Valley Flyer

Service between Greenfield and New Haven with scheduled connections to Amtrak and Metro-North at New Haven Union Station

The inaugural run of the Valley Flyer, arriving at sunrise
Northampton, MA | By Wayne Feiden | August 30, 2019

 

To book your ticket please visit the Amtrak website [amtrak.com] or use the Amtrak mobile app.

 

Overview

Amtrak, in conjunction with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), has launched a new state supported seven day a week passenger train called the Valley Flyer.

The train travels along the Connecticut River, a region referred to as the Knowledge Corridor, with trains making station stops in Springfield, Holyoke, Northampton and Greenfield. The trains also connect with Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor at New Haven and serve stations between New Haven and Springfield.

This service is primarily designed for people in our region who wish to travel south to New York City, as example, in the morning and/or return to the region by train in the evening. The last time that was possible was back in 1967.

The service will be provided until the fall of 2021 on a pilot basis.

MassDOT has established a goal of 24,000 new annual riders for the service. If the goal is not met MassDOT has said simply that the Valle Flyer will be discontinued.

If the goal is met the service is expected to continue. If the goal is significantly exceeded added passenger rail service north of Springfield could be considered, up to and including an extension of some Hartford Line service north to Greenfield.

 

Valley Flyer station stops

    1. transfer to/from
    2. ⤷ Amtrak | Northeast Regional
    3. ⤷ Amtrak | Acela Express
  1. ⤷ Metro-North | New Haven Line
  2. ⤷ CTrail | Shoreline Line East

 

Current timetable

Combined Vermonter and Valley Flyer Schedule (PDF) | Amtrak | eff. January 2, 2020

For those looking to connect with Metro-North service in New Haven we suggest that you have a look at this schedule overview.

Valley Flyer / Vermonter Schedule Overview (PDF)
Prepared by Trains In The Valley | As of January 2, 2020

This overview shows the connections when changing trains from the Valley Flyer service to Metro-North service at New Haven Union Station.

Here are three reasons why it might make sense to connect with Metro-North instead of Amtrak in New Haven:

  • The cost to travel from our region to New York City is often much less expensive if you connect with Metro-North in New Haven instead of Amtrak
  • Metro-North trains run to Grand Central Terminal instead of Penn Station
  • Metro-North trains make additional station stops in Connecticut, that are not served by Amtrak’s trains

 

Accommodations and amenities on board

• Coach Class seating

• Free Wi-Fi Onboard

• Take your pet with you

 

Please note that most bicycles are not be allowed onboard the Valley Flyer at this time. Further information can be found on Amtrak’s bicycle policy webpage.

 

Amtrak fares and ticket information

Sample one-way adult coach fares —

  • Greenfield
  • ⮂ Springfield, MA | $14 or $18
  • ⮂ Hartford, CT | $18 or $24
  • ⮂ New Haven, CT | $28 or $35
  • ⮂ Stamford, CT1 | $47 or $62
  • ⮂ New York, NY / Penn Station1 | $53 or $70
  • ⮂ Philadelphia, PA1 | $61 or $81
  • ⮂ Washington, DC1 | $77 or $103
  • Northampton
  • ⮂ Springfield, MA | $11 or $14
  • ⮂ Hartford, CT | $14 or $19
  • ⮂ New Haven, CT | $26 or $34
  • ⮂ Stamford, CT1 | $47 or $62
  • ⮂ New York, NY / Penn Station1 | $53 and $70
  • ⮂ Philadelphia, PA1 | $61 and $81
  • ⮂ Washington, DC1 | $77 or $103

1 Valley Flyer / Change trains at New Haven Union Station.

 

Important notes

    1. The higher price is the fare when a ticket is purchased less than fourteen (14) days in advance.
    2. Higher fares are possible during peak travel times and when seats are limited on a particular train.
    3. Fares listed are for travel on either the Valley Flyer or the Vermonter.
    4. Discounted fares are available for Children (12 and under), Passengers with Disabilities, Seniors (65 and­ over), Military (active and retired), and members of the Rail Passengers Association. Further details on this link | Amtrak Discounts
    5. The sample fares listed are for tickets purchased on January 5, 2020 for travel between January 6–31, 2020.

Amtrak tickets

Amtrak tickets should be purchased on the Amtrak website [Amtrak.com] or on the Amtrak mobile app.

Tickets can also be purchased by calling Amtrak (1-800-USA-RAIL) or by visiting a staffed Amtrak ticket office, for example at Springfield Union Station.

Further information is available on Amtrak’s How to Purchase Tickets webpage.

 

Metro-North fares and ticket information

for connecting service at New Haven Union Station

Sample one-way fares —

        • New Haven Union Station
        • ⮂ Bridgeport, CT | $3.75
        • ⮂ South Norwalk, CT | $7
        • ⮂ Stamford, CT | $8.25
        • ⮂ New Rochelle, NY | $14
        • ⮂ New York, NY / Grand Central Terminal
        • Off-Peak | $17.75
      • Peak | $23.50
      • Senior | $11.75

 

Important notes

        1. Peak fares apply to weekday trains that arrive in Grand Central Terminal (GCT) between 6 AM and 10 AM or that depart Grand Central between 4 PM and 8 PM.
        2. Discounted fares are available for Children (5-11), Seniors (65 and­ over), Disabled persons, Medicare recipients, and Active duty members of the armed forces.
        3. Further details and information can be found on this page | Metro-North Fares & Ticket Information

 

Metro-North tickets

Metro-North tickets can be purchased on the MTA eTix app or from a Metro-North ticket vending machine.

At New Haven Union Station the Metro-North ticket machines can be found in the main waiting room.

Passengers transferring to Metro-North at New Haven Union Station can purchase their ticket on-board the connecting Metro-North train with cash or a credit card without paying the on-board surcharge. To avoid the on-board surcharge, passengers must show the Metro-North conductor their Valley Flyer ticket before purchasing their ticket.

 

Background

The Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, the Franklin Regional Council of Governments and many elected officials in the region have been advocating for additional passenger rail service north of Springfield for many years now.

Amtrak’s existing Vermonter service, while greatly preferable to no service at all, has drawbacks that are not easily overcome.

Simply stated — the Vermonter only operates once a day in each direction, is scheduled and priced for longer-distance travel, and departs at a time of day that makes it impossible to travel south and return in the same day.

Efforts to expand service north of Springfield stem from the completion of the Knowledge Corridor Passenger Rail Feasibility Study (PDF) in 2009. The study assessed the feasibility of future passenger rail improvements intended to reduce travel time, maximize accessibility, and provide viable transportation alternatives within the Knowledge Corridor.

 

The Valley Flyer service between Greenfield and New Haven is financed primarily through funds made available by the Connecticut Department of Transportation and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.

 

See also

Other Rail Travel Options in the Pioneer Valley

Amtrak Vermonter

Hartford Line

 

Further reading

Valley Flyer (Amtrak)

Amtrak and MassDOT Announce Start of New Valley Flyer Train Service in Western and Northern Massachusetts
Amtrak Press Release | August 28, 2019

Greenfield Pilot: Update (PDF)
Presentation by the MassDOT Rail & Transit Administrator to the MassDOT Board of Directors | July 22, 2019

“Riding the Rails on the Valley Flyer”
A travelogue by Robert Kearns | October 6, 2019

 

Page last updated: January 9, 2020
Page last reviewed: July 11, 2019