Ride the Train to The Big E

The 2026 Big E has Come and Gone

We look forward to the return of The Big E next year (Sept. 17–Oct. 3, 2027), with the hope that the Big E Express will return with added and improved service.

This page will be updated in early September 2027, in time for opening day.

The Eastern States Exposition has partnered with the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA) to provide The Big E Express, a daily express shuttle service between Springfield Union Station and The Big E throughout the 17-day Fair.

The FREE shuttle will run between Springfield Union Station and the Transportation Center at The Big E fairgrounds, giving passengers arriving by train an easy way to reach the Fair without dealing with Big E traffic.

The Big E Express is available to all fairgoers, not just those arriving by train. Anyone can use the free shuttle between Springfield Union Station and The Big E, regardless of how they traveled to the station.

Days of operation

Daily, from Friday, September 18 (Opening Day), through Sunday, October 4 (the final day of the Fair).

Hours of operation

Monday–Thursday: 12:30 pm – 9 pm
Friday–Sunday: 9:30 am – 10 pm

The Big E Express is scheduled to leave Union Station at :30 past each hour, and Gate 1 at the Big E at the top of each hour.

Additional PVTA service between Union Station and Gate 1 at the Big E is available by using the PVTA’s regular R14 service which operates from Berth 14 .

Important Note
The Big E Express and the R14 may be delayed en route during periods of heavy traffic on Memorial Avenue — in particular, on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Please take care to allow enough time to make your connection.

Big E Express and the regular PVTA R14 stops

Springfield Union Station
Berth 14

The Big E fairgrounds
Gate 1 (at the Transportation Center, behind the State of Maine building)

The full schedule for this service and the R14 can be found here:

PVTA Big E Express

R14 service (PDF)

If you’re planning to ride, we encourage you do download and use the Transit app. The app will allow you to see connections that involve Amtrak, the Hartford Line, and all of the PVTA’s routes, including the Big E Express.

The Big E Express can be tracked on this link
Big E Express bus tracker

Why take the train to The Big E?

Consider these points —

Why not let someone else do the driving this year?
Your train isn’t affected by traffic on I-91
On the Hartford Line, up to four children can ride for $1 each (details below)
Traffic around The Big E can be especially heavy on Saturdays and Sundays.

The Google map above shows traffic in and around The Big E on a Monday morning during the 2026 Fair.

Current traffic in and around The Big E — Google Maps

Train information

From the south

Take a Hartford Line train from New Haven, Wallingford, Meriden, Berlin, Hartford, Windsor, or Windsor Locks to Springfield.

Hartford Line trains connect to/from Metro-North’s New Haven Line at New Haven Union Station.¹

Please visit the Hartford Line website for the current schedule.

Sample Hartford Line fares

Discount One-way fares
– senior citizens (65 and older) and people with disabilities

Children’s fares
Up to four children ages 2-12 with a paying adult – $1 per child

Additional children ages 2-12 charged half the adult fare.

Under age 2 – Free

From the north

Take Amtrak’s Valley Flyer or Vermonter service from Greenfield, Northampton, or Holyoke to Springfield.

Alternatively, take the PVTA G73E Express bus…

Take the PVTA G73E Express bus from either Northampton (at the Academy of Music stop) or Holyoke Mall.

PVTA buses are currently fare-free, with the exception of Route B79, which operates between Amherst and Worcester Union Station.

The full schedule for the PVTA G73E Express Bus can be found on this link.

To book an Amtrak ticket visit Amtrak.com

Additional information

The Big E – Official website

Hartford Line – Official website

PVTA – Official website

Page updated: October 5, 2026