This Picturesque 4-hour Practice Goes From NYC to the Berkshires With River Views — and It Solely Runs within the Summer season

Amtrak’s Berkshire Flyer doesn’t run year-round, however when it’s in operation, it is a sizzling ticket — particularly amongst New Yorkers seeking to escape the summer time warmth. This 12 months, the practice will journey between New York Metropolis and Pittsfield, Massachusetts, all summer time lengthy. The season kicks off on Might 26 in time for Memorial Day weekend and runs till Oct. 9 (Indigenous Peoples’ Day weekend), in line with the Berkshire tourism web site. 

Tickets are anticipated to promote rapidly — with good cause. The Berkshire Flyer makes it straightforward for New Yorkers to skip the site visitors on the New York State Thruway whereas making their summer time escape from the town.

Each Friday, the Berkshire Flyer will depart New York Metropolis and head north, touring by way of the plush Hudson Valley on its four-hour journey to the Berkshires. On Sundays, the journey occurs in reverse, with the practice leaving the Pittsfield station within the afternoon and arriving in New York Metropolis that night.

This season marks the second 12 months of the Berkshire Flyer’s pilot run — it made its debut in July 2022. “The Berkshire Flyer pilot’s success will likely be evaluated to additional perceive the feasibility and demand of the service earlier than persevering with the service, deciding on its schedule whether it is to proceed, and figuring out particular infrastructure enhancements or service adjustments which may be needed,” stated Amtrak in an April 2022 press launch.

Right here’s what that you must know to finest expertise this common Amtrak pilot route.

The enjoyable begins at Moynihan Practice Corridor in New York Metropolis’s Pennsylvania Station. The brand-new, glass-ceiling practice corridor, which opened in early 2021 is about in a renovated 100-year-old put up workplace. It’s the excellent setting for the beginning of a practice journey to the Berkshires. 

From Penn Station, the Berkshire Flyer heads north alongside the Hudson River. The practice’s first cease is in Yonkers earlier than it continues north to the village of Croton-on-Hudson, residence to the wildly scenic Croton Gorge. The practice continues alongside the river, making temporary stops in Poughkeepsie and Rhinecliff earlier than reaching Hudson, which is nicknamed “upstate’s favourite downtown” and offers easy accessibility to the adventures available in Hudson Valley and the Catskills.

The Berkshire Flyer continues its journey on the jap aspect of the Hudson River till it reaches Rensselaer, close to Albany, the place it begins its journey south and east towards Massachusetts.

The journey ends simply over the New York-Massachusetts border within the city of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, the most important metropolis in Berkshire County. The sprawling metropolis is the gateway to the Berkshires, a rural area that’s dotted with picturesque villages and boasts a few of the East Coast’s finest fall foliage.

Along with a thriving arts group and famend farm-to-table eating, the Tanglewood music venue in Lenox, Massachusetts, has been the summer time residence of the Boston Symphony Orchestra since 1937 and hosts reside music and occasions all summer time lengthy.

Because the Berkshire Flyer route is brief — at simply over 4 hours — the seating choices are easy. Vacationers can select between coach and enterprise class. The previous contains reclining seats with loads of legroom and perks like studying lights and electrical shops. There are not any center seats on board.