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).

(Here's how to decide whether to travel by train, plane, bus or car between Boston and 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, and about 19 trains per weekday (14 trains per weekend day) run this route with these station stops:

—New York City, Penn Station (NYP)
—New Haven CT (NHV; Yale University)
—Old Saybrook CT (OSB; Old Lyme, Essex & Ivoryton)
—New London CT (NLC; US Coast Guard Academy)
—Mystic CT (MYS; Mystic Seaport)
—Westerly RI (WLY; Stonington CT & South County RI)
—West Kingston RI (KIN; for Narragansett, Port Galilee RI and ferries to Block Island RI)
—Providence RI (PVD)
—Route 128 (RTE; Westwood Station/University Ave)
—Back Bay Station (BBY), Copley Place, Boston (map)

...finally arriving at South Station (BOS) in Boston MA.

In effect, there is a train about every hour or less between 5:30 am to 7:00 pm, plus one later train.

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

New York City to Springfield MA

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 (Kensington) and Hartford CT, then Windsor and Windsor Locks CT (for Bradley International Airport), and terminating at Springfield MA.

There are two through trains (about 3-1/2 hours) daily on this route (a Northeast Regional and The Vermonter), and five Shuttle trains (3-1/2 to 4 hours) between Springfield and New Haven, where you change for a Northeast Regional train to New York City (Penn Station).

Types of Train Service

There are three types of service:

Acela Express

Acela Express is the faster, more comfortable, more expensive type, traveling between Boston (South Station) and New York City (Penn Station) in about 3-1/2 hours, then continuing to Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington DC. Seating is Business Class and First Class (no Coach Class).

There are ten Acela Expresses in each direction on weekdays, five 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.

Northeast Regional Service

Northeast Regional is slower and less expensive, taking four to 4-1/2 hours between Boston and New York City, with more station stops. The trains continue to Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington DC, making more stops along the way.

There are nine Northeast Regional trains every day, weekdays and weekends.

Seating is Coach Class and Business Class.

Named Express Trains

Named expresses follow three routes in New England:

The Downeaster
Five round-trip trains daily connect Boston's North Station with Portland ME stopping at Woburn and Haverhill MA; Exeter, Durham and Dover NH near the New Hampshire coast; Wells, Saco and Old Orchard Beach ME on the southern Maine coast. More...

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 on the Canadian border.

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.

The Lakeshore Limited
The daily train between Boston and Chicago stops at Worcester and Springfield MA in the Pioneer Valley, Pittsfield MA in the Berkshire Hills, Albany and other points in New York state.

See the Amtrak website for details and to make reservations.

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