The Northeast Regional, begun in 1995, is an intercity rail service operated by Amtrak in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic United States. In the past, it has also been known as the NortheastDirect, Acela Regional, or Regional. It is the busiest Amtrak route, carrying 7.51 million passengers in fiscal year (FY) 2011. The Northeast Regional service earned over $490 million in gross revenues during FY2011.
There is frequent daily all-reserved service, operating every hour of every day. Trains generally operate between Boston, Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C., with extra service between New York City and Washington. Extensions and branches extend service to Springfield, Massachusetts and Richmond, Newport News and Lynchburg, Virginia. A further extension to Norfolk is scheduled to begin service on December 12, 2012.
Travel times are approximately 4.5 hours between Newport News and Washington, two hours between Washington and Philadelphia, 1.5 hours between Philadelphia and New York, 3.5 hours between New York and Springfield, and four hours between New York and Boston.
Read more about Northeast Regional: Equipment, History, Classes of Service, Route, Station Stops