Amtrak adds new NEC services to meet demand

March 5, 2024
The new service represents a 20 percent increase in weekday options and a 10 percent increase in Sunday service.

Amtrak has added new trip to its Northeast Regional route schedule. Riders will now have access to four additional weekday roundtrips and two new weekend roundtrips on the agency's Northeast Corridor (NEC) service, which will include connection between Moynihan Train Hall at New York Penn Station (NYP) and Washington Union Station and a new weekday morning departure from William H. Gray III 30th Street Station (PHL) in Philadelphia, Pa., to NYP. Amtrak will also offer a new weekend trip service between PHL and Boston South Station.

The new service changes result in a 20 percent increase in weekday service and 10 percent increase on Sundays, which, according to Amtrak, collectively delivers more than 1 million more seats to the Northeast Regional service. 

“More people are taking the train than ever before and we’re proud to offer our customers additional travel options when they ride with us on the Northeast Regional,” said Amtrak Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Eliot Hamlisch. “The Northeast Regional gets you where you want to go comfortably, conveniently and sustainably as you breeze past traffic on I-95 for a more enjoyable travel experience.” 

The new schedules are part of the path Amtrak is taking to reach its goal of doubling annual ridership to 66 million by Fiscal Year (FY) 2040. Momentum has already begun with FY23 Q4 NEC ridership achieving eight percent above pre-pandemic levels and Northeast Regional ridership having nearly 9.2 million customers in all of FY23 – growing more than 29 percent compared to FY22. 

Amtrak says adding service on the NEC will also help to work towards Amtrak’s sustainability goals to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from the agency by 2045. 

About the Author

Eman Abu-Khaled | Associate Editor

Eman Abu-Khaled is a recent graduate of Kent State University with a bachelors in journalism. She works through Endeavor Business Media with Mass Transit as an associate editor. Abu-Khaled brings a fresh perspective to the visual side of journalism with an interest in video and photography work.