Rail travel has recently seen a resurgence, and the International Energy Agency predicts it will double by the year 2050. So it comes as little surprise that Amtrak has resumed service for three spectacular routes across North America.
After over three years on pause, Amtrak’s service from New York City to Montreal resumed this past April, marking its triumphant return post-pandemic. “We’re proud to restore service to one of the most popular trains in the Northeast,” stated Amtrak president Roger Harris. The Adirondack train offers daily service out of New York City’s Penn Station at 8:40am and arrives the same day at Gare Centrale in Montreal at 8:15pm. Conversely, travelers can hop aboard the train in Montreal daily at 11:10am, arriving in New York at 10:15pm. Along the way, travelers can take in breathtaking views of the Hudson Valley and Lake Champlain, as the train makes 17 stops along the route.
Another route that is making its post-pandemic return takes passengers from Portland, Oregon to Vancouver, Canada. The 12-stop route leaves Portland at 3:05pm and pulls into Vancouver at 11pm. On its southbound journey, the train leaves Vancouver at 6:35am and stops in Seattle at 11:00am before reaching Portland at 2:55pm. Along the way, passengers can take in views of the Pacific coastline, with near-constant views of both the Cascade and Olympic Mountains.
Finally, Amtrak has reintroduced a route that has been dormant for regular service since the 1940s. For its second summer, Amtrak’s pilot program will take train travelers from New York City’s Penn-Moynihan Station to Pittsfield, Massachusetts for a quick weekend getaway. This seasonal service will run from May 26th through October 8th, making six stops along the way. This route will offer two-weekend departures, both on Friday—one will leave New York City at 11:20am and arrive in Pittsfield at 4:30pm, while another will leave at 3:15pm and arrive at 7:12pm. Return service is offered on Sundays at 3pm and 4:42pm, which arrive in New York at 7:10pm and 10:15pm, respectively. “It’s convenient for people looking to get to the Berkshires without worrying about traffic or paying for gas,” explained senior public relations manager for Amtrak, Jason Abrams. If the route is as popular as expected, it will become a permanent route for Amtrak.
So if you’re looking to ditch the frequent stops for gas, the summer traffic, and the tedious maintenance of keeping your hands at 10 and 2, you can opt for the more relaxing way to travel by train.