Amtrak’s three most beautiful North American train routes have recently restarted
Experience the beauty of the East and West Coasts and Canada this summer by hopping on board the rails. With the revival of three Amtrak routes, you now have exciting new options for going off the usual tourist routes. Two of these routes are reopening for the first time since the pandemic began, while the third has not seen regular service since the 1940s.
Check out the beautiful train journeys Amtrak is reintroducing along the East Coast, West Coast, and into Canada.
Adirondack from New York City to Montreal
Amtrak president Roger Harris recently stated that the return of the Adirondack offers passengers a dependable, comfortable, and environmentally friendly way to travel, whether they are experiencing the greatness of New York City, the culture of Montréal, or the beauty of the Hudson Valley and Lake Champlain region.
“We’re proud to restore service to one of the most popular trains in the Northeast,” Harris added. Via Rail Canada and Amtrak collaborated to reopen the route.
The Adirondack train makes 17 stops along the way in places like Albany-Rensselaer, Poughkeepsie, Saratoga Springs, and Schenectady. It departs from New York City’s Penn Station every day at 8:40 a.m. and reaches Montreal’s Gare Centrale at 8:15 p.m. The train will depart Montreal every day at 11:10 a.m. and will reach New York at 10:15 p.m. Tickets start at $70 for one-way travel. There is a café car and Wi-Fi available on board.
Berkshires Flyer from New York City to Pittsfield, Massachusetts
According to AFAR, Jason Abrams, a senior public relations manager for Amtrak, stated that it is practical for people seeking to travel to the Berkshires without having to deal with traffic or spending money on gas. “They’ll have Wi-Fi, they’ll be able to walk around and enjoy the scenery from the comfort of the train,” Abrams continued.
Before the first summer pilot, Stephen Gardner, president and chief executive officer of Amtrak, issued a statement saying that the new route provides “a more comfortable and convenient transportation option, that’s also more environmentally friendly, for people traveling between New York City and Berkshire County.”
The seasonal Berkshire Flyer train will be making six stops along its route, which comprises the well-known vacation spots of Poughkeepsie, Hudson, and Albany (it runs from May 26 to October 8).
Every week, there are two Friday departures from New York City; one departs at 11:20 a.m. and arrives in Pittsfield at 4:30 p.m., and the other departs at 3:15 p.m. and arrives at the last station at 7:12 p.m. Starting prices for tickets are $58 and $45, respectively. On Sunday, there are two return trips, one leaving Pittsfield at 3 p.m. and arriving in New York City at 7:10 p.m., and the other departing at 4:42 p.m. and arriving at 10:15 p.m. Starting prices for tickets are $45 and $74, respectively.
Cascades route from Portland to Vancouver
Amtrak resumed daily direct service between Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Canada in March for the first time since the pandemic’s start. The Cascades Train travels through 12 stations, including those in Seattle, Edmonds, Everett, Stanwood, Mount Vernon, and Bellington in the state of Washington.
The route follows the Pacific coastline for almost 200 miles, providing nearly uninterrupted views of the Olympic and Cascade Mountains. The trip departs Portland at 3:05 p.m. and arrives in Seattle at 7 p.m. before arriving in Vancouver, British Columbia, at 11 p.m.. The train departs Vancouver at 6:35 in the morning and stops in Seattle at 11 a.m. before continuing to Portland at 2:55 p.m.
Evie Blanco is a journalist with nearly a decade of experience who was born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Queens, New York. She is extremely well-versed in hip-hop music and culture and is always aware of any developments within it. Whether it’s the latest in pop culture, a fascinating foreign destination, a truly amazing new restaurant, or breaking news, she loves to write about it all.
This story was originally published May 10, 2023 at 11:42 AM with the headline "Amtrak’s three most beautiful North American train routes have recently restarted."