Amtrak Just Announced 2 Big Routes for the Summer
Get ready to travel across the Northeast and the Midwest this summer.
Train season is back, baby! Not that it ever really left us, but with these newly announced Amtrak summer routes, it surely feels like it's a summer mean for riding the rails.
The railroad company just announced that tickets are now on sale for a second daily Amtrak service on the Borealis trains, which allow passengers to benefit from expanded service between St. Paul, Minnesota, and Chicago, Illinois, via Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As per pricing, the new train fares start at $41 for coach each way between St. Paul and Chicago.
One cool thing about the Borealis trains is that they will make the same stops between St. Paul and Milwaukee as the current Empire Builder train. Additionally, they also make the Hiawatha stops between Milwaukee and Chicago, which can be convenient if you're switching trains to continue your trip.
Officials are also thrilled about the new train addition, which will ultimately help boost the local economy along the train route."This route includes eight stations in Wisconsin, and doubling the frequency of the service will better connect the many businesses, universities, and tourist attractions along this corridor," WisDOT secretary Craig Thompson said in a statement. "This expansion is thanks to the work WisDOT was able to do together with Minnesota, Illinois, and Amtrak, as well as the opportunities provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. We will continue to work with federal and state partners to explore more passenger rail options in Wisconsin."
If that wasn't enough, the much-beloved seasonal Amtrak service connecting New York City and the Berkshires is also about to return, and tickets are now on sale. On June 21, service will officially resume, and passengers can benefit from it on weekends through September 2 (right after Labor Day weekend).
Departing from New York City's Moynihan Train Hall in Penn Station and making its way to Pittsfield, Massachusetts, the Berkshires Flyer leaves NYC on Friday afternoons and arrives at its destination later that night. As a treat, however, Amtrak added an additional Sunday morning departure, making it possible for passengers to leave NYC at 10:50 am and arrive in Pittsfield at 3:15 pm. On its way back to the Big Apple, instead, the train departs on Sunday afternoon, pulling into Penn Station right before 8 pm.
"The Berkshire Flyer provides a comfortable and fun way for our guests to visit the Berkshire Mountains, all while enjoying unmatched scenery that you can only experience on America's Railroad," Amtrak executive vice president and chief commercial officer Eliot Hamlisch said in a statement. "Thanks to the support of our partners [...] Amtrak travelers can enjoy their journey and the local culture all summer long."