History Northeast Regional

the northeastdirect branding used northeast regional services between 1995 , 2003



an hhp-8 locomotive in acela regional branding @ south station, boston, in 2002

the services along line, inherited penn central, once had own names, such yankee clipper , federal ; typically name applied @ 1 train , twin in opposite direction. electrification ended @ new haven, connecticut, requiring engine change. on october 28, 1995 amtrak introduced northeastdirect brand trains on northeast corridor (and extension newport news, virginia) except express metroliner , hourly clocker services. november 10, 1996, timetable restored old names in addition northeastdirect brand. names (except twilight shoreliner) dropped may 16, 1999, schedule. in 2000 amtrak completed electrifying route new haven boston in preparation introduction of acela express, eliminating engine change @ new haven. first 2 all-electric round-trips , boston branded acela regional , equipped refurbished amfleet cars painted in acela-like capstone livery. all-electric service began on january 31, 2000. northeastdirect branding continued used trains changed electric diesel traction in new haven.

due customer confusion acela express, name changed again on march 17, 2003, regional . on april 7, 2008, release of new timetable, name changed again northeast regional , result, amtrak has started adding new northeast regional logo cafe cars.

on may 12, 2015, northeast regional train 188, traveling washington, d.c., new york city, derailed in port richmond neighborhood of philadelphia, killing 8 people , injuring more 200 people. train derailed along curve , determined have been traveling @ speed of 100 mph, exceeding limit of 50 mph on curve. speed limit not posted; engineers on route expected rely on memory control speed of train. additionally, train suspected have been hit projectile, commuter train in area shortly before derailment.

virginia service

the colonial @ fredericksburg in 1980s

some northeast regional trains continue virginia, serving richmond, norfolk, newport news, lynchburg, , points in between. these tracks not electrified , owned freight railroads; segments including tracks through acca yard in richmond have severe speed restrictions.

after amtrak took on intercity passenger service on may 1, 1971, rail service in virginia limited small number of long-distance trains, not suited regional travel. regional service south newport news via alexandria, richmond, , williamsburg began on june 14, 1976, when amtrak ended newport news section of james whitcomb riley , colonial added in place. long-standing service newport news, 2 daily round trips, has sufficiently high farebox recovery no subsidy commonwealth of virginia required.

map of transdominion express routes proposed



a virginian northeast regional crosses james river near lynchburg in 2011

from 1996 2007, 6 different studies performed on transdominion express project, have created 2 new intercity rail routes bristol richmond , washington. final study recommended against full plan, citing high cost , low ridership, , instead proposed further action focused on corridors highest ratio of demand cost. 70% of predicted ridership between washington , lynchburg (already served crescent) , 96% between washington , bristol, while richmond demand largely north-south service on existing route.

the commonwealth of virginia , amtrak partnered in 2009 under brand amtrak virginia expand passenger rail service within commonwealth, making virginia 15th state fund state services in addition federally funded routes. 1 daily northeast regional round trip extended washington lynchburg on october 1, 2009, supplementing existing crescent service. in first month, ridership doubled expectations. on july 20, 2010, amtrak added additional northeast regional frequency washington richmond staples mill road station, increasing washington-richmond corridor 8 daily round trips hourly northbound morning service.

a further extension south richmond norfolk along norfolk southern tracks planned department of rail & public transportation (drpt), , commonwealth of virginia in cooperation amtrak. track upgrades (e.g., passing sidings, replacing track increase operating speeds) between richmond , norfolk necessary enable extension funded jointly norfolk southern , drpt. service started on december 12, 2012.

on august 9, 2013, announced amtrak hoped complete track , infrastructure upgrades in order bring train service roanoke, virginia 2016. project encountered delays, , late 2016 service planned begin in late 2017 single train extended lynchburg serving city daily after construction of roanoke station platform, begin in 2017 , take of year. amtrak began service roanoke on october 31, 2017.