Northeast Regional

Northeast Regional
Northeast Regional in Madison, Connecticut, in April 2015
Overview
Service typeInter-city rail, higher-speed rail
LocaleNortheastern and Mid-Atlantic United States
First service2008 (renamed from Regional)
Current operator(s)Amtrak
Annual ridership9,163,082 (FY23) Increase 29.2%[a][1]
Route
TerminiBoston, Springfield, MA, or New York City
Washington, D.C. or Newport News, Norfolk, Roanoke, or Richmond, Virginia
Stops55 (including all branches)
Distance travelled682 mi (1,098 km) (longest distance: Boston–Roanoke)
Average journey time14 hours (greatest travel time: Boston–Roanoke)
Service frequency50+ trains per day[2][3][4]
Train number(s)65-198
On-board services
Class(es)
  • Coach Class
  • Business Class
Catering facilitiesCafé
Baggage facilitiesOverhead racks
Technical
Rolling stock
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
ElectrificationOverhead line:
Operating speed125 mph (201 km/h) (top)

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.[5] The Northeast Regional service received more than $787.7 million in gross ticket revenue in FY 2023.[6]

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.[7] 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.[3] South of Washington, trains take 4.5 hours to reach Newport News, 4.5 hours to reach Norfolk, or five hours to reach Roanoke.[2]


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  1. ^ "Amtrak Fiscal Year 2023 Ridership" (PDF). Amtrak. November 27, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Amtrak Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Virginia Service Timetable" (PDF). Amtrak. March 4, 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 20, 2019. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Amtrak Northeast Corridor BOS–WAS Timetable" (PDF). Amtrak. March 4, 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 26, 2019. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  4. ^ a b "Amtrak Northeast Corridor NYP–WAS Timetable" (PDF). Amtrak. March 4, 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 26, 2019. Retrieved May 20, 2019.
  5. ^ "Amtrak Fiscal Year 2023 Ridership" (PDF). Amtrak. November 27, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  6. ^ "September 2023 Monthly Performance Report 2023" (PDF). Amtrak. October 31, 2023. Retrieved December 5, 2023.
  7. ^ "The eternal question: New York via train or bus?". Greater Greater Washington. August 3, 2010. Archived from the original on October 14, 2017. Retrieved May 11, 2015.