Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 08/10/2026The 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! 1101
Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 28/09/2026Despite 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 071
Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 31/08/2026Celebrating 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. 050
Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 31/05/2026Ridership 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. 051
Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 19/05/2026Summer on Strong street closure begins in Northampton today! Steps away from the train station and bus stops. 0101
Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 10/05/2026Celebrated National Train Day...by taking the train! 060
Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 08/05/2026Faster service coming for the Ethan Allen Express! 010
Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 01/05/2026Work 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. 020
Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 01/05/2026Half-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. 061
Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 21/04/2026Bus 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. 000
Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 17/10/2025In 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! 040
Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 28/04/2025Busy day at Northampton today with 48 passengers boarding the Amtrak Vermonter and 5 departing. 0100
Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 11/04/2025@hartfordline is adding some extra trains for Sunday's UConn championship parade. 050
Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 11/04/2025Spring 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. 140
Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 09/04/2025Heads 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 030
Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 23/03/2025Sunday'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. 091
Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 15/03/2025Valley Flyer 461 is nearing capacity for both today and Sunday! Spring breakers heading out. 051
Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 14/03/2025Busy Friday heading into Spring break, with both Vermonters sold out and some shuttles on the Hartford Line nearing capacity including the 475. 010
Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 06/03/2025Recently 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! 0443
Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 12/02/2025If 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. 220
Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 03/01/2025Just 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. 041
Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 30/12/2024Today 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! 2385
Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 27/12/2024 Five Amtrak Hartford Line shuttles and both Vermonters are at or near capacity today, therefore.. 170
Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 20/12/2024Amtrak 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. 031
Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 20/12/2024I 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)! 0130
Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 19/12/2024Don'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! 050
Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 10/12/2024Just took a quick and easy trip to Hadley, MA on a packed B-43 bus to do some holiday shopping! 060
Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 06/12/2024Tonight'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. 152
Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 04/12/2024Hearing that there will be new bus service between Northampton and Pittsfield coming in the spring! This will be a welcome addition to the network. 050
Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 02/12/2024Thanksgiving may be over, but train travel is still booming! Both Amtrak Vermonters sold out for Monday, Dec. 2! 1260
Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 28/11/2024Amtrak 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! 050
Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 27/11/2024The 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! 090
Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 26/11/2024Don'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! 051
Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 25/11/2024Amtrak 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! 0141
Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 24/11/2024Good morning from beautiful, walkable, Downtown Northampton. Also reachable by train and bus. 0273
Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 24/11/2024Valley 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! 070
Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 22/11/2024Friday 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. 020
Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 19/11/2024The 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. 0102
Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 15/11/2024Amtrak 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. 050
Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 15/11/2024Three 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. 161
Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 15/11/2024Pleased 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! 061
Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 14/11/2024For 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. 000
Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 14/11/2024Back on here after a bit of a respite. Will try to catch up on following back new followers and continuing the fight for mass transit and pedestrian safety! 041
Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 21/03/2024New schedule beginning on Sunday, March 24 for the G73E express bus between Springfield and Northampton! 31 trips per weekday, a couple less on weekends. 240
Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 07/03/2024Amtrak's Hartford Line (including Valley Flyer) continues to grow and prosper. Through the first four mos. of FY '24(Oct.-Jan.) there were 203,800 passengers vs.146,400 in the previous year! Likely to shatter record number set last year and could exceed 600,000! 030
Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 03/03/2024Today's Vermonter 57 approaching Northampton near King Street. Arrived right on schedule. 240
Steve Fainer @stevefainer.bsky.social · 01/03/2024Busy March 1st at Northampton Amtrak Station. 51 folks boarded and 6 got off the Vermonter 55 today! 030