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On the Northeast Corridor, there are quite a few significant changes to various trains and schedules. Red indicates new numbers.
New England
Changes to VERMONTER, LAKE SHORE LIMITED, and Train 145
The most important change is that Train 145, the weekday Inland Route train that runs Boston-Springfield-Hartford-New Haven and then down to New York and Washington, is being eliminated. Because of the LAKE SHORE LIMITED (449) running earlier (9:50 AM Boston departure), 145 could not run in the same timeslot. It is not known why 145 could not trade timeslots with 449 and just run later.
Train 55, the weekday southbound VERMONTER, will leave St. Albans, VT 1-1/2 hours earlier at 6:35 AM. Because of its earlier stop at Springfield, there will be a connection (50-minute layover) from 449 to 55 for former passengers of 145 who need to go from Massachusetts to Connecticut Valley points such as Hartford.
On weekends, Train 147 will trade places with 449, providing through service over the Inland Route from Boston to Washington via Springfield and Hartford. Train 57, the weekend southbound VERMONTER, will retain its current schedule.
Trains 140 (weekends) and 142 (weekdays) will continue to run over the Inland Route.
Boston-Springfield
Without 145 on the Boston-Springfield segment, there will be just one train (449) westbound on weekdays, and two eastbound (448 and 142). On weekends there will continue to be two round trips on the Boston-Springfield segment: 449 and 147 westbound, and 448 and 140 eastbound.
Springfield-New Haven
The loss of 145 on the Springfield-New Haven segment means that on weekdays there will be 5 southbound trains and 6 northbound trains. The only change (other than 55 running earlier) is that northbound shuttle 478 has been eliminated, and will be replaced by an earlier shuttle, 494, which of course will connect from 94 at New Haven. 148 will therefore be the last Springfield-bound train of the day.
There will be 5 round trips on Saturdays, and 6 round trips on Sundays on the new timetable. A new shuttle train 463 will depart Springfield 12:35 PM; this would replace the older schedule of 147 on weekends via a transfer in Springfield from 449. 463 will connect with 163 in New Haven. The rescheduled 147, departing Springfield 5:00 PM, replaces 467. A new 479, connecting with 179 in New Haven, will run on Sundays only. In the northbound direction, the only significant change is that a Sunday-only train has been added, departing New Haven at 5:00 PM as Train 488. This connects from 88 at New Haven.
Boston-New York via Shore Line
The equipment from 145 will instead be used for a new train via the Shore Line, 137. This train will fill a gap by running 2 hours after 173 and 2 hours before 175.
Acela Express service in New England will run on the same frequencies as before the August equipment problem. All changes back to conventional equipment are south of New York City.
New York-Washington Metroliners & Acela Express
Some Acela Express runs that were substituted with conventional equipment since August have now been officially converted back to Metroliners or Acela Regional. On weekdays, Acela Express 2103 is back to Metroliner 101, 2163 reverts to 119, and the "in-betweener" Metroliner (former 119) is cancelled. Acela Express 2115 goes back to being Metroliner 121. Northbound Acela Express 2162 is replaced by Metroliner 110, 2182 becomes 122, and the last run of the day, 2118 leaves Washington 20 minutes earlier at 8:10 PM and is now Acela Regional 138.
On Saturdays, all Acela Express trips remain on the schedule.
Sundays, Acela Express 2213 will operate as Metroliner 221. And Acela Express 2210 becomes Metroliner 224.
New York-Washington Acela Regional
Frequencies essentially remain the same. Because of the above changes in New England, several trains along the southern portion of the Northeast Corridor have traded places. Train 173 moves 1/2 hour earlier, taking the timeslot vacated by the cancelled 145. Train 55 takes 173's old timeslot leaving New York 4:35 PM. New train 137, which is the extra Shore Line train using 145's equipment, will leave New York at 6:20 PM, using the former timeslot of 55.
As mentioned above, the new 138 is an unreserved northbound train leaving Washington at 8:10 PM.
New England
Changes to VERMONTER, LAKE SHORE LIMITED, and Train 145
The most important change is that Train 145, the weekday Inland Route train that runs Boston-Springfield-Hartford-New Haven and then down to New York and Washington, is being eliminated. Because of the LAKE SHORE LIMITED (449) running earlier (9:50 AM Boston departure), 145 could not run in the same timeslot. It is not known why 145 could not trade timeslots with 449 and just run later.
Train 55, the weekday southbound VERMONTER, will leave St. Albans, VT 1-1/2 hours earlier at 6:35 AM. Because of its earlier stop at Springfield, there will be a connection (50-minute layover) from 449 to 55 for former passengers of 145 who need to go from Massachusetts to Connecticut Valley points such as Hartford.
On weekends, Train 147 will trade places with 449, providing through service over the Inland Route from Boston to Washington via Springfield and Hartford. Train 57, the weekend southbound VERMONTER, will retain its current schedule.
Trains 140 (weekends) and 142 (weekdays) will continue to run over the Inland Route.
Boston-Springfield
Without 145 on the Boston-Springfield segment, there will be just one train (449) westbound on weekdays, and two eastbound (448 and 142). On weekends there will continue to be two round trips on the Boston-Springfield segment: 449 and 147 westbound, and 448 and 140 eastbound.
Springfield-New Haven
The loss of 145 on the Springfield-New Haven segment means that on weekdays there will be 5 southbound trains and 6 northbound trains. The only change (other than 55 running earlier) is that northbound shuttle 478 has been eliminated, and will be replaced by an earlier shuttle, 494, which of course will connect from 94 at New Haven. 148 will therefore be the last Springfield-bound train of the day.
There will be 5 round trips on Saturdays, and 6 round trips on Sundays on the new timetable. A new shuttle train 463 will depart Springfield 12:35 PM; this would replace the older schedule of 147 on weekends via a transfer in Springfield from 449. 463 will connect with 163 in New Haven. The rescheduled 147, departing Springfield 5:00 PM, replaces 467. A new 479, connecting with 179 in New Haven, will run on Sundays only. In the northbound direction, the only significant change is that a Sunday-only train has been added, departing New Haven at 5:00 PM as Train 488. This connects from 88 at New Haven.
Boston-New York via Shore Line
The equipment from 145 will instead be used for a new train via the Shore Line, 137. This train will fill a gap by running 2 hours after 173 and 2 hours before 175.
Acela Express service in New England will run on the same frequencies as before the August equipment problem. All changes back to conventional equipment are south of New York City.
New York-Washington Metroliners & Acela Express
Some Acela Express runs that were substituted with conventional equipment since August have now been officially converted back to Metroliners or Acela Regional. On weekdays, Acela Express 2103 is back to Metroliner 101, 2163 reverts to 119, and the "in-betweener" Metroliner (former 119) is cancelled. Acela Express 2115 goes back to being Metroliner 121. Northbound Acela Express 2162 is replaced by Metroliner 110, 2182 becomes 122, and the last run of the day, 2118 leaves Washington 20 minutes earlier at 8:10 PM and is now Acela Regional 138.
On Saturdays, all Acela Express trips remain on the schedule.
Sundays, Acela Express 2213 will operate as Metroliner 221. And Acela Express 2210 becomes Metroliner 224.
New York-Washington Acela Regional
Frequencies essentially remain the same. Because of the above changes in New England, several trains along the southern portion of the Northeast Corridor have traded places. Train 173 moves 1/2 hour earlier, taking the timeslot vacated by the cancelled 145. Train 55 takes 173's old timeslot leaving New York 4:35 PM. New train 137, which is the extra Shore Line train using 145's equipment, will leave New York at 6:20 PM, using the former timeslot of 55.
As mentioned above, the new 138 is an unreserved northbound train leaving Washington at 8:10 PM.
