It’s now cheaper than ever to take a train journey on Amtrak’s popular Northeast Regional routes—if you’re willing to take the night trains.
Amtrak recently announced that it would be extending its new Night Owl fares to select trains operating between New York City and Boston. The fares apply to train departures from late evening to early morning, and are significantly more affordable than daytime tickets during peak hours.
The company first introduced Night Owl fares in March on Northeast Regional trains operating between Washington DC, and New York. On those routes, the discount applies to train departures from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m., with prices for a one-way coach ticket ranging from $5, $10, or $15, depending on the length of the trip. A ticket from DC to New York is $20.
Now Amtrak has extended those same rock-bottom overnight prices to the upper half of the Northeast Corridor, with even more departure times. The off-peak window for Night Owl departures on trains between New York and Boston spans a full 12 hours, from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Snagging a cheap overnight or early morning ticket would be a good option for an affordable fall getaway. Imagine sweeping past scenic coves and inlets of the Atlantic Ocean at sunrise on your way from New York to Providence, Rhode Island ($15), or drifting off to sleep in Boston and waking up to the bright lights of Manhattan four hours later ($20).
Other available fares include Philadelphia to Baltimore for $5; New York to Philadelphia for $10; Providence to New Haven for $10; and Boston to Providence for $5.
The new fare class was designed for “travelers returning from concerts, plays, sporting events or who prefer earlier and later departures,” says a statement from Amtrak. The company’s off-peak trains have historically been more affordable, but the new prices offer an even deeper discount.
Amtrak has only changed the prices of the train routes. The physical trains themselves are the same Northeast Regional trains that operate on the tracks during the day. That means the seats are the exact same, with spacious legroom, plenty of power outlets, and large windows.
But it’s important to note that these trains are not equipped with any of Amtrak’s sleeping berth products, like roomettes or bedrooms. So if you do plan on booking an overnight train, be aware that you will be in an upright seat with limited privacy.
The popularity of night trains has been growing with travelers around the world, with new sleeper train routes emerging across Europe, Asia, and Africa. Earlier this year, Amtrak also announced it was starting the process of replacing its overnight train cars that operate iconic long-distance routes like the California Zephyr, Coast Starlight, and Southwest Chief.
To book a Night Owl fare, enter your travel dates, departure and arrival stations into Amtrak’s booking tool as normal. Look for fares within the designated time window, and the discounted tickets should automatically appear.
