Northeast Regional

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Northeast Regional
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Northeast Regional 152 (12384532733).jpg
An ACS-64 locomotive leads a Northeast Regional through Maryland in 2014
Overview
Service type Higher-speed rail
Status Operating
Locale Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States
Current operator(s) Amtrak
Ridership 8,044,216 (FY13)[1]
Route
Start Boston, Springfield, Massachusetts, or New York City, New York
Stops 35 between Boston and Newport News, 7 on Springfield branch
End Norfolk, Richmond, Newport News, Lynchburg, Virginia, or Washington D.C.
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
Track gauge 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)
Operating speed max: 125 mph (201 km/h)

The Northeast Regional is a higher-speed 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 the busiest Amtrak route, carrying 8.04 million passengers in fiscal year (FY) 2013, a 0.4% increase[1] over the 8.01 million passengers in FY2012.[3] The Northeast Regional service earned over $568.7 million in gross ticket revenue in FY2013, a 6.2% increase[1] over the $536 million earned during FY2012.[3]

There is daily all-reserved service about every hour during the day. Trains generally run between Boston, Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C. with more between New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington. Extensions and branches extend to Springfield, Massachusetts and Richmond, Newport News, Norfolk, and Lynchburg, Virginia.

Travel times are about 4.5 hours between Norfolk or Newport News and Washington, 3.5 hours between Lynchburg 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. Travel times between Washington and New York are typically slightly faster than the equivalent travel time by car. [4]

Equipment

Trains usually have 7 to 10 cars with one or two locomotives pulling, although they may be as long as 14 cars during peak travel periods.

Today, the passenger cars are the rebuilt Amfleet I series passenger cars built by the Budd Company in the mid to late 1970s. Today all daytime regional trains have the cafe in the middle of the train, with the business-class car on the front. The Coach Class car adjacent to business class is designated the quiet car, where passengers are asked to refrain from loud talking and mobile phone conversations. If a second Café Car is present, it is only used for passenger seating. The overnight regional trains numbered 65, 66, and 67 have a different configuration than other regional trains. These trains offer a limited number of business-class seats at the front of the Café Car, instead of having a dedicated Business Class car. The overnight trains have no quiet car, but do have a baggage car used for baggage service.

Between Boston and Washington the service has overhead electric wires and largely travels over Amtrak-owned tracks. This segment reaches speeds of 125 mph (201 km/h) with electric locomotives, including the AEM-7AC built between 1979-1988 with 7000 horsepower (5.2 MW) and the ACS-64 built from 2012-2015 with 8600 horsepower (6.4 MW). The ACS-64 is currently replacing the AEM-7s, they have already replaced the fleet of 15 Bombardier HHP-8 Locomotives.

Northeast Regional trains in Virginia and along the route between Springfield, MA and New Haven, CT, use GE P42DC diesel locomotives and have lower top speeds. Because the Virginia segments are using freight railroad tracks, these trains are more likely to suffer delays due to congested tracks.

History

The NortheastDirect branding was used for most Northeast Regional services 1995-2002.
An Acela HHP-8 at South Station, Boston, in 2002.
A Virginian Northeast Regional crosses the James River near Lynchburg in 2011.

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See also: List of Amtrak routes § Northeast Corridor

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.[5] The November 10, 1996 timetable restored the old names in addition to the NortheastDirect brand.[6] The names (except the Twilight Shoreliner) were dropped with the May 16, 1999 schedule.[7] In 2000 Amtrak completed electrifying the route from New Haven to Boston in preparation for the introduction of the Acela Express, 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 "Capstone" livery. All-electric service began on January 31, 2000.[8]

Due to customer confusion with the Acela Express, the name was changed again on March 17, 2003 to "Regional".[9] 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.[10][11] However, as of 2010, some Amfleet cars still have the "NortheastDirect" branding in the side.

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 8 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.[12] 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. [13]

Virginia service

Although Virginia is not strictly part of the Northeast Corridor, some Northeast Regional trains continue into Virginia, serving Richmond, Norfolk, Newport News, Lynchburg and points in between. These tracks are not electrified and are owned by freight railroads. Trains travel the short distance between Richmond's suburban Staples Mill station and its downtown Main Street station very slowly because of the reliance on freight railway track rights through a CSX rail yard. The Commonwealth of Virginia and Amtrak 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, D.C. 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.[14] This extension has traveled over CSX tracks between Washington, D.C. and Alexandria, VA, and traveled over Norfolk Southern tracks between Alexandria and Lynchburg. In the first month, ridership doubled expectations.[15] DRPT provided a performance guarantee for this route.

A further extension[16] south from Richmond to Norfolk along Norfolk Southern tracks was planned by the Department of Rail & Public Transportation (DRPT), and the 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 were necessary to enable this extension were funded jointly by Norfolk Southern and DRPT. Service started on December 12, 2012.[17]

On August 9, 2013, it was announced that Amtrak hopes to complete track upgrades and infrastructure built in order to have train service to Roanoke, Virginia, by 2016.[18]

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.

Effective April 25, 2005, Amtrak abolished unreserved seating on these trains. Reservations may be made at any time up to eleven months in advance, either online at amtrak.com or by phone at 1-800-USA-RAIL. Tickets may also be purchased at a station ticket window or through a Quick Trak ticketing machine.

Route

Amtrak Northeast Regional (interactive 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 (CTDOT)

Trains which turn north at New Haven to serve Springfield, Massachusetts, operate over the New Haven-Springfield Line, 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 has been frequent service between Washington-New York and Washington-Boston through the day. There has been some service to Springfield, Massachusetts, either through to Washington or via a connection at New Haven, Connecticut. Trains between Springfield and New Haven run on Amtrak track but require a diesel locomotive there. Some trains travel as far south as Richmond, Norfolk, Newport News 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 on this route until the November 1, 2004 schedule.

One train, the Federal (Twilight Shoreliner until 2004), formerly carried an overnight sleeper between Washington and Boston, giving the corridor 24-hour service; the Federal name (briefly resurrected in 2004) is no longer used, and an ordinary all-coach 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
RIPTA Buses: 50, 55, 56, 57
South Kingstown Kingston RIPTA Buses: 64, 66
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 48, 801, 802, 803, 804, 805
New Brunswick New Brunswick Amtrak: Keystone Service
NJ Transit: Northeast Corridor Line, 810, 811, 814, 815, 818, 980
West Windsor 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 16 and 54
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
Charm City Circulator: Purple Route, Artscape Shuttle
BWI Rail Station Amtrak: Acela Express, Vermonter
MARC Train: Penn Line
Park BWI Shuttle
MTA Maryland: 17, 201
Howard Transit: Silver
UMBC Transit: Halethorpe Line
New Carrollton New Carrollton Amtrak: Vermonter
MARC Train: Penn Line
Metro: Orange Line
Metrobus: 84, 85, 88, B21, B22, B24, B25, B27, B29, B31, C28, F12, F13, F14, F4, F6, L99, R12, T16, T17, T18
The Bus: 15X, 16, 21, 21X
MTA Maryland: 921
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
VRE: Manassas Line, Fredericksburg Line
Metro: Red Line
Metrobus: D3, D6, D8, X1, X2, X8, X9, 80, 96, 97
DC Circulator: Georgetown, Navy Yard
MTA Maryland: 903, 922
Loudoun County Transit: Loudoun County
PRTC: Dale City
Virginia Alexandria Alexandria Union Station Amtrak: Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Palmetto, Silver Meteor, Silver Star
VRE: Fredericksburg Line, Manassas Line
Metro: Blue Line, Yellow Line
Metrobus: REX, 28A, 28B, 29K, 29N
DASH: AT2, AT5, AT6, AT7, AT8, AT10
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
Fairfax Connector: 495F, 495G, 495J, 495M
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, Thruway Motorcoach to Bedford, Roanoke and Blacksburg, VA
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
GRTC: Route 18
Richmond Main Street Station GRTC: Routes 6, 11, 52/53, 95
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 Norfolk and Virginia Beach, Virginia
HRT: Route 106/107
Woodbridge, Quantico, Fredericksburg, Ashland, Richmond Staples Mill Road, and Petersburg stations are used for intermediate service between Alexandria and Norfolk, 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
GRTC : Route 18
Ettrick Petersburg Amtrak: Carolinian, Palmetto, Silver Meteor, Silver Star
Norfolk Norfolk Amtrak: Thruway Motorcoach to Virginia Beach and Newport News, Virginia
The Tide light rail: Harbor Park station

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Mitchell, Matthew (October 27, 1995). Free rides, misc.transport.urban-transit.
  6. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. ↑ "Rail Travel News", News Posting, March 23, 2003.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ Cuellar, Dann. "Did Something Strike Amtrak Train before Crash?" 6abc.com. ABC Inc., WPVI-TV Philadelphia, 2015. Web. 16 May 2015.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ "HR Rail", Rich2HRRail.info.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

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