Northeast Regional

; Northeast Regional
	; Two AEM-7s lead a Regional through New Jersey in 2005.
Overview
Service type	Regional rail
Status	Operating
Locale	Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States
Current operator(s)	Amtrak
Average ridership	7,514,741 (FY11 total)
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
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)
Route map

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The Northeast Regional is an intercity rail service operated by Amtrak in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic United States. In the past, it has also been known as the NortheastDirect, Acela Regional, and Regional. It is the busiest Amtrak route, carrying 7.51 million passengers in fiscal year 2011.^[1] The Northeast Regional service earned over $490 million in gross revenues in FY2011.^[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 and Richmond, 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.

[edit] 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.

[edit] History

The NortheastDirect branding was used for all Northeast Regional services 1995-2003.

An Acela Regional at South Station, Boston, in 2002.

A Virginian Northeast Regional crosses the James River near Lynchburg in 2011

.

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.

[edit] 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 to Norfolk 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. However, the Virginian Pilot reports that service is expected to begin on December 31st of 2012 [1].

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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):

MBTA Providence/Stoughton Line, Boston to Massachusetts/Rhode Island state line (dispatched and maintained by Amtrak)
Amtrak Northeast Corridor, state line to New Haven
MNRR New Haven Line, New Haven to New Rochelle
Amtrak Northeast Corridor, New Rochelle to Washington

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.

[edit] 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)
	Boston	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	none
	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	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	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
	Philadelphia	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
Delaware	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
	Baltimore	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	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

[edit] External links

Amtrak – Northeast Regional

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Amtrak Ridership Rolls Up Best-Ever Records" (PDF). Amtrak. 13 October 2011. http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/BlobServer?blobcol=urldata&blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobkey=id&blobwhere=1249232964000&blobheader=application%2Fpdf&blobheadername1=Content-disposition&blobheadervalue1=attachment;filename=Amtrak_ATK-11-133_Record_FY11_Ridership_and_Revenue.pdf. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
^ 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.

[FY2011-0] "Amtrak Ridership Rolls Up Best-Ever Records" (PDF). Amtrak. 13 October 2011. http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/BlobServer?blobcol=urldata&blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobkey=id&blobwhere=1249232964000&blobheader=application%2Fpdf&blobheadername1=Content-disposition&blobheadervalue1=attachment;filename=Amtrak_ATK-11-133_Record_FY11_Ridership_and_Revenue.pdf. Retrieved 7 February 2012.

[1] Northeast Regional schedule

[CabCaronNEReg-2] "RARE MUST SEE!! Late 137 with Amtrak Cabcar!". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRZ1fmv8KYA.

[3] Matthew Mitchell, Free rides, misc.transport.urban-transit October 27, 1995

[4] Scanner, Trains February 1997

[5] A step back in the Northeast, Trains August 1999 page 17

[6] Ron Newman, Acela Regional starts Jan 31, 2000, misc.transport.rail.americas January 27, 2000

[7] Rail Travel News – News Posting March 23, 2003

[8] "Timetable with new service name". http://www.amtrak.com/timetable/apr08/W04.pdf.

[9] "Cafe car with Northeast Regional logo". http://photos.nerail.org/showpic/?photo=2008092420262831715.jpg&order=bydate&page=3&key=.

[10] 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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Northeast Regional

Contents

[edit] Equipment

[edit] History

[edit] Virginia service

[edit] Classes of service

[edit] Route

[edit] Station stops

[edit] External links

[edit] References

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