Amtrak Trains in New England

Amtrak, the USA's national rail passenger service, runs useful train service through the Northeast Corridor (the urban sprawl between Washington DC and Boston, including New York City).

Northeast Corridor Amtrak Trains
Most passengers who come to New England by rail do so along the Northeast Corridor via New York City. Northeast Corridor service includes trains running from Washington, Baltimore, and Philadelphia via New York City's Pennsylvania Station ("Penn Station" for short) to New Haven and Hartford CT, Springfield MA, Providence RI, and Boston MA.

The main rail line from New York City to Boston follows the Connecticut shoreline for much of the way, stopping in:

New Rochelle NY

Stamford CT

Bridgeport CT

New Haven CT (Yale University)

Old Saybrook CT (for Old Lyme, Essex, and Ivoryton)

New London CT (US Coast Guard Academy)

Mystic CT (Mystic Seaport)

Westerly RI (for Stonington CT)

Kingston RI (for Narragansett, Port Galilee RI and ferries to Block Island RI)

Providence RI

...finally arriving in Boston MA.

Here's information on travel from New York City to Cape Cod (Hyannis) by train and bus.

Another Amtrak route departs New York City's Pennsylvania Station, follows the main line as far as New Haven, then runs up the Connecticut River Valley stopping at Wallingford, Meriden, Berlin (New Britain) and Hartford CT, then Windsor and Windsor Locks CT (for Bradley International Airport), and terminating at Springfield MA.

There are three types of service:

—Acela Express is the faster, more comfortable, more expensive type, traveling between Boston (South Station) and New York City (Pennsylvania Station) in 3-1/2 hours.

There are nine Acela Expresses in each direction on weekdays, fewer on weekends.

Stops are limited: New York City (Penn Station), Stamford and New Haven CT, Providence RI, Route 128 (Westwood, University Park) and Boston MA.

—Regional Service is slower and less expensive, taking four to 4-1/2 hours between Boston and New York City, with more station stops.

—Named expresses follow three routes in New England:

The Downeaster
Four round-trip trains daily connect Boston's North Station with Portland ME stopping at Woburn and Haverhill MA; Exeter, Durham and Dover NH; Wells, Saco and Old Orchard Beach ME. Note that this train departs Boston's North Station; all other Amtrak trains use South Station.

The Vermonter
It starts in Washington DC and after New York City's Penn Station, stops at Stamford, Bridgeport, New Haven, Meriden, Kensington-Berlin and Hartford CT; Springfield and Amherst MA; Brattleboro and Bellows Falls VT; Claremont NH; and Windsor, White River Junction, (for Woodstock), Randolph, Montpelier, Waterbury (for Stowe), Essex Junction (for Burlington) and St Albans VT.

The Vermonter is especially useful for skiers going from Washington, Philadelphia and New York City to the ski slopes of Vermont, but is also great for a getaway anytime of year from the cities straight into the New England countryside.

The Ethan Allen Express
Named for the commander of Vermont's Revolutionary War Green Mountain Boys, this train runs daily between New York City's Penn Station, Albany NY and Rutland VT. In winter, there's an easy bus connection to the Okemo ski resort.

See the Amtrak website for details and to make reservations.

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Metro North Trains from New York City to New Haven CT

Connecticut Shore Line East Trains

Travel by Car in New England

Travel by Bus in New England

Travel by Plane in New England

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