Steve Fainer

The new Amtrak train station in Windsor Locks, CT is finally opening on Sunday, October 18! Also adding daily shuttle bus service from/to the airport!

Despite numerous obstacles, the Amtrak Hartford Line continues its growth, amassing a ridership of 446,800 through the end of July, a y/y increase of 8.1%! On track to top over 500k pax for only the second time in the line's history. Only record FY '24 is higher. Image

Celebrating 7 years of service of the Valley Flyer. I rode the first train on August 30,2019. The route survived the Covid lock down and has thrived ever since.

Ridership on Amtrak's Hartford line is up 25,000 passengers through April '26 over FY '25, an increase of 8.7%! This despite poor weather and bus substitutions over the time period.

Summer on Strong street closure begins in Northampton today! Steps away from the train station and bus stops.

Iconic New Haven train tunnel.

New bus service coming to WMass!

Celebrated National Train Day...by taking the train!

Faster service coming for the Ethan Allen Express!

Work is getting under way for new high-level platforms and other renovations at the train stations in Ansonia and Derby, CT! Fall 2027 is the target for completion.

Half-way into FY '26, Amtrak Hartford Line ridership is up by 22,100 over the previous year, a gain of 8.3%! Still lagging record-setting FY '24, but a positive sign nevertheless.

Bus substitutions on off-peak Hartford Line trains start today through October 31st. A seemingly never-ending process that has hurt ridership the past couple years.

In just the five years since its pre-COVID era peak of 22,284 in 2019, Amtrak ridership in Northampton, MA has grown to 40,513 in FY24!

Busy day at Northampton today with 48 passengers boarding the Amtrak Vermonter and 5 departing.

@hartfordline is adding some extra trains for Sunday's UConn championship parade.

Spring train travel season is heating up, even if the weather isn't. Amtrak shuttles 409, 461, 464, 465, and 488 for this Sunday, April 13 are all near capacity. UConn parade may have something to do with this but not all of it.

Heads up, bus substitutions will be back on the Amtrak Hartford Line and CTrail beginning Tuesday, April 22nd! Mostly late-morning, early-afternoon weekdays. Due to track work and new Windsor Locks station

Sunday's northbound Vermonter and Valley Flyer 488 both sold out today. Many college kids returning from Spring break. Alternatively you can take one of the other shuttles to Springfield, then hop on the PVTA's G73E express to Northampton.

Valley Flyer 461 is nearing capacity for both today and Sunday! Spring breakers heading out.

Busy Friday heading into Spring break, with both Vermonters sold out and some shuttles on the Hartford Line nearing capacity including the 475.

Recently released figures show that Northampton, MA, served 40,513 Amtrak customers in FY '24, an increase of 16.4% over FY '23! With just 6 trains a day!

Big news in the Naugatuck Valley of CT! valley.newhavenindependent.org/article/cons...

If you were counting on today's Amtrak 86 to get you to the Hartford Line, you're out of luck. It's cancelled due to weather down South. But you can take a Metro-North train leaving GCT at 12:34pm and arriving NHT at 2:36. Then transfer to Valley Flyer 486, leaving at 2:50 for all points North.

Just another "Frantic Friday" on the Hartford Line. Both Vermonters are or near sellouts, Amtrak shuttle 474 and Valley Flyer 494 approaching capacity! This is becoming a regular thing, not just at holiday time.

Today we are celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the return of train service to Northampton, MA. It has become one of the busiest stations on the Hartford Line and Vermonter service. Thousands of folks board and alight from here every year!

Five Amtrak Hartford Line shuttles and both Vermonters are at or near capacity today, therefore..

Amtrak and Valley Flyer shuttles filling up fast on the last Friday before the holidays! Already 474, 475, 486, and 494 at or near capacity! Vermonters both sold out. Remember, lots of CTrail trains to get you to New Haven and connections to Amtrak or Metro-North.

I haven't seen the November numbers yet, but CTrail is on pace to shatter ridership records this year. Through the end of October '24, the line has carried 678,551 passengers, a y/y growth of 22.5% and 13.9% ahead of the last pre-COVID year ('19)!

Don't look now, but beginning on Jan. 1, 2025, the cost to take your bike on Amtrak Hartford Line trains jumps from $5 to $20 on top of your ticket price! Fortunately, CTrail lets you bring your bike on free, w/o a reservation!

Impacted by or interested in the change of the morning southbound Valley Flyer service? Take this survey. Results will be shared with Amtrak and MassDOT, which recently and abruptly instituted these changes. docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Just took a quick and easy trip to Hadley, MA on a packed B-43 bus to do some holiday shopping!

Hearing that there will be new bus service between Northampton and Pittsfield coming in the spring! This will be a welcome addition to the network.

Amtrak has a one-day, 25% sale, today, Dec. 3rd. Some bargains to be had. amtrak.com for details.

Thanksgiving may be over, but train travel is still booming! Both Amtrak Vermonters sold out for Monday, Dec. 2!

Amtrak shuttle 490, due to leave NHV at 11am, is at capacity! Can't remember this happening on the day of a holiday before, when travel is usually slower. People love riding the train!

The following Amtrak shuttles are at or near capacity: 474, 475, 417, 470, 494, with more to be added I'm sure! But also plenty of CTrail trains and coaches!

Don't fret if you get shut out of one of the Amtrak shuttles today! CTrail is running extra trainsets and coaches today and Wednesday! All aboard for holiday travel!

Amtrak shuttles on the Hartford Line are filling up quickly on this busy Thanksgiving week. But there are also plenty of CTrail trains running, including extras on Tuesday and Wednesday. If you're in Northampton you can connect to trains in Springfield via the PVTA's G73Express!

Good morning from beautiful, walkable, Downtown Northampton. Also reachable by train and bus.

Valley Flyers and Vermonter to Northampton sold out for Wednesday! If you're shut out, take one of the other Amtrak shuttles or CTrail trains to Springfield, then hop on the G73E express to Northampton, every 30 mins. service. Free, too!

Friday travel update: Amtrak shuttle 474 and 475 are nearing capacity and will only honor Amtrak tickets. Also, Vermonter 55, s/b, is sold out. More of the shuttles will likely fill up on this first day of the holiday travel crunch.

The numbers are in...the Amtrak Hartford Line set a new ridership record for FY '24 of 577,200 passengers vs. 439,000 in FY '23! Hopefully this growth will continue in the coming years.

Looks like CTrail is adding some trains for Thanksgiving week. Get the deets at hartfordline.com/fares-schedu...

Amtrak has updated its app and website to reflect the changes to its Valley Flyer service effective on 11/25. Glad they've done this to avoid further confusion but still not happy with the change.

Good morning, Northampton!

Pleased to learn that Amtrak's Vermonter service just set a new ridership record in the FY 2024! The total of passengers was 109,136! This despite many cancellations due to recent flooding and track work. Still waiting on the Hartford Line final numbers, which should also break records!