On this page you will find a collection of data related to Amtrak’s service in the Pioneer Valley region of western Massachusetts.
Contents
Ridership data
On-time performance data
Southbound Vermonter on-time performance
Southbound Valley Flyer on-time performance
Other data
Amtrak Fact Sheet | Vermonter Service
Vermonter ridership
Notes
Fiscal year (FY) 2023 for Amtrak starts on October 1, 2022 and ends on September 30, 2023.
The ridership numbers for the Vermonter do not include trips between stations south of Holyoke MA.
Data source
Reports & Documents | Amtrak
(in the Monthly Performance Reports section)
Valley Flyer ridership
This data is not available at the moment.
Ridership by station | FY2018–2022
Data source
The Great American Stations | Amtrak
Station Fact Sheets
Amtrak Service in Greenfield MA | FY2015-2021 (PDF)
Amtrak Service in Holyoke MA | FY2015-2021 (PDF)
Amtrak Service in Northampton MA | FY2015-2021 (PDF)
Amtrak Service in Springfield MA | FY2015-2021 (PDF)
Date source
Ridership statistics | Rail Passenger Association
Southbound Vermonter on-time performance
Data source: Amtrak Status Maps Archive Database
The chart above shows two sets of data. The red section charts the median departure delay (in minutes) from Northampton MA for the southbound Vermonter over the last 12 months.
The green section charts the number of times (in days) that the train departed on time each month.
For a very long time, as in years, the southbound Vermonter has been departing late from Northampton.
Northampton MA | Calendar year
| Year | Days on-time | Median departure delay |
| 2018 | 1 out of 350 days | 15 mins |
| 2019 | 3 out of 351 days | 8 mins |
| 2020 | 4 out of 85 days | 6 mins |
| 2021 | 2 out of 161 days | 12 mins |
| 2022 | 1 out of 352 days | 17 mins |
Some people have said that the late isn’t really a problem, since the train usually “makes up time” enroute and arrives at New York Penn Station on time most days.
While this is often true, this is not a good reason for making people wait on an open platform with minimal protection from the weather for a perpetually late train.
We would be remiss if we did not point out that the southbound Valley Flyer departs on time most days with minimal delays, as shown in the chart below.
With all that said, in recent months the median delay (in minutes) out of Northampton has dropped to the single digits, which we thing is very good news.
Timeline
2022 | The southbound Vermonter departed late from Northampton basically every day in 2022 — with an median monthly delay that ranged from 11 to 48 minutes.
Our analysis of this problem indicates that over 90% of the delays were caused by slow orders on the New England Central Railroad (NECR) owned tracks in Vermont, and/or long station dwell times on certain at some stops in Vermont. (in particular Essex Junction and Brattleboro.)
Early September 2022 | The New England Central Railroad (NECR) started a major tie replacement project. Ties were replaced along a 30 mile section of the track between the MA-VT state line and a point just south of Bellows Falls.
Late November 2022 | The NECR’s track project wrapped up and the slow orders in the work zones were lifted over a period of about two weeks. On time performance improved as is shown in the December 2022 data.
January 30, 2023 | Four minutes of running time was temporally added to the weekday schedule between Claremont NH and Bellows Falls VT. This extra time, which was added because of planned track work between Springfield MA and Enfield CT, has improved the timekeeping of the train at the Northampton station.
Footnotes
Northbound Vermonter
For those wondering, the northbound Vermonter is on time most of the time. Over the past year it usually arrives a few minutes before its scheduled departure (3.57 pm) from Northampton. Delays happen from time to time but nothing like what we’ve seen with the southbound train over the past few years.
Historic Vermonter data | CY2022
Data source: Amtrak Status Maps Archive Database
The chart above shows two sets of data. The red section charts the median departure delay (in minutes) from Northampton MA for the southbound Vermonter over a 12 month period.
The green section charts the number of times (in days) that the train has departed on time (at 2.01 pm) from each month.
Southbound Valley Flyer on-time performance
Data source: Amtrak Status Maps Archive Database
The chart above shows two sets of data. The red section charts the median departure delay (in minutes) from Northampton MA for the southbound Valley Flyer (trains 461 and 471) over the last 12 months.
The green section charts the number of times (in days) that the train departed on time each month.
Historic Valley Flyer data | CY2022
Data source: Amtrak Status Maps Archive Database
Data Source
Amtrak Status Maps Archive Database
juckins.net
Amtrak fact sheet | Vermonter1
Amtrak Fiscal Years 2015 – 2021
Notes:
1 Amtrak’s fiscal year runs from October 1st through September 30th
Ridership totals include passengers who started and/or ended their trip at a station north of Springfield.
Vermonter Rider Profile | FY2018
AASHTO Meeting | February 2019
The presentation linked above was made by Amtrak at a meeting of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Rail Council in February of 2019.
Note that the Vermonter data only represents riders who traveled to/from points north of Springfield., Ma.
Page last updated: June 8, 2023
Page last reviewed: February 21, 2021