| Northeast Regional | |
| Type: | Inter-city rail, higher-speed rail |
| Locale: | Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic United States |
| First: | 2008 (renamed from Regional) |
| Operator: | Amtrak |
| Start: | Boston,, or New York City |
| Stops: | 55 (including all branches) |
| End: | Washington, D.C. or Newport News, Norfolk, Roanoke, or Richmond, Virginia |
| Distance: | 6820NaN0 (longest distance: Boston–Roanoke) |
| Journeytime: | 14 hours (greatest travel time: Boston–Roanoke) |
| Frequency: | 50+ trains per day |
| Trainnumber: | 65-198 |
| Class: |
|
| Catering: | Café |
| Baggage: | Overhead racks |
| Stock: |
|
| Electrification: | Overhead line |
| Speed: | 125mph |
| Map State: | collapsed |
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.[1] The Northeast Regional service received more than $787.7 million in gross ticket revenue in FY 2023.[2]
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 about 3.5 hours.[3] The section between New York and Philadelphia takes 1.5 hours, while the part between Philadelphia and Washington takes two hours.[4]
North of New York, the travel time to Boston is four hours, while trips to Springfield take 3.5 hours.[5] South of Washington, trains take 4.5 hours to reach Newport News, 4.5 hours to reach Norfolk, or five hours to reach Roanoke.[6]
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 and hourly services. The November 10, 1996, timetable restored the old names in addition to the NortheastDirect brand.[7] The names (except the) were dropped with the May 16, 1999, schedule.[8]
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.[9] The NortheastDirect branding continued to be used for trains which changed from electric to diesel traction in New Haven.[10]
Due to customer confusion with the Acela Express, the name was changed again on March 17, 2003, to simply "Regional."[11] 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).[12] [13]
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.[14] 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.[15]
Private sleeping rooms on overnight trains 65/66/67, last available in 2004 on the Federal, were made available effective April 5, 2021.[16] The overnight trains were temporarily cancelled in January 2022; they resumed in July 2022 without sleepers.[17] They were temporarily cancelled north of New York City effective April 4, 2023, due to Penn Station Access construction.[18]
See main article: Amtrak Virginia. 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.[19]
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.[20] Service was extended from Lynchburg to Roanoke starting October 31, 2017.[21] A second daily Roanoke round trip was added on July 11, 2022.[22] An extension from Roanoke to Christiansburg, Virginia, near Virginia Tech, is in planning,[23] as is an infill station in Bedford, Virginia.[24]
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.[25] One round trip was extended from Richmond to Norfolk starting December 12, 2012.[26] A second daily Norfolk round trip on weekdays was added on March 4, 2019.[27] One round trip was extended from Staples Mill to Main Street in September 2021.[28] Service changes on July 11, 2022, added an additional Norfolk weekday round trip (making three round trips on weekdays and two on weekends).[22]
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,,, and . 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.[29] 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.[30]
, most Northeast Regional trains consist of 7 to 9 passenger cars hauled by a locomotive.[31]
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 1250NaN0. 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 .
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.[32] 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.[33] 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.[34] 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.
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.[35]
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).[38]
Some trips diverge at New Haven and turn north to serve Springfield, Massachusetts, operating over Amtrak's New Haven–Springfield Line. Additional service on that line is provided by Amtrak's trains, which have 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).
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.
| State | Town/City | Station | Connections |
|---|---|---|---|
| MA | Boston | South Station | Amtrak:, MBTA Commuter Rail: Fairmount Line, Framingham/Worcester Line, Franklin/Foxboro Line, Needham Line, Old Colony Lines, Greenbush Line, Providence/Stoughton Line MBTA subway: MBTA Bus Intercity bus service at South Station Bus Terminal |
| Back Bay | Amtrak: Acela, Lake Shore Limited MBTA Commuter Rail: Framingham/Worcester Line, Franklin/Foxboro Line, Needham Line, Providence/Stoughton Line MBTA subway: MBTA Bus | ||
| Westwood | Amtrak: Acela MBTA Commuter Rail: Providence/Stoughton Line | ||
| RI | Providence | Amtrak: Acela MBTA Commuter Rail: Providence/Stoughton Line Local bus: Rhode Island Public Transit Authority Amtrak Thruway | |
| West Kingston | Local bus: Rhode Island Public Transit Authority | ||
| Westerly | Local bus: Rhode Island Public Transit Authority | ||
| CT | Mystic | Local bus: Southeast Area Transit | |
| New London | CTrail: Shore Line East Local bus: Southeast Area Transit Intercity bus: Greyhound | ||
| Old Saybrook | CTrail: Shore Line East Local bus: Estuary Transit District | ||
| New Haven | Union Station | Amtrak:, Hartford Line, Vermonter CTrail: Hartford Line, Shore Line East Metro-North: Local bus: CTtransit New Haven Intercity bus: Greyhound, Peter Pan | |
| Bridgeport | Amtrak: Vermonter Metro-North:, Local bus: Greater Bridgeport Transit Authority | ||
| Stamford | Amtrak: Acela, Vermonter Metro-North:,, Local bus: CTtransit Stamford Intercity bus: Greyhound | ||
| NY | New Rochelle | Metro-North: Local bus: Bee-Line | |
| New York City | New York Penn Station | Amtrak (long-distance):,, Lake Shore Limited,, Silver Meteor, Amtrak (intercity):,,,,, Ethan Allen Express, Keystone Service,,, Long Island Rail Road:, NJ Transit:,,,, NYC Subway: PATH: Local bus: MTA Bus | |
| NJ | Newark | Newark Penn Station | Amtrak: Acela, Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Keystone Service, Palmetto, Pennsylvanian, Silver Meteor, Silver Star, Vermonter Newark Light Rail NJ Transit:,, PATH: Local bus: NJ Transit Bus Intercity bus: Greyhound, Coach USA, Fullington Trailways |
| AirTrain Newark to Newark Liberty International Airport Amtrak: Keystone Service NJ Transit:, | |||
| Iselin | Amtrak: Acela, Crescent, Keystone Service, Palmetto, Vermonter NJ Transit: Local bus: NJ Transit Bus | ||
| New Brunswick | Amtrak: Keystone Service NJ Transit: Local bus: NJ Transit Bus Intercity bus: Suburban Transit | ||
| West Windsor | Amtrak: Keystone Service NJ Transit:, Local bus: NJ Transit Bus | ||
| Trenton | Amtrak: Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Keystone Service, Palmetto, Pennsylvanian, Silver Star, Silver Meteor, Vermonter NJ Transit:, SEPTA Regional Rail: Local bus: SEPTA Suburban Bus, NJ Transit Bus | ||
| PA | Philadelphia | 30th Street Station | Amtrak: Acela, Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Keystone Service, Palmetto, Pennsylvanian, Silver Meteor, Silver Star, Vermonter SEPTA Regional Rail: all lines NJ Transit: SEPTA City Transit: Local bus: SEPTA City Bus, SEPTA Suburban Bus, NJ Transit Bus Intercity bus: Megabus, Martz Trailways |
| DE | Wilmington | Amtrak: Acela, Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Palmetto, Silver Meteor, Silver Star, Vermonter SEPTA Regional Rail: Local bus: DART First State Intercity bus: Greyhound | |
| Newark | Newark | SEPTA Regional Rail: Local bus: Cecil Transit, DART First State, UNICITY Intercity bus: FlixBus | |
| MD | Aberdeen | MARC: Local bus: Harford Transit Intercity bus: Greyhound | |
| Baltimore | Penn Station | Amtrak: Acela, Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Palmetto, Silver Meteor, Silver Star, Vermonter MARC: Light RailLink Local bus: MTA Maryland, Charm City Circulator | |
| Hanover | Amtrak: Acela, Crescent, Vermonter MARC: Shuttle to Baltimore/Washington International Airport Local bus: MTA Maryland, UMBC Transit | ||
| New Carrollton | Amtrak: Vermonter MARC: Metro: Orange Line Local bus: Metrobus, TheBus, MTA Maryland Intercity bus: Greyhound | ||
| Washington, D.C. | Washington | Washington Union Station | Amtrak: Acela, Capitol Limited, Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Palmetto, Silver Meteor, Silver Star, Vermonter, Amtrak Thruway MARC:,, Virginia Railway Express:, Metro: Red Line DC Streetcar: H Street/Benning Road Line Local bus: Metrobus, DC Circulator, MTA Maryland, Loudoun County Transit, PRTC Buses Intercity bus: Greyhound, Megabus, BestBus, Peter Pan, OurBus |
| State | Town/City | Station | Connections |
|---|---|---|---|
| MA | Springfield | Amtrak:,,, CTrail: Hartford Line Local bus: Pioneer Valley Transit Authority Intercity bus: Greyhound, Peter Pan | |
| CT | Windsor Locks | Amtrak: Hartford Line, Vermonter, Valley Flyer CTrail: Hartford Line Local bus: CTtransit | |
| Windsor | Amtrak: Hartford Line, Valley Flyer CTrail: Hartford Line Local bus: CTtransit | ||
| Hartford | Amtrak: Hartford Line, Vermonter, Valley Flyer CTrail: Hartford Line Local bus: CTtransit Hartford BRT: CTfastrak Intercity bus: Greyhound, Peter Pan | ||
| Kensington | Amtrak: Hartford Line, Valley Flyer CTrail: Hartford Line Local bus: CTtransit New Britain | ||
| Meriden | Amtrak: Hartford Line, Vermonter, Valley Flyer CTrail: Hartford Line Local bus: CTtransit Meriden | ||
| Wallingford | Amtrak: Hartford Line, Valley Flyer CTrail: Hartford Line Local bus: CTtransit Wallingford | ||
| New Haven | State Street | Amtrak: Hartford Line, Valley Flyer CTrail: Hartford Line, Shore Line East Metro-North: Local bus: CTtransit New Haven | |
| To New Haven Union Station | |||
| State | Town/City | Station | Connections |
|---|---|---|---|
| DC | From Washington Union Station | ||
| Washington | L'Enfant | VRE:, Metro: Blue Line, Silver Line, Orange Line, Green Line, Yellow Line Local bus: Metrobus, DC Circulator, MTA Maryland Commuter Bus, OmniRide | |
| VA | Alexandria | Amtrak:,,,,, VRE:, Metro: Blue Line, Yellow Line Local bus: Metrobus, DASH | |
| Woodbridge | VRE: Local bus: OmniRide | ||
| Quantico | Amtrak: Carolinian VRE: Local bus: OmniRide | ||
| Fredericksburg | Amtrak: Carolinian, Silver Meteor VRE: Local bus: FRED | ||
| Ashland | |||
| Richmond | Amtrak: Carolinian, Palmetto, Silver Meteor, Silver Star, Thruway Motorcoach Local bus: Greater Richmond Transit Company | ||
| Service to Newport News, Virginia | |||
| Richmond | Local bus: Greater Richmond Transit Company | ||
| Williamsburg | Local bus: Hampton Roads Transit, Williamsburg Area Transit Authority | ||
| Newport News | Amtrak: Thruway Motorcoach Local bus: Hampton Roads Transit | ||
| Service to Norfolk, Virginia | |||
| Ettrick | Amtrak: Carolinian, Palmetto, Silver Meteor, Silver Star | ||
| Norfolk | Tide Light Rail Amtrak Thruway | ||
| State | Town/City | Station | Connections |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | From Alexandria Union Station | ||
| Burke | VRE: Local bus: Metrobus, Fairfax Connector | ||
| Manassas | Amtrak:, VRE: Local bus: OmniRide | ||
| Culpeper | Amtrak: Cardinal, Crescent | ||
| Charlottesville | Amtrak: Cardinal, Crescent, Amtrak Thruway Local bus: Charlottesville Area Transit | ||
| Lynchburg | Amtrak: Crescent Local bus: Greater Lynchburg Transit Company | ||
| Roanoke | Local bus: Valley Metro, SmartWay Amtrak Thruway |