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
Ridership by station (Valley Flyer and Vermonter)
On-time performance data
Southbound Vermonter on-time performance
Southbound Valley Flyer on-time performance
Valley Flyer trains replaced with Buses
Other data
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)
Ridership by station (Valley Flyer & Vermonter) | FY2019–2022
Notes
Amtrak’s Fiscal Year (FY) runs from October 1st through September 30th.Activity totals include riders who stepping on or off at a station
Valley Flyer | Started 8/30/2019
Vermonter | Service was suspended between 3/26/2020 and 7/19/2021 due to the Covid pandemic
FY2019 data for the Valley Flyer is not available
FY2023 data should be available in the first quarter of 2024.
Data sources
Great America Stations | Amtrak
Ridership statistics | Rail Passengers 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 |
| 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.
Timeline
2022
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 a few weeks.
2023
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.
July 2023 | The New England Central rail corridor suffered extensive damage during the flood event that occured in Vermont in early July. The Vermonter was suspended between July 10th thru July 18th to allow for repairs. Service resumed on July 19 with speed restrictions in place in many places along the line, as repair work continues.
July 2023 | The Vermonter was suspended on July 10th due to a catastrophic flash flooding and river flooding even across Vermont. When the train resumed on July 19th the train was numerous speed restrictions due to damaged infrastructure along the rail corridor.
Compounding the flood related delays was busy season of seasonal track, culvert, bridge and grade crossing work along the line.
October 2023 | Track work and other infrastructure project in Vermont are wrapping up as the 2023 construction season comes to a close before winter sets in. As this happens speed restrictions along the NECR corridor are being lifted. Continued improvement is expected in November.
Footnotes
Northbound Vermonter
For those wondering, the northbound Vermonter is just about on time most every day. 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 Vermonter 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
Valley Flyer trains replaced with Buses
A number of southbound Valley Flyer trains have recently been replaced by buses due “equipment and availability” issues.
As example train 461 on June 18th, which did not operate from stations north of Springfield.
We started tracking this issue on May 1, 2023. Our listing of canceled trains between Greenfield, Northampton, Holyoke and Springfield —
Train 495 (1st train on weekdays)
Wed. May 25th
Mon. June 12th
Mon. July 3rd
Tues. Aug 15th
Mon. Oct 30th
Train 471 (2nd train on weekdays)
Wed. June 28th
Wed. July 6th
Train 461 (Sat., Sun. and Holidays)
Sat. May 20th
Sat. June 3rd
Sun, June 4th
Sun. June 18th
Tue. July 4th
Sat. July 8th
Sat. July 22nd
Sat. August 5th
Sat. September 30th
Sun. October 1st
Amtrak fact sheets
Fiscal Years 2016 – 2022
The Fact Sheets below were prepared by the Rail Passengers Association. (RPA)
Notes
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.
RPA Station Fact Sheets for our Region
Amtrak Service in Greenfield MA | FY2016-2022 (PDF)
Amtrak Service in Holyoke MA | FY2016-2022 (PDF)
Amtrak Service in Northampton MA | FY2016-2022 (PDF)
Amtrak Service in Springfield MA | FY2016-2022 (PDF)
The complete set of sheets for all Amtrak routes can be found on this link on the RPA’s website.
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: December 1, 2023
Page last reviewed: February 21, 2021