Steve Fainer
@stevefainer.bsky.social
Retired guy living his best life in Northampton Massachusetts. Mass transit and pedestrian rights advocate. CT native. Up early a.m. so you don't have to be.
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!
October 17, 2025 at 9:29 AM
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!
Busy day at Northampton today with 48 passengers boarding the Amtrak Vermonter and 5 departing.
April 28, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Busy day at Northampton today with 48 passengers boarding the Amtrak Vermonter and 5 departing.
@hartfordline
is adding some extra trains for Sunday's UConn championship parade.
is adding some extra trains for Sunday's UConn championship parade.
April 11, 2025 at 9:46 PM
@hartfordline
is adding some extra trains for Sunday's UConn championship parade.
is adding some extra trains for Sunday's UConn championship parade.
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.
April 11, 2025 at 5:54 PM
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.
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
April 9, 2025 at 8:38 AM
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
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.
March 23, 2025 at 9:11 AM
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.
Valley Flyer 461 is nearing capacity for both today and Sunday! Spring breakers heading out.
March 15, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Valley Flyer 461 is nearing capacity for both today and Sunday! Spring breakers heading out.
Busy Friday heading into Spring break, with both Vermonters sold out and some shuttles on the Hartford Line nearing capacity including the 475.
March 14, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Busy Friday heading into Spring break, with both Vermonters sold out and some shuttles on the Hartford Line nearing capacity including the 475.
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!
March 6, 2025 at 1:01 PM
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!
Big news in the Naugatuck Valley of CT! valley.newhavenindependent.org/article/cons...
Construction On Valley Train Stations, Platforms To Begin This Fall
THE VALLEY – The Connecticut Department of Transportation (DOT) plans to begin construction on $106 million worth of train station improvements throughout…
valley.newhavenindependent.org
February 13, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Big news in the Naugatuck Valley of CT! valley.newhavenindependent.org/article/cons...
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.
February 12, 2025 at 11:06 AM
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.
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.
January 3, 2025 at 3:22 PM
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.
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!
December 30, 2024 at 9:03 AM
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!
Five Amtrak Hartford Line shuttles and both Vermonters are at or near capacity today, therefore..
December 27, 2024 at 3:42 PM
Five Amtrak Hartford Line shuttles and both Vermonters are at or near capacity today, therefore..
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.
December 20, 2024 at 2:30 PM
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.
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)!
December 20, 2024 at 9:11 AM
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)!
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!
December 19, 2024 at 7:45 AM
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!
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...
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...
docs.google.com
December 12, 2024 at 9:44 AM
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...
Just took a quick and easy trip to Hadley, MA on a packed B-43 bus to do some holiday shopping!
December 10, 2024 at 4:19 PM
Just took a quick and easy trip to Hadley, MA on a packed B-43 bus to do some holiday shopping!
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.
December 6, 2024 at 5:33 PM
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.
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.
December 4, 2024 at 10:23 AM
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.
Amtrak has a one-day, 25% sale, today, Dec. 3rd. Some bargains to be had. amtrak.com for details.
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amtrak.com
December 3, 2024 at 12:11 PM
Amtrak has a one-day, 25% sale, today, Dec. 3rd. Some bargains to be had. amtrak.com for details.
Thanksgiving may be over, but train travel is still booming! Both Amtrak Vermonters sold out for Monday, Dec. 2!
December 2, 2024 at 8:42 AM
Thanksgiving may be over, but train travel is still booming! Both Amtrak Vermonters sold out for Monday, Dec. 2!
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!
November 28, 2024 at 2:23 PM
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!
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!
November 27, 2024 at 2:57 PM
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!