Amtrak’s New Northeast Pricing: Deal or Bust?
Earlier this year (2023), Amtrak announced plans to further expand their overnight trains. These “Night Owl” fares are available on select trains departing between 7pm-7am on Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor spanning Washington DC in the south to Boston in the north. As of November 2023 nightly services include;
Philadelphia, PA - Baltimore, MD (BWI)
$5 / 2h13m drive (w/ $8.00 toll) / 2h16m ride / 111mi
0.2% faster to drive (…but toll cost)
NYC - Newark, NJ (Newark Liberty)
$5 / 37m drive (w/ tolls) / 24m ride / 11mi
35.2% faster to ride
Boston, MA - Providence, RI
$5 / 1h45m drive / 34m ride / 51mi
67.7% faster to ride
NYC - Philadelphia, PA
$10 / 2h10m (w/ $19.85 toll) / 1h26m ride / 94mi
33.9% faster to ride
Philadephia, PA - Washington DC
$10 / 2h57m drive (w/ $8.00 toll) / 1h52m ride / 139mi
36.8% faster to ride
Washington DC - Wilmington, DE
$10 / 2h30m drive (w/ $16.00 toll) / 1h27m ride / 111mi
42% faster to ride
New Haven, CT - Boston, MA
$15 / 2h56m drive (w/ $7.05 toll) / 2h30m ride / 137mi
14.8% faster to ride
Boston, MA - Baltimore, MD (BWI)
$15 / 8h8m drive (w/ tolls) / 8h32m ride / 457mi
0.7% faster to drive (…but driving 8 hours)
Boston, MA - NYC
$20 / 4h34m drive (w/ $12.09 toll) / 3h58m ride / 215mi
13.2% faster to ride
NYC - Washington DC
$20 / 4h18m drive (w/ tolls) / 3h17m ride / 228mi
23.7% faster to ride
*one way fare
These prices ranges from good deals to absolute steals. The $15 Boston-Baltimore service offers a 457mi route for as much as 4.32 gallons of gas in Boston. In the case of the Washington-Wilmington service; the highway toll alone would be more than the train ticket. Amenities on all services include; quiet car for sleeping or book reading, WiFi, power outlets, and the usual dining car. According to their website; Amtrak will let you board with three bags (one personal, two cargo) for free, which I’ve hard is a deal.
Honestly, in general people underestimate the amount of stress saved from not having to drive. Though a much larger regional system did exist when the likes of the Baltimore & Ohio or New York Central dominated the region's rail travel. The Northeast US is still absolutely set up for this downtown to downtown mode of travel. Showing faster to ride in almost all services offered. In those which riding was slower the margin was under a percentage. Furthermore, with the addition of the regions numerous tollways; the Northeast is the most passenger rail rich region in the country today. Unfortunately, it is just one small, historically connected region in a country largely without access with reliable passenger rail. Even still, it’s impressive and hopeful to see lines like; the Boston-Providence and the Washington DC-Wilmington services. Which are 67 and 42 percent faster to ride than drive, respectfully. Oh yeah, and that Boston-Providence line ticket is only five buckeroos. Crazy good deal.
In addition, there have been some ticket system changes. Amtrak is moving on implementing their two option system in the Northeast corridor. The 'Flex' option allows a fully refundable ticket along with the freedom to change travel details. The much more economical ‘Value' option is much cheaper, but purchasers will only get 75% refund if booking is canceled. This two option system applies to both standard coach and business-class tickets. This streamlined approach allows for the freedom save money on those not-so-time sensitive travel plans throughout the region. I mean, come on. A $223 Boston-Philly ride is now $35. A $128 Philly-NYC ticket is now $19. I’d say it’s a deal.
