Berkshire Flyer: Pittsfield - New York City Service via Albany

Tickets on Sale: Media.Amtrak.com

Tickets Now on Sale for Berkshire Flyer Seasonal Passenger Rail Service between New York City and Pittsfield, Massachusetts

Passenger rail service runs on weekends from June 21 through September 2

Friday and Sunday service, including a Sunday morning train from NYC, from Amtrak, in conjunction with MassDOT and NYSDOT

PITTSFIELD – Amtrak, in conjunction with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) and New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), is announcing tickets are now on sale for the Berkshire Flyer, the seasonal summer passenger rail service that operates between New York City from Moynihan Train Hall and Pittsfield, Massachusetts. The service, which began as a successful pilot in 2022, is scheduled to resume on Friday, June 21 through Monday, September 2 for Labor Day weekend. Trains depart New York City Friday nights and return at the end of the weekend, leaving Pittsfield Sunday afternoon. In addition, for the first time this year, the Berkshire Flyer service now includes a train from New York City to Pittsfield on Sunday mornings.

We’re thrilled to announce this season’s Berkshire Flyer service,” said Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt. “The Berkshire Flyer makes visiting Western Massachusetts on weekends convenient, relaxing, and easy. We are pleased to continue our successful partnership with Amtrak, the New York State Department of Transportation and CSX.”

Massachusetts Rail and Transit Administrator Meredith Slesinger added, “MassDOT continues to implement its Compass Rail program to enhance existing and launch new passenger service, and the Berkshire Flyer is one element of our larger vision. We are pleased to offer this service for a third season and continue to advance other elements of the program with Amtrak, CSX, and our federal and state partners.”

“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,” said Amtrak Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer Eiliot Hamlisch. “Thanks to the support of our partners at MassDOT, NYSDOT and CSX, Amtrak travelers can enjoy their journey and the local culture all summer long.”

New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, “NYSDOT is proud to support this wonderfully successful passenger rail service, which provides a relaxing and enjoyable experience for travelers of all ages. Whether it’s a weekend getaway, or a longer vacation, the Berkshire Flyer experience offers a convenient and eco-friendly way for travelers and adventure seekers to explore the beauty and charm of the Berkshires and Upstate New York.”

CSX is pleased to extend our commitment to pilot passenger service, the Berkshire Flyer, that will run between New York City and Pittsfield, MA on our network this summer,” said Senior Director of Passenger Operations at CSX, Andy Daly. “CSX has a long history of working in partnership on projects that benefit both passenger and freight rail service, and since acquiring Pan Am, we have made significant investments in the infrastructure to provide a safer, more reliable freight rail network throughout New England.”

“I have been a staunch supporter of the Berkshire Flyer from the beginning. As a catalyst for regional economic growth and sustainability, it underscores the importance of improved and expanded passenger rail service throughout the Commonwealth. I am thrilled that the service will soon be underway for the summer of 2024,” said Congressman Richard Neal. “FY23 marked a nearly 50% increase in ridership from FY22, a testament to the desirability of the service. We all know what the Berkshires has to offer in the arts, culture, history, and hospitality, and the Berkshire Flyer serves as an accessible, convenient mode of transportation that allows tourists to visit throughout the summer months. I am grateful to the folks at Amtrak, CSX, MassDOT, and NYSDOT for their continued efforts to support the operation of this service.”

The Berkshire Flyer departs from Moynihan Train Hall at 3:16 p.m. on Fridays and arrives at Joseph Scelsi Intermodal Transportation Center in Pittsfield at 7:27 p.m. The train will make all intermediate station stops as the scheduled Amtrak Empire Service train does in New York State on Fridays, which include Yonkers, Croton-Harmon, Poughkeepsie, Rhinecliff, Hudson, and Albany-Rensselaer Station. The Sunday return trip, making all the same station stops, will depart Pittsfield at 3:35 p.m. and arrive in New York at 7:55 p.m. The new Sunday Berkshire Flyer train from New York City to Pittsfield will depart Moynihan Train Hall at 10:50 a.m. and arrive in Pittsfield at 3:15 p.m.

The Berkshire Flyer is building upon two successful seasons where some of the Pittsfield-bound trains were sold out well in advance. Based on that experience, passengers planning a trip are encouraged to purchase tickets early by visiting Amtrak.com, the Amtrak app or by calling 1-800-USA-RAIL.

Berkshire Flyer customers can expect the same amenities onboard as they do on all other Amtrak trains including, free Wi-Fi, the freedom to always use phones and electronic devices (no “airplane mode”), the ability to travel with small pets, large spacious seats with plenty of leg room and no middle seat.,

For MassDOT information, please visit: https://www.mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts ... sportation.

To learn more about NYSDOT, please visit: https://www.dot.ny.gov/index.

Speaking of dogs that wont hunt....................

In 2022, the 9 weekend trips of the BF averaged 45 riders each way between Albany/Rensselaer and Pittsfield. Service frequency was increased to 20 weekends in 2023 (Memorial Day through Columbus Day) yet total ridership only increased 47% suggesting around 30 patrons each way per weekend trip to/from Pittsfield.

This summer, the BF service offering will be cut back to June 21 through Labor Day , ie, 11 weekends.

30-40 Pittsfield patrons each trip doesn't sound like success to me. Assuming the BF consist uses a minimum of 5 Amfleet coaches each with 84 seat capacity, that's ~400 empty seats going to/from Pittsfield each trip!

Lastly I think it's a bit of a hoot that Massachusetts Secretary of Transportation is ga-ga over a weekend service to/from the Berkshires that is aimed at non-Massachusetts patrons.:

We’re thrilled to announce this season’s Berkshire Flyer service,” said Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt. “The Berkshire Flyer makes visiting Western Massachusetts on weekends convenient, relaxing, and easy.

Yet they try to portray the trains as sold out, even though it probably is mostly empty at Albany.

The train was supposed to be gone as of last summer. Never met its ridership goals not even close. The state of Massachusetts ponied up the $$$ to make sure it runs again. I posted some numbers last year not even enough to cover crew cost let alone fuel.

Those quoted statements from Amtrak and CSX sounded as if they were written either under duress or slightly “under the influence” The one from MA sounded like it was prepared by a used car salesman anxious to offload his worst offerings to unsuspecting would-be buyers.


Even the “WHACK WAVING INFLATABLE ARM FLAILING TUBE MAN!” spokesman wouldn’t be able to go along with this charade (Al Harrington on Rte. 2 in WEEEEEKAPAUGGG says hi )

Railjunkie wrote:The train was supposed to be gone as of last summer. Never met its ridership goals not even close. The state of Massachusetts ponied up the $$$ to make sure it runs again. I posted some numbers last year not even enough to cover crew cost let alone fuel.

And now there’s an extra Sunday morning departure from NYP which arrives just in time to change ends and head back to NYP with no Pittsfield-ALB-NYC Fri night departure to compliment it.

I guess failure is now success.

Last year the train on Sunday out of Albany to Pittsfield which was basically a deadhead move. Amtrak did sell tickets and there was a women who rode every Sunday morning. That train never had more than 10 paying passengers on it. Now they are going to run a train from NYC to ALB to catch the Flyer on Sunday?? To go to Pittsfield??? Sounds like you can book a connecting ticket on AMT69???
As for a ALB-NYP train on Friday night CSX can give it a good run PIT-ALB or I have seen it get back at 11pm, again basically a deadhead move. Tickets were available for purchase I believe. However there are no connecting trains in Albany, even on a good run AMT 64 is long gone.

johnpbarlow wrote: ↑Sat Apr 27, 2024 8:30 am Lastly I think it's a bit of a hoot that Massachusetts Secretary of Transportation is ga-ga over a weekend service to/from the Berkshires that is aimed at non-Massachusetts patrons.:

It makes sense to want to support accessibility for New Yorkers, as Pittsfield is a decent enough tourism destination in the summer. The concern should be that not many people are using the service, but the goal of bringing people in from New York to spend in Massachusetts is reasonable.

HenryAlan wrote: ↑Tue Apr 30, 2024 12:24 pm

johnpbarlow wrote: ↑Sat Apr 27, 2024 8:30 am Lastly I think it's a bit of a hoot that Massachusetts Secretary of Transportation is ga-ga over a weekend service to/from the Berkshires that is aimed at non-Massachusetts patrons.:

It makes sense to want to support accessibility for New Yorkers, as Pittsfield is a decent enough tourism destination in the summer. The concern should be that not many people are using the service, but the goal of bringing people in from New York to spend in Massachusetts is reasonable.

Most of the people that are spending money on that train are not tourist. We do have a nickname for this train. Which I shall choose not to share as I know there are lurkers about...

Railjunkie wrote: ↑Wed May 01, 2024 8:59 am
Most of the people that are spending money on that train are not tourist. We do have a nickname for this train. Which I shall choose not to share as I know there are lurkers about...

Okay, well that's not a very clear comment. Do you mean to say that most who use it are folks who live in or near Pittsfield, going to Albany instead? Or do you mean that it's people coming from New York that you don't see as a useful contribution in Massachusetts?

This train primarily carries folks going to and from Albany to NYC. NYC to and from Pittsfield, the supposed reason for the Flyer is not flying. Why? because it just doesn't make any sense/cents or put another way, so far just about nobody appears to have a reason/desire to ride it beyond Albany.

Perhaps for NYC to Pittsfield passengers only, if it was free, served gourmet meals, clean windows, and had domes, it might get more butts in the seats. But i wouldn't bet on it.

HenryAlan wrote: ↑Wed May 01, 2024 9:59 am

Railjunkie wrote: ↑Wed May 01, 2024 8:59 am
Most of the people that are spending money on that train are not tourist. We do have a nickname for this train. Which I shall choose not to share as I know there are lurkers about...

Okay, well that's not a very clear comment. Do you mean to say that most who use it are folks who live in or near Pittsfield, going to Albany instead? Or do you mean that it's people coming from New York that you don't see as a useful contribution in Massachusetts?

My interpretation of his coyness is that the "lurkers" he refers to may also have, shall we say, "tender ears."

Well, i'm willing to bet that all the folks who were riding on old 144 and wanted to go to Lenox, Lee, Great Barrington etc got there a whole hell of a lot quicker not to mention easier than the Flyer folks can today.