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Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

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

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Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

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.

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Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 31/05/2026

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.

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Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 19/05/2026

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

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Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

New bus service coming to WMass!

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Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

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

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Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 08/05/2026

Faster service coming for the Ethan Allen Express!

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Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

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.

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Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

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.

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Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

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.

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Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

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!

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Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

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

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Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 11/04/2025

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

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Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 11/04/2025

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.

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Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

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

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Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 23/03/2025

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.

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Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 15/03/2025

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

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Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

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

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Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 06/03/2025

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!

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Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

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.

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Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 03/01/2025

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.

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Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

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!

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Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 27/12/2024

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

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Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

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.

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Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

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)!

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Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 19/12/2024

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!

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Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

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...

docs.google.com

Valley Flyer Survey: December 2024

With this short survey, we aim to better understand the needs of people in our area who have used, or are interested in using, Amtrak's Valley Flyer (trains 425, 471, or 495) on weekday mornings to tr...

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Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

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

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Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

Tonight's Valley Flyer 494, leaving NHV at 7:45pm, is nearing capacity. Best to get an Amtrak ticket to assure your seat. You can expect a lot of these shuttles to fill up as we near Christmas. Also consider CTrail trains as a good alternative.

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Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 04/12/2024

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.

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Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

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

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Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 28/11/2024

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!

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Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 27/11/2024

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!

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Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

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!

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Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

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!

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Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

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

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Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 24/11/2024

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!

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Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 22/11/2024

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.

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Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

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.

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Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 15/11/2024

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.

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Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 15/11/2024

Three Hartford Line shuttles are at or near capacity today, with more likely to come. More trains equal more riders. We need to add capacity as well.

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Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 15/11/2024

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!

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Reposted by Steve Fainer

AB @ab-cabra.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

Although it looks like there is a replacement: 425 Valley Flyer Departs Greenfield, MA (GFD) - 6:20a Arrives Springfield, MA (SPG) - 7:28a 125 Northeast Regional Departs Springfield, MA (SPG) - 7:50a Arrives New York, NY - Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Sta. (NYP) - 11:21a

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Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

It keeps getting worse. It seems the 471 will not be running north of Springfield INDEFINITELY beginning Nov. 24. I checked schedules deep into 2025 and this is the case. I thought we might see stuff like this under the new regime, but not now. Am doing some checking to see what's up.

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Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

For some strange reason Amtrak will not be running the Valley Flyer 471 north of Springfield on Mon-Tue-Wed of Thanksgiving week! Train will originate in Springfield. These trains are usually packed with students and travelers on the busiest travel week of the year.

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