REGIONAL (AMTRAK)

'''Regional''' is Amtrak's service between Newport News, Virginia and Boston, Massachusetts. It has also been known as ''NortheastDirect'' and ''Acela Regional''. Amtrak removed the ''Acela'' from the name due to mass confusion by passengers with the high speed ''Acela Express'' in early-2003. There is frequent daily all-reserved service, operating every hour of every day. Most have Business Class and a Café Car.
Most trains operate between Boston and Washington, with some continuing to Newport News with a diesel engine. Some operate only between Boston and New York, Boston and Philadelphia, and New York and Washington.
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 ''Regional'' runs in its place.
Trains are usually 6 to 10 cars long, with an electric locomotive pulling at the head end between Boston and Washington. The electric locomotives are AEM-7 class, built 1978-1987 with 7000 horsepower (5.2 MW), Rebuilt AEM-7's (AEM-7AC) with 8000 horsepower (6 MW), or an Bombardier/Alstom HHP-8 built 1999-2002, also with 8000 horsepower (6 MW). Diesel engines are used between Washington and Newport News. Only select trains operate between those cities; most terminate/originate at Washington. The cars are Amfleet I series passenger cars built by the Budd Company in the mid to late 1970s. The first car is Business Class (formerly the last car); the second car is the operational Café Car (formerly the second-to-last car). If a second Café Car is present, it is only used for passenger seating. Rarely, there will be no business class car, but instead limited business class seating at the front of the Café Car featuring wider seats than typical business class (3 across).
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. Some trains go as far south as Richmond or Newport News, Virginia.
Travel times are approximately four hours from Newport News to Washington, two hours from Washington to Philadelphia, one and a half hours from Philadelphia to New York, and four hours from New York to Boston.
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.
Beginning with the schedule effective April 25, 2005, Amtrak has abolished the previously common unreserved ''Regional'' trains. Now, any ticketed passenger is guaranteed a seat on their train. "Reservations" may be made at any time prior to the train's departure, easing the frequent practice of arriving at the station and purchasing a ticket for the next train.

Contents

Naming

Classes of service

Route details

Station stops

External links

References

Naming

The services along the line, as inherited from Penn Central, once had their own names; 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.^[1] The November 10, 1996 timetable restored the old names in addition to the ''NortheastDirect'' brand.^[2] The names (except the ''Twilight Shoreliner'') were permanently dropped with the May 16, 1999 schedule,^[3] and on January 31, 2000 the first rebranded '''Acela Regional''' electrified trains ran.^[4] Due to confusion with the ''Acela Express'', the name was changed again on March 17, 2003 to '''Regional'''.^[5]

Classes of service

★ Coach class: This class has large, comfortable seats with reading lamps and folding tables and either 1 or 2 120V 3-Prong AC outlets per seat pair. Reservations are required.

★ Business Class: Seating with extra legroom, and complimentary non-alcoholic beverages and snacks are available. Reservations are required.

★ First Class was formerly offered on ''NortheastDirect'' trains but is no longer available on ''Regional'' trains. It is now exclusively on ''Acela Express'' trains.

Route details

The ''Regional'' operates over Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, Amtrak, Metro-North Railroad, and CSX Transportation trackage:

★ MBTA Providence 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

★ CSX Landover Subdivision, RF&P Subdivision, Richmond Terminal Subdivision, Bellwood Subdivision, and Peninsula Subdivision, Washington to Newport News

Station stops

State	Town/City	Station	Connections
''South Station, Back Bay, Route 128, Providence, Kingston, Westerly, Mystic, New London and Old Saybrook stations'' are only used for service between Boston, Massachusetts and Newport News, Virginia.
Massachusetts	Boston	South Station	'Amtrak:' Acela Express, Lake Shore Limited 'MBTA Commuter Rail:' Fairmount Line, Framingham/Worcester Line, Franklin Line, Needham Line, Newburyport/Rockport Line, Old Colony Lines, Providence/Stoughton Line 'MBTA Bus Lines:' 4, 6, 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
	South Kingstown	Kingston	none
	Westerly	Westerly
Connecticut	Mystic	Mystic
	New London	New London	'Amtrak:' Acela Express 'ConnDOT:' Shore Line East
	Old Saybrook	Old Saybrook	'ConnDOT:' Shore Line East
''Springfield, Windsor Locks, Windsor, Hartford Union Station, Berlin, Meriden and Wallingford stations'' are only used for service between Springfield, Massachusetts and Newport News, Virginia.
Massachusetts	Springfield	Springfield	'Amtrak:' Lake Shore Limited, Vermonter
Connecticut	Windsor Locks	Windsor Locks	'Amtrak:' Vermonter
	Windsor	Windsor	none
	Hartford	Hartford Union Station	'Amtrak:' Vermonter
	Kensington	Berlin
	Meriden	Meriden
	Wallingford	Waillingford	none
	New Haven	New Haven-Union Station	'Amtrak:' Acela Express, 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
	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 'LIRR:' Main Line, Port Washington Branch 'NJ Transit:' North Jersey Coast Line, Northeast Corridor Line, Gladstone Branch, Montclair-Boonton Line, Morristown Line 'NYC Subway:' 1, 2, 3, A, C, E 'NYC Transit buses:' M10, M16, M20, M34, Q32
New Jersey	Newark	Newark Penn Station	'Amtrak:' Acela Express, Cardinal, Carolinian, Crsecent, Keystone Service, Pennsylvanian, Silver Meteor, Silver Star, Vermonter 'NJ Transit:' Newark City Subway, Newark Light Rail, North Jersey Coast Line, Northeast Corridor Line, Raritan Valley Line, 5, 21, 62, 67, 70, 71, 72, 73, 75, 76, 78,79, 308, 978 'PATH:' NWK-WTC
		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 LineM 801, 802, 803, 804, 805
	New Brunswick	New Brusnwick	'Amtrak:' Keystone Service 'NJ Transit:' Northeast Corridor Line, 810, 815, 818, 980
	Princeton	Princeton Junction	'Amtrak:' Keystone Service, Pennsylvanian 'NJ Transit:' Northeast Corridor Line, Princeton Branch, 976
	Trenton	Trenton Rail Station	'Amtrak:' Acela Express, Cardinal, Carolinian, Crescent, Keystone Service, Pennsylvanian, Silver Star, Silver Meteor, Vermonter 'NJ Transit:' Northeast Corridor Line, River Line, 409, 600, 604 'SEPTA Regional Rail:' R7
Pennsylvania	Cornwells Heights	Cornwells Heights	'Amtrak:' Keystone Service 'SEPTA Regional Rail:' R7
	Philadelphia	North Philadelphia	'Amtrak:' Keystone Service 'SEPTA Regional Rail:' R7, R8, Broad Street Subway, Route C
		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, Route 10, Route 11, Route 13, Route 34, Route 36, 9, 10, 11, 13, 30, 31, 34, 36, 44, 62, 121, 124, 125, 316 'SEPTA Regional Rail:' R1, R2, R3, R5, R6, R7, R8
Delaware	Wilmington	Wilmington 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:' R2
	Newark	Newark Rail Station	'DART First State:' 16, 33, 59, 65 'SEPTA Regional Rail:' R2
Maryland	Aberdeen	Aberdeen	'MARC Train:' Penn Line
	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
		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, Silver Meteor, Silver Star 'VRE:' Fredericksburg Line, Manassas Line
	Springfield	Franconia-Springfield	'Fairfax Connector:' 123, 171, 231, 232, 301, 303, 304, 305, 310, 321, 322, 331, 332, 380, 401 'Metro:' Blue Line 'Metrobus:' OmniRid, 18R, 18S, S80, S91 'VRE:' Fredericksburg Line
	Woodbridge	Woodbridge	'VRE:' Fredericksburg Line
	Quantico	Quantico	'Amtrak:' Carolinian 'VRE:' Fredericksburg Line
	Fredericksburg	Fredericksburg
	Ashland	Ashland	none
	Richmond	Richmond Staples Mill Road	'Amtrak:' Carolinian, Palmetto, Silver Meteor, Silver Star, Thruway Motorcoach to Charlottesville, Virginia
		Richmond Main Street Station	none
	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, Virginia 'HRT:' Route 106/107

External links

★ Amtrak - ''Regional''

References

1. Matthew Mitchell, Free rides, misc.transport.urban-transit October 27, 1995
2. Scanner, ''Trains'' February 1997
3. A step back in the Northeast, ''Trains'' August 1999 page 17
4. Ron Newman, Acela Regional starts Jan 31, 2000, misc.transport.rail.americas January 27, 2000
5. Rail Travel News - News Posting March 23, 2003