Northeast Regional

The Colonial at Fredericksburg in the 1980s

Some Northeast Regional trains continue into Virginia, serving three branches to Norfolk, Newport News, and Roanoke, serving points in between. These tracks are not electrified and are partially owned by both freight railroads and the State of Virginia.

After Amtrak took over intercity passenger service on May 1, 1971, rail service in Virginia was limited to a small number of long-distance trains, where they were often not suited to regional travel. Regional service south to Newport News began on June 14, 1976, when Amtrak ended the Newport News section of the James Whitcomb Riley and the Colonial was added in its place with two daily round trips from Boston to Newport News via Alexandria, Richmond and Williamsburg.

A Northeast Regional crosses the James River near Lynchburg, Virginia in 2011

Virginia and Amtrak partnered in 2009 under the brand Amtrak Virginia to expand passenger rail service within the Commonwealth, making Virginia the 15th state to fund state services in addition to federally funded routes.[18] One daily Northeast Regional round trip was extended to from Washington to Lynchburg via Manassas and Charlottesville on October 1, 2009, supplementing the existing Crescent service.[19] In the first month, ridership doubled expectations.[20] On July 20, 2010, Amtrak added an additional Northeast Regional frequency from Washington to Richmond Staples Mill Road station, increasing the Washington-Richmond corridor to eight daily round trips with hourly northbound morning service.[21]

A further extension south from Richmond to Norfolk along Norfolk Southern tracks was planned by the Department of Rail & Public Transportation (DRPT), and the Commonwealth of Virginia in cooperation with Amtrak. Certain track upgrades (e.g., passing sidings, replacing track to increase operating speeds) between Richmond and Norfolk that were necessary to enable this extension were funded jointly by Norfolk Southern and DRPT. Service started on December 12, 2012.[22] A second daily Norfolk round trip on weekdays was added on March 4, 2019.[23] Schedules for the Newport News trains are also being modified to improve service to the Hampton Roads region.[24]

On August 9, 2013, it was announced that Amtrak hoped to complete track and infrastructure upgrades in order to bring train service to Roanoke by 2016.[25] The project encountered delays, and by late 2016 service was planned to begin in late 2017 with a single train extended from Lynchburg serving the city daily after construction of the Roanoke station platform, which was to begin in early 2017 and take most of the year.[26] Amtrak began service to Roanoke on October 31, 2017.[27]

On December 19, 2019, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam announced a $3.7 billion program to expand rail service in Virginia, which includes doubling the frequency of Amtrak service between Richmond and Washington.[28][29] As part of the program, the commonwealth paid CSX Transportation $525 million to purchase 223 miles of track and 386 miles of right-of-way, a deal which was finalized on March 31, 2021.[30] One round trip was extended from Staples Mill to Main Street in September 2021 as the first service expansion under the program.[31]

Extension of the route south of Roanoke to Christiansburg, Virginia, near Virginia Tech, is proposed, with further extension to Bristol, Virginia/Tennessee as a long-range possibility. Plans by the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) depend on difficult negotiations with Norfolk Southern, and funding improvements for both freight and passenger service, as in previous agreements with private carriers. The town of Christiansburg acquired land for a new station in 2016.[32] Meanwhile, the DRPT has started a statewide bus service, operated by Megabus, called the Virginia Breeze, for areas not served by rail. The three daily bus routes terminate at Washington Union Station, with stops at a few other Northeast Regional stations, and bypassing others for stops closer to highways.

An infill station in Bedford on the Roanoke branch is planned for 2025. The DRPT estimates the station would draw 10,050 new riders per year and cost $10.9 million.[33]

A typical Northeast Regional with an ACS-64 locomotive and Amfleet I passenger cars at New London Union Station

As of 2018, most Northeast Regional trains consist of 7 to 9 passenger cars hauled by a locomotive.[34]

The passenger cars are the Amfleet I series passenger cars built by the Budd Company in the mid-to-late 1970s. Most trains include a Business Class car, a Café car (food service/lounge), and up to seven Coach Class cars, one of which is designated the quiet car, where passengers are asked to refrain from loud talking and mobile phone conversations.

The overnight Northeast Regional service (trains 65, 66, and 67) have a different configuration with fewer Coach Class cars, a combination Business Class/Café car, a baggage car for checked baggage service, and a Viewliner sleeping car which travels the full route to and from Newport News, VA but is only open to passengers between Boston and Washington.

Between Boston and Washington, the service has overhead electric wires and is pulled by Siemens ACS-64 electric locomotives built from 2012 to 2015 at speeds up to 125 mph (201 km/h). Northeast Regional trains operating south of Washington, D.C. into Virginia and on the New Haven–Springfield Line use GE Genesis P42DC diesel locomotives which have a slightly lower top speed of 110 mph (180 km/h).

All classes of service include complimentary WiFi, an electric outlet (120 V, 60 Hz AC) at each seat, reading lamps, fold-out tray tables. Reservations are required on all trains, tickets may also be purchased at a station ticket window or through a ticketing machine.[35]

• Coach Class: 2x2 seating. Reservations required, passengers self-select seats on a first-come, first-served basis.[36]
• Business Class: 2x2 or 2x1 reclining leather seats that have more legroom than coach. Passengers receive a complimentary soft drink. Reservations required, passengers reserve their specific seat in advance.[37]
• Sleeper Service (overnight trains only):[lower-alpha 1] Viewliner Roomette, Bedroom or Accessible Bedroom. Passengers receive a complimentary alcoholic beverage upon boarding, a continental breakfast before arrival, and Metropolitan Lounge access in Washington, D.C. and Boston.[5]

Amtrak Northeast Regional (interactive map)

Most Northeast Regional trains operate over the Northeast Corridor between Boston and Washington (via New York, Philadelphia, and Baltimore). The corridor is owned, in part, by Amtrak, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), Metro-North Railroad (MNRR), and the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CDOT).[38]

• MBTA Attleboro Line: Boston to MA/RI state line (dispatched and maintained by Amtrak)[39]
• Amtrak Northeast Corridor: MA/RI state line to New Haven, Connecticut
• CDOT New Haven Line: New Haven to CT/NY state line (dispatched and maintained by MNRR)
• MNRR New Haven Line: CT/NY state line to New Rochelle, New York
• Amtrak Northeast Corridor: New Rochelle to Washington, D.C.

Some trips diverge at New Haven and turn north to serve Springfield, Massachusetts, operating over Amtrak’s New Haven–Springfield Line. For trains that don’t, Amtrak’s Hartford Line trains provide connecting service along the line, with timed transfers to and from many Northeast Regional trips.[3]

Several trips continue south of Washington D.C. to Virginia, running to either Roanoke, Richmond, Newport News, or Norfolk. All Virginia services use the northernmost portion of the ex-Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad (now owned by CSX Transportation) between Washington and Alexandria, Virginia. South of Alexandria, trains to Roanoke use the Norfolk Southern Railway (ex-Southern Railway, ex-Virginia Midland Railway). Trains to Richmond, Norfolk and Newport News use the CSX RF&P, Richmond Terminal, and Bellwood subdivisions between Alexandria and Richmond.

South of Richmond, trains to Newport News use the CSX Peninsula Subdivision. Trains to Norfolk use the CSX North End Subdivision and Norfolk Southern's Norfolk District (ex-Norfolk and Western Railway).

Amtrak receives federal funding for its operations between Boston and Washington, D.C. Northeast Regional operations south of Washington are funded in part by the Commonwealth of Virginia. Operations along the New Haven–Springfield Line are funded by the State of Connecticut and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.