Steve Fainer
@stevefainer.bsky.social
Retired guy living his best life in Northampton Massachusetts. Mass transit and pedestrian rights advocate. CT native. Up early a.m. so you don't have to be.
Celebrating 7 years of service of the Valley Flyer. I rode the first train on August 30,2019. The route survived the Covid lock down and has thrived ever since.
August 31, 2026 at 4:19 AM
Celebrating 7 years of service of the Valley Flyer. I rode the first train on August 30,2019. The route survived the Covid lock down and has thrived ever since.
Ridership on Amtrak's Hartford line is up 25,000 passengers through April '26 over FY '25, an increase of 8.7%! This despite poor weather and bus substitutions over the time period.
May 31, 2026 at 1:05 PM
Ridership on Amtrak's Hartford line is up 25,000 passengers through April '26 over FY '25, an increase of 8.7%! This despite poor weather and bus substitutions over the time period.
Summer on Strong street closure begins in Northampton today! Steps away from the train station and bus stops.
May 19, 2026 at 9:28 AM
Summer on Strong street closure begins in Northampton today! Steps away from the train station and bus stops.
Iconic New Haven train tunnel.
May 17, 2026 at 6:29 AM
Iconic New Haven train tunnel.
New bus service coming to WMass!
May 13, 2026 at 6:16 AM
New bus service coming to WMass!
Celebrated National Train Day...by taking the train!
May 10, 2026 at 8:51 AM
Celebrated National Train Day...by taking the train!
Faster service coming for the Ethan Allen Express!
May 8, 2026 at 8:24 AM
Faster service coming for the Ethan Allen Express!
Work is getting under way for new high-level platforms and other renovations at the train stations in Ansonia and Derby, CT! Fall 2027 is the target for completion.
May 1, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Work is getting under way for new high-level platforms and other renovations at the train stations in Ansonia and Derby, CT! Fall 2027 is the target for completion.
Half-way into FY '26, Amtrak Hartford Line ridership is up by 22,100 over the previous year, a gain of 8.3%! Still lagging record-setting FY '24, but a positive sign nevertheless.
May 1, 2026 at 8:33 AM
Half-way into FY '26, Amtrak Hartford Line ridership is up by 22,100 over the previous year, a gain of 8.3%! Still lagging record-setting FY '24, but a positive sign nevertheless.
Bus substitutions on off-peak Hartford Line trains start today through October 31st. A seemingly never-ending process that has hurt ridership the past couple years.
April 21, 2026 at 10:14 AM
Bus substitutions on off-peak Hartford Line trains start today through October 31st. A seemingly never-ending process that has hurt ridership the past couple years.
In just the five years since its pre-COVID era peak of 22,284 in 2019, Amtrak ridership in Northampton, MA has grown to 40,513 in FY24!
October 17, 2025 at 9:29 AM
In just the five years since its pre-COVID era peak of 22,284 in 2019, Amtrak ridership in Northampton, MA has grown to 40,513 in FY24!
Busy day at Northampton today with 48 passengers boarding the Amtrak Vermonter and 5 departing.
April 28, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Busy day at Northampton today with 48 passengers boarding the Amtrak Vermonter and 5 departing.
@hartfordline
is adding some extra trains for Sunday's UConn championship parade.
is adding some extra trains for Sunday's UConn championship parade.
April 11, 2025 at 9:46 PM
@hartfordline
is adding some extra trains for Sunday's UConn championship parade.
is adding some extra trains for Sunday's UConn championship parade.
Spring train travel season is heating up, even if the weather isn't. Amtrak shuttles 409, 461, 464, 465, and 488 for this Sunday, April 13 are all near capacity. UConn parade may have something to do with this but not all of it.
April 11, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Spring train travel season is heating up, even if the weather isn't. Amtrak shuttles 409, 461, 464, 465, and 488 for this Sunday, April 13 are all near capacity. UConn parade may have something to do with this but not all of it.
Heads up, bus substitutions will be back on the Amtrak Hartford Line and CTrail beginning Tuesday, April 22nd! Mostly late-morning, early-afternoon weekdays. Due to track work and new Windsor Locks station
April 9, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Heads up, bus substitutions will be back on the Amtrak Hartford Line and CTrail beginning Tuesday, April 22nd! Mostly late-morning, early-afternoon weekdays. Due to track work and new Windsor Locks station
Sunday's northbound Vermonter and Valley Flyer 488 both sold out today. Many college kids returning from Spring break. Alternatively you can take one of the other shuttles to Springfield, then hop on the PVTA's G73E express to Northampton.
March 23, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Sunday's northbound Vermonter and Valley Flyer 488 both sold out today. Many college kids returning from Spring break. Alternatively you can take one of the other shuttles to Springfield, then hop on the PVTA's G73E express to Northampton.
Valley Flyer 461 is nearing capacity for both today and Sunday! Spring breakers heading out.
March 15, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Valley Flyer 461 is nearing capacity for both today and Sunday! Spring breakers heading out.
Busy Friday heading into Spring break, with both Vermonters sold out and some shuttles on the Hartford Line nearing capacity including the 475.
March 14, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Busy Friday heading into Spring break, with both Vermonters sold out and some shuttles on the Hartford Line nearing capacity including the 475.
Recently released figures show that Northampton, MA, served 40,513 Amtrak customers in FY '24, an increase of 16.4% over FY '23! With just 6 trains a day!
March 6, 2025 at 1:01 PM
Recently released figures show that Northampton, MA, served 40,513 Amtrak customers in FY '24, an increase of 16.4% over FY '23! With just 6 trains a day!
Big news in the Naugatuck Valley of CT! valley.newhavenindependent.org/article/cons...
Construction On Valley Train Stations, Platforms To Begin This Fall
THE VALLEY – The Connecticut Department of Transportation (DOT) plans to begin construction on $106 million worth of train station improvements throughout…
valley.newhavenindependent.org
February 13, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Big news in the Naugatuck Valley of CT! valley.newhavenindependent.org/article/cons...
If you were counting on today's Amtrak 86 to get you to the Hartford Line, you're out of luck. It's cancelled due to weather down South. But you can take a Metro-North train leaving GCT at 12:34pm and arriving NHT at 2:36. Then transfer to Valley Flyer 486, leaving at 2:50 for all points North.
February 12, 2025 at 11:06 AM
If you were counting on today's Amtrak 86 to get you to the Hartford Line, you're out of luck. It's cancelled due to weather down South. But you can take a Metro-North train leaving GCT at 12:34pm and arriving NHT at 2:36. Then transfer to Valley Flyer 486, leaving at 2:50 for all points North.
Just another "Frantic Friday" on the Hartford Line. Both Vermonters are or near sellouts, Amtrak shuttle 474 and Valley Flyer 494 approaching capacity! This is becoming a regular thing, not just at holiday time.
January 3, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Just another "Frantic Friday" on the Hartford Line. Both Vermonters are or near sellouts, Amtrak shuttle 474 and Valley Flyer 494 approaching capacity! This is becoming a regular thing, not just at holiday time.
Today we are celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the return of train service to Northampton, MA. It has become one of the busiest stations on the Hartford Line and Vermonter service. Thousands of folks board and alight from here every year!
December 30, 2024 at 9:03 AM
Today we are celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the return of train service to Northampton, MA. It has become one of the busiest stations on the Hartford Line and Vermonter service. Thousands of folks board and alight from here every year!
Five Amtrak Hartford Line shuttles and both Vermonters are at or near capacity today, therefore..
December 27, 2024 at 3:42 PM
Five Amtrak Hartford Line shuttles and both Vermonters are at or near capacity today, therefore..
Amtrak and Valley Flyer shuttles filling up fast on the last Friday before the holidays! Already 474, 475, 486, and 494 at or near capacity! Vermonters both sold out. Remember, lots of CTrail trains to get you to New Haven and connections to Amtrak or Metro-North.
December 20, 2024 at 2:30 PM
Amtrak and Valley Flyer shuttles filling up fast on the last Friday before the holidays! Already 474, 475, 486, and 494 at or near capacity! Vermonters both sold out. Remember, lots of CTrail trains to get you to New Haven and connections to Amtrak or Metro-North.