone will have the locomotive leading, regardless of the direction.
Between Boston and Washington the service has overhead electric wires and largely travels over Amtrak owned-and-operated tracks. This segment reaches speeds of 125 MPH and uses electric locomotives, including the AEM-7 class, built 1978–1987 for the now retired Metroliner service with 5800 horsepower (5.2 MW), the rebuilt AEM-7AC with 8000 horsepower (6 MW), and the Bombardier/Alstom HHP-8 built 1999–2002, also with 8000 horsepower (6 MW). The 8000 horsepower locomotives are not as commonly used on NE Regional trains, since they are standard power for the long-distance trains that use the Northeast Corridor (the Cardinal, the Carolinian, the Crescent, the Palmetto, the Silver Meteor and the Silver Star).
NorthEast Regional trains in Virginia and along the route between Springfield, MA and New Haven, CT, use GE P42DC diesel locomotives and have generally lower peak train speeds. Because these travel segments are using freight railroad tracks, these trains also are more likely to suffer unexpected delays due to congested tracks.
History
The NortheastDirect branding was used for all Northeast Regional services 1995-2003.
An Acela Regional at South Station, Boston, in 2002.
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The services along the line, as inherited from Penn Central, once had their own names, like the Yankee Clipper and the Federal; typically a name applied to at most one train and its "twin" in the opposite direction. 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.[4] The November 10, 1996 timetable restored the old names in addition to the NortheastDirect brand.[5] The names (except the Twilight Shoreliner) were permanently dropped with the May 16, 1999 schedule,[6] and on January 31, 2000 the first rebranded Acela Regional electrified trains ran.[7] Due to confusion with the Acela Express, the name was changed again on March 17, 2003 to Regional.[8] On April 7, 2008 with the release of their new timetable, the name was changed again to Northeast Regional and as a result, Amtrak has started adding the new Northeast Regional logo to their cafe cars.[9][10] However, as of 2010[update], some Amfleet cars still have the NortheastDirect branding in the side.
Virginia service
Although Virginia is not strictly part of the Northeast Corridor, some Northeast Regional trains continue into Virginia, serving Richmond, Newport News, Lynchburg and points in between. Unlike the Northeast Corridor, these tracks are not electrified and are owned by freight railroads. The short distance between Richmond's northern railway station and its downtown Main Street railway station travels at a very slow speed because of the reliance on freight railway track rights through a CSX rail yard. The Commonwealth of Virginia and Amtrak formally partnered in 2009 under the brand Amtrak Virginia to expand passenger rail service within the Commonwealth.
Northeast Regional service south to Alexandria, Richmond, Williamsburg, and Newport News formally began on June 14, 1976, when Amtrak ended the Newport News 'section' of the James Whitcomb Riley. This extension travels over CSX tracks from Washington, DC south to Newport News, VA. The long-standing service to Newport News, which operates 2 trains per day in each direction, has not been subject to either a subsidy or performance guarantee by the Department of Rail & Public Transportation (DRPT), Commonwealth of Virginia.
In October 2009 Amtrak extended the Northeast Regional with daily service from Alexandria, VA, via Burke, Manassas, Culpeper, and Charlottesville, to Lynchburg with support from the Department of Rail & Public Transportation, Commonwealth of Virginia. This extension travels over CSX tracks between Washington, DC and Alexandria, VA, and travel over Norfolk Southern tracks between Alexandria and Lynchburg. In the first month ridership doubled expectations.[11] DRPT provided a performance guarantee for this route.
A further extension south from Richmond, VA to Norfolk, VA along Norfolk Southern tracks is being planned by the Department of Rail & Public Transportation (DRPT), Commonwealth of Virginia in cooperation with Amtrak. Certain track upgrades (e.g. passing sidings, replacing track to increase operating speeds) between Richmond and Norfolk that are necessary to enable this extension are being funded jointly by Norfolk Southern and DRPT. This extension is expected to open in 2013, according to DRPT's official web site.
Classes of service
- Coach class: Coach class cars have 2x2 seating with reading lamps, fold-out tray tables, and an electrical (120 V, 60 Hz AC) outlet at each seat. Reservations are required.
- Business Class: This is either a full business class car with 2x2 seats, reading lamps, fold-out tray tables, and at least 1 (120 V, 60 Hz) electrical outlet per seat, or this is a portion of the Cafe car with 1x2 reclining leather seats, with leg rests, reading lamps, fold-out-tray tables, and at least 1 (120 V, 60 Hz) electrical outlet per seat. Business Class passengers receive complimentary soft drinks. The Business Class car is normally supplied with a daily newspaper, often The New York Times, at its origin station. Regardless of car type, Business class has more legroom than coach, seats which recline further than those in coach, footrests, and window curtains
Beginning with the schedule effective April 25, 2005, Amtrak abolished the previously common unreserved trains. Now, any ticketed passenger is guaranteed a seat on his/her train. "Reservations" may be made at any time after eleven months prior to the train's departure, easing the frequent practice of arriving at the station and purchasing a ticket for the next train. Now reservations are made online at amtrak.com or at 1-800-USA-RAIL. Tickets may also be purchased at the station closer to departure if the station is equipped with a ticket window. Quick Trak machines are available for self ticket service in place of a ticket window.
Route
Most Northeast Regional trains operate over the Northeast Corridor between Boston and Washington (via New York). The Corridor is owned, in part, by Amtrak, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and Metro-North Railroad (MNRR):
Trains which turn north at New Haven to serve Springfield, Massachusetts operate over the New Haven-Springfield Line, which is wholly owned by Amtrak. Both Virginia extensions of the Northeast Regional (Newport News and Lynchburg) use the ex-Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad, now CSX, between Washington and Alexandria, Virginia. From Alexandria the Lynchburg trains use the Norfolk Southern (ex-Southern Railway, ex-Virginia Midland Railway), while Newport News trains use the following CSX tracks:
There is frequent service between Washington-New York and Washington-Boston throughout the day. There is some service to Springfield, Massachusetts, either through to Washington or via a connection at New Haven, Connecticut. Trains between Springfield and New Haven operate over Amtrak trackage but require a diesel locomotive over that portion. Some trains go as far south as Richmond, Newport News, Virginia or Lynchburg, Virginia.
Until around 1999, some service to Springfield continued east to Boston, for an alternate Inland Route between New York and Boston. One weekend train stayed along this route until the November 1, 2004 schedule.
One train, the Federal (Twilight Shoreliner until 2004), used to provide premium overnight sleeper service between Washington and Boston, giving the corridor 24 hour service; the Federal name (briefly resurrected in 2004) is no longer used as an indication of the absence of sleeper service, but a Northeast Regional runs in its place.
Station stops
| State |
Town/City |
Station |
Connections |
| South Station, Old Saybrook, and intermediate stations are used only for service to and from Boston, Massachusetts |
| Massachusetts |
Boston |
South Station |
Amtrak: Acela Express, Lake Shore Limited
MBTA Commuter Rail: Fairmount Line, Framingham/Worcester Line, Franklin Line, Needham Line, Old Colony Lines, Greenbush Line Providence/Stoughton Line
MBTA Bus Lines: 4, 7, 11, 448, 449, 459
MBTA Subway Lines: Red Line, Silver Line (Phase II) |
| Back Bay |
Amtrak: Acela Express, Lake Shore Limited
MBTA Commuter Rail: Framingham/Worcester Line, Franklin Line, Needham Line, Providence/Stoughton Line
MBTA Bus Lines: 10, 39, 170
MBTA Subway Lines: Orange Line |
| Westwood |
Route 128 |
Amtrak: Acela Express
MBTA Commuter Rail: Providence/Stoughton Line |
| Rhode Island |
Providence |
Providence |
Amtrak: Acela Express
MBTA Commuter Rail: Providence/Stoughton Line |
| South Kingstown |
Kingston |
RIPTA Buses |
| Westerly |
Westerly |
none |
| Connecticut |
Mystic |
Mystic |
| New London |
New London |
Amtrak: Acela Express
ConnDOT: Shore Line East
SEAT Buses |
| Old Saybrook |
Old Saybrook |
ConnDOT: Shore Line East
Estuary Transit District |
| Springfield, Wallingford, and intermediate stations are used only for service to and from Springfield, Massachusetts |
| Massachusetts |
Springfield |
Springfield |
Amtrak: Lake Shore Limited, Vermonter, Shuttle |
| Connecticut |
Windsor Locks |
Windsor Locks |
Amtrak: Vermonter, Shuttle |
| Windsor |
Windsor |
Amtrak: Shuttle |
| Hartford |
Hartford Union Station |
Amtrak: Vermonter, Shuttle |
| Kensington |
Berlin |
| Meriden |
Meriden |
| Wallingford |
Wallingford |
Amtrak: Shuttle |
| New Haven |
New Haven – Union Station |
Amtrak: Acela Express, Shuttle, Vermonter
ConnDOT: Shore Line East
CT Transit New Haven: J, Commuter Connection Downtown and Sargent Drive, Temple Street Garage Shuttle
Metro-North Railroad: New Haven Line
Greyhound Lines: Greyhound Bus Lines, Peter Pan Bus Lines |
| Bridgeport |
Bridgeport |
Amtrak: Vermonter
ConnDOT: Shore Line East
GBTA: Coastal Link, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17
Metro-North Railroad: New Haven Line |
| Stamford |
Stamford |
Amtrak: Acela Express, Vermonter
ConnDOT: Shore Line East
CT Transit Stamford: 11, 13, 14, 21, 22, 24, 31, 32, 33, 34, 41, 42, 43, 44, Commuter Connection Central, Commuter Connection-North, Commuter Connection Route 1 – East, Commuter Connection Bulls Head, I-Bus
Metro-North Railroad: New Haven Line |
| New York |
New Rochelle |
New Rochelle |
Bee-Line: 7, 30, 42, 45, 60, 61, 62, 66, 91
Metro-North Railroad: New Haven Line |
| New York City |
Penn Station |
Amtrak: Acela Express, Adirondack, Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Empire Service, Ethan Allen Express, Keystone Service, Lake Shore Limited, Maple Leaf, Palmetto, Pennsylvanian, Silver Meteor, Silver Star, Vermonter
Long Island Rail Road: Main Line, Port Washington Branch
New Jersey Transit: North Jersey Coast Line, Northeast Corridor Line, Gladstone Branch, Montclair-Boonton Line, Morristown Line
NYC Subway: 1 2 3 A C E trains
NYC Transit buses: M4, M7, M20, M34 / M34A Select Bus Service, Q32 |
| New Jersey |
Newark |
Newark Penn Station |
Amtrak: Acela Express, Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Keystone Service, Palmetto, Pennsylvanian, Silver Meteor, Silver Star, Vermonter
NJ Transit: Newark City Subway, Newark Light Rail, North Jersey Coast Line, Northeast Corridor Line, Raritan Valley Line, 1, 5, 21, 34, 40, 62, 67, 70, 71, 72, 73, 75, 76, 78, 79, 108, 308, 319, 361, 375, 378
PATH: NWK-WTC
Coach USA: 31, 44 |
| Newark Liberty International Airport |
AirTrain Newark: to Newark Liberty International Airport
Amtrak: Keystone Service
NJ Transit: North Jersey Coast Line, Northeast Corridor Line |
| Iselin |
Metropark |
Amtrak: Acela Express, Keystone Service, Vermonter
NJ Transit: Northeast Corridor Line 62, 801, 802, 803, 804, 805 |
| New Brunswick |
New Brunswick |
Amtrak: Keystone Service
NJ Transit: Northeast Corridor Line, 810, 811, 814, 815, 818, 980 |
| Princeton |
Princeton Junction |
Amtrak: Keystone Service, Pennsylvanian
NJ Transit: Northeast Corridor Line, Princeton Branch, 600, 612 (612 renumbered from 976) |
| Trenton |
Trenton Rail Station |
Amtrak: Acela Express, Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Keystone Service, Palmetto, Pennsylvanian, Silver Star, Silver Meteor, Vermonter
NJ Transit: Northeast Corridor Line, River Line, 409, 418, 600, 601, 604, 606, 608, 609, 611, 619
SEPTA Regional Rail: Trenton Line
SEPTA Suburban Transit Division: Route 127 |
| Pennsylvania |
Cornwells Heights |
Cornwells Heights |
Amtrak: Keystone Service
SEPTA Regional Rail: Trenton Line
SEPTA Suburban Transit Division: Routes 129, 304 |
| Philadelphia |
North Philadelphia |
Amtrak: Keystone Service
SEPTA Regional Rail: Trenton Line, Chestnut Hill West Line
SEPTA City Transit Division: Broad Street Subway, Routes 54, C |
| 30th Street Station |
Amtrak: Acela Express, Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Keystone Service, Palmetto, Pennsylvanian, Silver Meteor, Silver Star, Vermonter
NJ Transit: Atlantic City Line
SEPTA City Transit Division: Market-Frankford Line, SEPTA Subway-Surface Trolley Lines (Route 10, Route 11, Route 13, Route 34, Route 36), 9, 30, 31, 44, 62, 121, 316
SEPTA Suburban Transit Division: 124, 125
SEPTA Regional Rail: Airport Line, Warminster Line, Wilmington/Newark Line, West Trenton Line, Media/Elwyn Line, Lansdale/Doylestown Line, Paoli/Thorndale Line, Manayunk/Norristown Line, Cynwyd Line, Trenton Line, Chestnut Hill East Line, Chestnut Hill West Line, Fox Chase Line |
| Delaware |
Wilmington |
Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Railroad Station |
Amtrak: Acela Express, Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Palmetto, Silver Meteor, Silver Star, Vermonter
DART First State: 2, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 20, 21, 28, 32, 301
SEPTA Regional Rail: Wilmington/Newark Line |
| Newark |
Newark Rail Station |
DART First State: 16, 33, 59, 65
SEPTA Regional Rail: Wilmington/Newark Line |
| Maryland |
Aberdeen |
Aberdeen |
MARC Train: Penn Line
Harford Transit: 1, 1A, 4, 6, 6A |
| Baltimore |
Baltimore Penn Station |
Amtrak: Acela Express, Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Palmetto, Silver Meteor, Silver Star, Vermonter
MARC Train: Penn Line
MTA Maryland: Light Rail, 3, 11, 61, 64 |
| BWI Rail Station |
Amtrak: Acela Express, Vermonter
MARC Train: Penn Line
MTA Maryland: 17 |
| New Carrollton |
New Carrollton |
Amtrak: Vermonter
MARC Train: Penn Line
Metro: Orange Line, 84, 85, 88, B21, B22, B24, B25, B27, B29, B31, C28, F12, F13, F14, F4, F6, L99, R12, T16, T17, T18 The Bus:15,16,21,21X |
| District of Columbia |
Washington |
Washington Union Station |
Amtrak: Acela Express, Capitol Limited, Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Palmetto, Silver Meteor, Silver Star, Vermonter, Thruway Motorcoach to Charlottesville, Virginia
MARC Train: Brunswick Line, Camden Line, Penn Line
Metro: Red Line
Metrobus: Loudoun, OmniRid
VRE: Manassas Line, Fredericksburg Line |
| Virginia |
Alexandria |
Alexandria Union Station |
Amtrak: Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Palmetto, Silver Meteor, Silver Star
VRE: Fredericksburg Line, Manassas Line
Metro: Blue Line, Yellow Line |
| Burke Centre, Manassas, Culpeper, and Charlottesville stations are used for intermediate service between Alexandria and Lynchburg, Virginia. |
| Burke |
Burke Centre |
VRE: Manassas Line
Metrobus: 17B,17L
VRE EZ Bus: North Route, South Route |
| Manassas |
Manassas |
Amtrak: Cardinal, Crescent
VRE: Manassas Line
OmniRide/OmniLink |
| Culpeper |
Culpeper |
Amtrak: Cardinal, Crescent |
| Charlottesville |
Charlottesville Union Station |
Amtrak: Cardinal, Crescent, Thruway Motorcoach to Richmond, Washington D.C.
Greyhound Lines
CAT: T, 7 |
| Lynchburg |
Lynchburg |
Amtrak: Crescent |
| Woodbridge, Quantico, Fredericksburg, Ashland, Richmond Staples Mill Road, Richmond Main Street, and Williamsburg stations are used for intermediate service between Alexandria and Newport News, Virginia. |
| Woodbridge |
Woodbridge |
VRE: Fredericksburg Line
PRTC: Prince William Metro Direct
OmniLink, 1 |
| Quantico |
Quantico |
Amtrak: Carolinian
VRE: Fredericksburg Line
PRTC: OmniLink, 1 |
| Fredericksburg |
Fredericksburg |
Amtrak: Carolinian
VRE: Fredericksburg Line
FRED D1, F2, F4, VF1, VS1 |
| Ashland |
Ashland |
none |
| Richmond |
Richmond Staples Mill Road |
Amtrak: Carolinian, Palmetto, Silver Meteor, Silver Star, Thruway Motorcoach to Charlottesville, Virginia |
| Richmond Main Street Station |
GRTC |
| Williamsburg |
Williamsburg |
HRT: Route 121
WAT: Blue Line, Brown Line, Gray Line, Orange Line, Purple Line, Red Line, Yellow Line |
| Newport News |
Newport News |
Amtrak: Thruway Motorcoach to Virginia Beach/Norfolk, Virginia
HRT: Route 106/107 |
External links
References
- ^ a b c d "AMTRAK SETS NEW RIDERSHIP RECORD, THANKS PASSENGERS FOR TAKING THE TRAIN". Amtrak. 11 October 2010. http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/BlobServer?blobcol=urldata&blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobkey=id&blobwhere=1249215885709&blobheader=application%2Fpdf&blobheadername1=Content-disposition&blobheadervalue1=attachment;filename=Amtrak_ATK-10-134_Amtrak_Sets_Ridership_&_Revenue_Records_in_FY_2010_(10-11-10).pdf. Retrieved 26 October 2010.
- ^ Northeast Regional schedule
- ^ "RARE MUST SEE!! Late 137 with Amtrak Cabcar!". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRZ1fmv8KYA.
- ^ Matthew Mitchell, Free rides, misc.transport.urban-transit October 27, 1995
- ^ Scanner, Trains February 1997
- ^ A step back in the Northeast, Trains August 1999 page 17
- ^ Ron Newman, Acela Regional starts Jan 31, 2000, misc.transport.rail.americas January 27, 2000
- ^ Rail Travel News – News Posting March 23, 2003
- ^ "Timetable with new service name". http://www.amtrak.com/timetable/apr08/W04.pdf.
- ^ "Cafe car with Northeast Regional logo". http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?photo=2008092420262831715.jpg&order=bydate&page=3&key=.
- ^ Reed, Ray (December 16, 2009). "Amtrak's Lynchburg-Washington line beats projections". The News & Advance. http://www2.newsadvance.com/lna/news/local/article/amtraks_lynchburg-washington_line_beats_projections/22419/. Retrieved 2009-12-17.
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