Northeast Regional

Virginia service

Some Northeast Regional trains continue into Virginia, serving three branches to Norfolk, Newport News, and Roanoke, and 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.^[21]

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.^[22] Service was extended from Lynchburg to Roanoke starting October 31, 2017.^[23] A second daily Roanoke round trip was added on July 11, 2022.^[19] Additionally, an infill station in Bedford, Virginia has been proposed.^[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).^[19]

Planned expansion

Equipment

As of 2018^[update], most Northeast Regional trains consist of 7 to 9 passenger cars hauled by a locomotive.^[38]

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, D.C., the service has overhead electric wires and is pulled by Siemens ACS-64 electric locomotives at speeds up to 125 mph (201 km/h). Northeast Regional trains operating south of Washington, into Virginia, and on the New Haven–Springfield Line use GE Genesis diesel locomotives which have a slightly lower top speed of 110 mph (180 km/h).

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.^[39] 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.^[40] 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.^[41] 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.

Classes of service

All classes of service include complimentary WiFi, an electric outlet (120 V, 60 Hz AC) at each seat, reading lamps, and fold-out tray tables. Reservations are required on all trains; tickets may be purchased online, over the phone, from a station agent, or via ticketing machine.^[42]

• Coach Class: 2×2 seating. Passengers self-select seats on a first-come, first-served basis.^[43]
• Business Class: 2×2 or 2×1 seating with more legroom than coach. Passengers receive a complimentary soft drink. Seats are assigned in advance.^[44]

Route

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).^[45]

• MBTA Attleboro Line: Boston to MA/RI state line (dispatched and maintained by Amtrak)^[46]
• Amtrak Northeast Corridor: MA/RI state line to New Haven, Connecticut
• CDOT New Haven Line: New Haven to CT/NY state line (dispatched and maintained by MNRR)
• MNRR New Haven Line: CT/NY state line to New Rochelle, New York
• Amtrak Northeast Corridor: New Rochelle to Washington, D.C.

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 Hartford Line trains, which have timed transfers to and from many Northeast Regional trips.^[3]

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).

Funding

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.

Boston–Washington, D.C.

More information State, Town/City ...

State	Town/City	Station	Connections
Massachusetts	Boston	South Station	Amtrak: Acela, Lake Shore Limited MBTA Commuter Rail: Fairmount Line, Framingham/Worcester Line, Fall River/New Bedford Line, Franklin/Foxboro Line, Needham Line, Greenbush Line, Kingston Line, Providence/Stoughton Line MBTA subway: Red Line, Silver Line 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: Orange Line MBTA bus
	Westwood	Route 128	Amtrak: Acela MBTA Commuter Rail: Providence/Stoughton Line
Rhode Island	Providence	Providence	Amtrak: Acela MBTA Commuter Rail: Providence/Stoughton Line Rhode Island Public Transit Authority Amtrak Thruway
	West Kingston	Kingston	Rhode Island Public Transit Authority
	Westerly	Westerly	Rhode Island Public Transit Authority
Connecticut	Mystic	Mystic	Southeast Area Transit
	New London	New London	CTrail: Shore Line East Southeast Area Transit
	Old Saybrook	Old Saybrook	CTrail: Shore Line East Estuary Transit District
	New Haven	Union Station	Amtrak: Acela, Hartford Line, Vermonter CTrail: Hartford Line, Shore Line East Metro-North: ■ New Haven Line CTtransit New Haven Intercity bus: Greyhound, Peter Pan
	Bridgeport	Bridgeport	Amtrak: Vermonter Metro-North: ■ New Haven Line Greater Bridgeport Transit Authority
	Stamford	Stamford	Amtrak: Acela, Vermonter Metro-North: ■ New Haven Line, New Canaan Branch CTtransit Stamford Intercity bus: Greyhound
New York	New Rochelle	New Rochelle	Metro-North: ■ New Haven Line Bee-Line
	New York City	New York Penn Station	Amtrak (long-distance): Cardinal, Crescent, Lake Shore Limited, Palmetto, Silver Meteor Amtrak (intercity): Acela, Adirondack, Berkshire Flyer, Carolinian, Empire Service, Ethan Allen Express, Keystone Service, Maple Leaf, Pennsylvanian, Vermonter Long Island Rail Road: ■ City Terminal Zone, ■ Port Washington Branch NJ Transit: ■ North Jersey Coast Line, ■ Northeast Corridor Line, ■ Gladstone Branch, ■ Montclair–Boonton Line, ■ Morristown Line NYC Subway: ​​​​ PATH: HOB-33 JSQ-33 JSQ-33 (via HOB) MTA Bus
New Jersey	Newark	Newark Penn Station	Amtrak: Acela, Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Keystone Service, Palmetto, Pennsylvanian, Silver Meteor, Vermonter Newark Light Rail NJ Transit: ■ North Jersey Coast Line, ■ Northeast Corridor Line, ■ Raritan Valley Line PATH: NWK-WTC NJ Transit Bus Intercity bus: Greyhound, Coach USA, Fullington Trailways
		Newark Airport	AirTrain Newark to Newark Liberty International Airport Amtrak: Keystone Service NJ Transit: ■ North Jersey Coast Line, ■ Northeast Corridor Line
	Iselin	Metropark	Amtrak: Acela, Crescent, Keystone Service, Palmetto, Vermonter NJ Transit: ■ Northeast Corridor Line NJ Transit Bus
	New Brunswick	New Brunswick	Amtrak: Keystone Service NJ Transit: ■ Northeast Corridor Line NJ Transit Bus Intercity bus: Suburban Transit
	West Windsor	Princeton Junction	Amtrak: Keystone Service NJ Transit: ■ Northeast Corridor Line, ■ Princeton Branch NJ Transit Bus
	Trenton	Trenton	Amtrak: Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Keystone Service, Palmetto, Pennsylvanian, Silver Meteor, Vermonter NJ Transit: ■ Northeast Corridor Line, ■ River Line SEPTA Regional Rail: ■ Trenton Line SEPTA Suburban Bus, NJ Transit Bus
Pennsylvania	Philadelphia	30th Street Station	Amtrak: Acela, Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Keystone Service, Palmetto, Pennsylvanian, Silver Meteor, Vermonter SEPTA Regional Rail: all lines NJ Transit: ■ Atlantic City Line SEPTA Metro: SEPTA City Bus, SEPTA Suburban Bus, NJ Transit Bus Intercity bus: Megabus, Martz Trailways
Delaware	Wilmington	Wilmington	Amtrak: Acela, Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Palmetto, Silver Meteor, Vermonter SEPTA Regional Rail: ■ Wilmington/​Newark Line DART First State Intercity bus: Greyhound
	Newark	Newark	SEPTA Regional Rail: ■ Wilmington/​Newark Line Cecil Transit, DART First State Intercity bus: FlixBus
Maryland	Aberdeen	Aberdeen	MARC: ■ Penn Line Harford Transit Intercity bus: Greyhound
	Baltimore	Penn Station	Amtrak: Acela, Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Palmetto, Silver Meteor, Vermonter MARC: ■ Penn Line Light RailLink MTA Maryland, Charm City Circulator
	Hanover	BWI Airport	Amtrak: Acela, Crescent, Vermonter MARC: ■ Penn Line Shuttle to Baltimore/Washington International Airport MTA Maryland, UMBC Transit
	New Carrollton	New Carrollton	Amtrak: Vermonter MARC: ■ Penn Line Metro: Orange Line, Silver Line Metrobus, TheBus, MTA Maryland Intercity bus: Greyhound
Washington, D.C.	District of Columbia	Washington Union Station	Amtrak: Acela, Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Floridian, Palmetto, Silver Meteor, Vermonter, Amtrak Thruway MARC: ■ Brunswick Line, ■ Camden Line, ■ Penn Line Virginia Railway Express: ■ Manassas Line, ■ Fredericksburg Line Metro: Red Line DC Streetcar: H Street/Benning Road Line Metrobus, MTA Maryland, Loudoun County Transit, PRTC Buses Intercity bus: Greyhound, Megabus, BestBus, Peter Pan, OurBus

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Springfield–New Haven

More information State, Town/City ...

State	Town/City	Station	Connections
Massachusetts	Springfield	Springfield	Amtrak: Lake Shore Limited, Hartford Line, Vermonter, Valley Flyer CTrail: Hartford Line Pioneer Valley Transit Authority Intercity bus: Greyhound, Peter Pan
Connecticut	Windsor Locks	Windsor Locks	Amtrak: Hartford Line, Vermonter, Valley Flyer CTrail: Hartford Line CTtransit
	Windsor	Windsor	Amtrak: Hartford Line, Valley Flyer CTrail: Hartford Line CTtransit
	Hartford	Hartford	Amtrak: Hartford Line, Vermonter, Valley Flyer CTrail: Hartford Line CTtransit Hartford BRT: CTfastrak Intercity bus: Greyhound, Peter Pan
	Kensington	Berlin	Amtrak: Hartford Line, Valley Flyer CTrail: Hartford Line CTtransit New Britain
	Meriden	Meriden	Amtrak: Hartford Line, Vermonter, Valley Flyer CTrail: Hartford Line CTtransit Meriden
	Wallingford	Wallingford	Amtrak: Hartford Line, Valley Flyer CTrail: Hartford Line CTtransit Wallingford
	New Haven	State Street	Amtrak: Hartford Line, Valley Flyer CTrail: Hartford Line, Shore Line East Metro-North: ■ New Haven Line CTtransit New Haven
	To New Haven Union Station

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Washington, D.C.–Newport News / Norfolk

More information State, Town/City ...

State	Town/City	Station	Connections
District of Columbia	From Washington Union Station
Virginia	Alexandria	Alexandria	Amtrak: Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Crescent, Floridian, Silver Meteor, Silver Star VRE: ■ Fredericksburg Line, ■ Manassas Line Metro:  Blue Line,  Yellow Line Metrobus, DASH
	Woodbridge	Woodbridge	VRE: ■ Fredericksburg Line OmniRide
	Quantico	Quantico	Amtrak: Carolinian VRE: ■ Fredericksburg Line OmniRide
	Fredericksburg	Fredericksburg	Amtrak: Carolinian, Silver Meteor VRE: ■ Fredericksburg Line FRED
	Ashland	Ashland
	Richmond	Richmond Staples Mill Road	Amtrak: Carolinian, Floridian, Palmetto, Silver Meteor Greater Richmond Transit Company Amtrak Thruway
	Service to Newport News, Virginia
	Richmond	Richmond–Main Street	Local bus: Greater Richmond Transit Company
	Williamsburg	Williamsburg	Hampton Roads Transit, Williamsburg Area Transit Authority
	Newport News	Newport News Transportation Center	Hampton Roads Transit Amtrak Thruway
	Service to Norfolk, Virginia
	Ettrick	Petersburg	Amtrak: Carolinian, Floridian, Palmetto, Silver Meteor
	Norfolk	Norfolk	Tide Light Rail Amtrak Thruway

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Washington, D.C.–Roanoke

More information State, Town/City ...

State	Town/City	Station	Connections
Virginia	From Alexandria Union Station
	Burke	Burke Centre	VRE: ■ Manassas Line Metrobus, Fairfax Connector
	Manassas	Manassas	Amtrak: Cardinal, Crescent VRE: ■ Manassas Line OmniRide
	Culpeper	Culpeper	Amtrak: Cardinal, Crescent
	Charlottesville	Charlottesville	Amtrak: Cardinal, Crescent, Amtrak Thruway Charlottesville Area Transit
	Lynchburg	Lynchburg	Amtrak: Crescent Greater Lynchburg Transit Company
	Roanoke	Roanoke	Valley Metro, SmartWay Amtrak Thruway

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