%2c_September_2022.jpg) TheBerkshire Flyer at Pittsfield in September 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Overview | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Service type | Inter-city rail | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Status | Pilot, seasonal | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Locale | Hudson Valley andBerkshires | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First service | July 8, 2022 (2022-07-08) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current operator | Amtrak | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Annual ridership | 826 (FY 24)[a]  -31.7%[b][1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Website | amtrak.com/berkshire-flyer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Route | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Termini | New York City, New York Pittsfield, Massachusetts | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distance travelled | 190 miles (306 km) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Average journey time | 4 hours | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Service frequency | Two northbound and one southbound trip weekly | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Train number | 1233, 1235, 1246 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Technical | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rolling stock | Amfleet coaches | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)standard gauge | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Track owners | MNRR,Amtrak,CSX | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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TheBerkshire Flyer is a seasonalAmtrakpassenger train service betweenNew York City and theBerkshire Mountains inPittsfield, Massachusetts, via theHudson Valley. The weekly train departsPenn Station on Friday and Sunday afternoons during the summer and returns on Sundays (Mondays on holiday weekends). The route's 2023 season began on May 26 and ran through October 9 as the second year of a three-yearpilot program.
In 2014, Massachusetts proposed moving ahead with plans forcommuter rail service between the Berkshires and New York City.[2][3] Eight round trips per day would have followed theHousatonic Railroad from Pittsfield throughConnecticut toSoutheast, New York, where they would have taken theHarlem Line toGrand Central Terminal.[4][5] Four stops were proposed inBerkshire County: Pittsfield,Lee,Great Barrington, andSheffield.[6] The commuter rail project failed to progress due to lack of interest from the administration ofConnecticut GovernorDannel Malloy.[7]
In 2017, theMassachusetts legislature began new efforts toward a summer tourist train, not commuter rail, between New York City and the Berkshires. Eddie Sporn, a Berkshire-based consultant, was researching the topic of restoring passenger rail service and sent an outline of plans to State SenatorAdam Hinds.[8] The plan for the "Berkshire Flyer" was modeled on theCapeFLYER, a popular seasonal train betweenBoston andCape Cod. The proposal routed the train on theEmpire Corridor throughNew York State rather than Connecticut. In September the legislature empaneled a working group consisting ofMassDOT representatives, government officials, business leaders, and involved citizens to work on the project.[7]
MassDOT released aBerkshire Flyer feasibility study in March 2018 in which three alternatives were studied. The first option (which was ultimately selected) was to extend anEmpire Service round trip fromAlbany–Rensselaer to Pittsfield. The second option would have added a new limited-stop express train on this route, saving 10 to 12 minutes. The third would have added a new train that skipped Albany–Rensselaer by traversing theSchodack Subdivision, cutting 18 miles (29 km) and saving 20 minutes.NYSDOT stated it would not support a service that did not stop at all Empire Corridor stations. The report also raised the possibility of a new Amtrak station inChatham, New York, but this was not evaluated due to its large capital costs.[9]
In May 2018, theMassachusetts Senate approved funds for a two-year trial of theBerkshire Flyer. The service would be a seasonal extension of a weekendEmpire Service round trip to Pittsfield.[10][11][12]
The service pilot was originally scheduled to begin in June 2020, but was delayed due to theCOVID-19 pandemic and questions around the program's legal sponsorship.[13] It was rescheduled to take place in summer 2022 and 2023, and was later expanded to a third year, 2024.
In April 2022, Amtrak announced that the first trip would depart on July 8.[14] Tickets went up for sale on May 25, starting at $45 one way.[15][16] Service began as announced on July 8, 2022, with train 1235 departing on-time from Penn Station. Several local and state officials were aboard the first train, while others greeted it in Pittsfield.[17][18] The season ended with a southbound trip on September 5, running onLabor Day instead of Sunday.[19]
The 2022 season saw nine totalBerkshire Flyer round trips, carrying 401 passengers northbound to Pittsfield and 418 riders southbound.[20] Feedback on the route was positive, though many passengers desired the option to spend more time in Pittsfield, saying the limited schedule was inconvenient. Supporters hoped the schedule could be expanded for the 2023 season.[21]
In April 2023, MassDOT announced theBerkshire Flyer's second season would run from Memorial Day weekend to Columbus Day weekend. The first northbound train departed on May 26, and the last southbound train was scheduled for October 8. Twenty total round trips were scheduled, more than double that of 2022.[22][23]
In 2023, MassDOT indicated that the pilot would be funded for a third season (summer 2024) in order to make up for the late start and minimal marketing of the 2022 season. This required a new agreement with track-ownerCSX, who desired the construction of apassing siding atJoseph Scelsi Intermodal Transportation Center.[20] The 2024 season operated from June 21 to September 2, 2024, with a Sunday northbound trip added.[24] MassDOT indicated that connecting bus service (possiblyAmtrak Thruway) between Albany–Rensselaer and Pittsfield would be considered added after theBerkshire Flyer season ended.[25]
A sinkhole under thePost Road Branch tracks inEast Greenwich was discovered in May 2025, causing theBerkshire Flyer andLake Shore Limited to be replaced with buses east of Albany. As of July 2025[update], service on the line is expected to resume in January 2026.[26]
TheBerkshire Flyer operates northbound (New York to Pittsfield) on Friday afternoons and Sundays midday, and southbound on Sunday afternoon. Intermediate stops are made in both directions atEmpire Service stations.[27] In Pittsfield, passengers are welcomed by "ambassadors" who provide information and assist in wayfinding.[28][19]
TheBerkshire Flyer operates overCSX Transportation,Metro-North Railroad, and Amtrak trackage:
Though theBerkshire Flyer is the first and only Amtrak train to offer a direct ride between New York City and Pittsfield without layovers, all sections of the route are served by other Amtrak trains. The line between New York City and Rensselaer is part of Amtrak's Empire Corridor, while service between Rensselaer and Pittsfield is provided by theLake Shore Limited.
| State | Location | Mile (km) | Station | Connections |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | Pittsfield | 190 (310) | Joseph Scelsi Intermodal Transportation Center |  Amtrak:Lake Shore Limited BRTA: 1, 2, 4, 5A, 5B, 11, 12, 14, 15, 21, 921Peter Pan Bus |
| New York State | Rensselaer | 141 (227) | Albany–Rensselaer | Amtrak:Adirondack,Empire Service,Ethan Allen Express,Lake Shore Limited,Maple Leaf CDTA: 114, 214 |
| Hudson | 114 (183) | Hudson | Amtrak:Adirondack,Empire Service,Ethan Allen Express,Maple Leaf | |
| Rhinecliff | 100 (160) | Rhinecliff | Amtrak:Adirondack,Empire Service,Ethan Allen Express,Maple Leaf | |
| Poughkeepsie | 80 (130) | Poughkeepsie | Amtrak:Adirondack,Empire Service,Ethan Allen Express,Maple Leaf Metro-North Railroad:■ Hudson LineDCPT: A, B, C, D, E, Poughkeepsie RailLink;UCAT: Ulster-Poughkeepsie LINK | |
| Croton-on-Hudson | 40 (64) | Croton–Harmon | Amtrak:Adirondack,Empire Service,Ethan Allen Express,Lake Shore Limited,Maple Leaf Metro-North Railroad:■ Hudson LineBee-Line: 10, 11, 14 | |
| Yonkers | 18 (29) | Yonkers | Amtrak:Adirondack,Empire Service,Ethan Allen Express,Maple Leaf Metro-North Railroad:■ Hudson Line Bee-Line: 6, 9, 25, 32, 91 | |
| New York City | 0 (0) | New York Penn Station | Amtrak (long-distance):Cardinal,Crescent,Lake Shore Limited,Palmetto,Silver Meteor Amtrak (intercity):Acela,Adirondack,Carolinian,Empire Service,Ethan Allen Express,Keystone Service,Maple Leaf,Northeast Regional,Pennsylvanian,VermonterLIRR:■ City Terminal Zone,■ Port Washington Branch NJ Transit:■ North Jersey Coast Line,■ Northeast Corridor Line,■ Gladstone Branch,■ Montclair–Boonton Line,■ Morristown Line NYC Subway:       PATH:HOB-33JSQ-33JSQ-33 (via HOB)NYC Transit buses:M7,M20,M34 SBS,M34A SBS,Q32,SIM23,SIM24 |
