Amtrak's Canada Route: New England To New Brunswick

Amtrak offers train routes throughout the United States, with some routes extending into Canada. While there are Amtrak routes in New England and New Brunswick, these refer to New Brunswick, New Jersey, and not New Brunswick, Canada. Amtrak does not appear to offer routes into Canada from New England.

Amtrak Northeast Regional train from Boston to New Brunswick

The Amtrak Northeast Regional train from Boston, Massachusetts, to New Brunswick, New Jersey, is a convenient and comfortable way to travel between these two cities. This route is part of the Northeast Regional Amtrak service, which operates in several states on the East Coast of the United States, including Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey.

The train journey from Boston to New Brunswick is the only daily train serving this route, and it takes around 5 hours. The train departs from Boston's South Station or Back Bay Station and arrives at New Brunswick Station, located at French and Albany Streets. This multimodal station is within walking distance of Rutgers University, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, and the Johnson & Johnson world headquarters.

The Northeast Regional train offers various amenities to make your journey enjoyable and relaxing. Onboard, you'll find spacious seats with extra legroom, power outlets, complimentary WiFi, and clean bathrooms. There's also a Café Car serving tasty meals, snacks, and beverages, including wine, beer, and soda. If you're seeking a quieter experience, the Quiet Car ensures a peaceful journey with minimal conversation and no cell phone usage.

For added convenience, the Northeast Regional train offers checked baggage service and business-class seating. The business class provides even more legroom, dedicated cars, flexible ticketing, seat selection, and complimentary non-alcoholic drinks. Additionally, you can earn extra Amtrak Guest Rewards Points when you opt for business class.

When planning your trip, consider booking your tickets in advance to take advantage of lower prices. Ticket prices tend to increase as your travel date approaches, so booking early can help you secure the best fares.

Amtrak services in New Brunswick, New Jersey

Amtrak services are available at New Brunswick Station in New Jersey. The station is located on French and Albany Streets, between Easton and George Street, and is within walking distance of Rutgers University, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, and Johnson & Johnson's world headquarters. New Brunswick Station is served by Amtrak's Keystone Service and Northeast Regional trains, with the latter being the busiest and most popular route among Amtrak passengers.

The Keystone Service is a daily train service that operates from New York City to Harrisburg, PA, with high-speed rail portions reaching up to 125 mph. This route offers free WiFi, onboard restrooms, power outlets, and a Quiet Car for passengers seeking a quieter environment.

The Northeast Regional is Amtrak's passenger rail service connecting over 50 cities in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, including Boston, MA, and Virginia Beach, VA. This route also offers comfortable seating with extra legroom, power outlets, free WiFi, and clean bathrooms.

In addition to Amtrak services, New Brunswick Station also accommodates local and regional buses, campus shuttles, and has more than a dozen bike racks for cyclists. The station has two high-level side platforms serving the outer tracks of the four-track Northeast Corridor. It was built in the Colonial Revival style and added to the New Jersey Register of Historic Places and National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

New Jersey has six Amtrak stations in total, with many trains stopping at Newark Penn Station and Trenton. There is also a station near Newark International Airport, providing convenient access to New York City and destinations on the Northeast Regional and Keystone routes.

Amtrak's unique travel experience

Amtrak offers a unique travel experience for families, individuals, and groups. With more than 30 train routes throughout the United States and some in Canada, Amtrak travels to over 500 destinations in 46 states, showcasing the best views North America has to offer.

One such route is the Northeast Regional train, which runs between Boston, MA and Virginia Beach, VA, connecting over 50 cities in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The line offers a convenient and hassle-free travel experience, with downtown-to-downtown train service and comfortable amenities. Amtrak passengers can enjoy large seats with extra legroom, power outlets, free WiFi, and clean bathrooms.

The Northeast Regional train is also a great option for those looking to travel from New England to New Brunswick, New Jersey. There is one daily train from Boston to New Brunswick, with the average journey taking around 5 hours. The fastest Amtrak Northeast Regional train can make the trip in approximately 5 hours, providing a quick and efficient travel experience.

In addition to its convenient and comfortable travel options, Amtrak also offers a range of deals, promotions, and discounts to make travel more accessible and affordable. With savings for kids, seniors, military personnel, and groups, as well as vacation packages and rail passes, Amtrak provides a unique and inclusive travel experience for all types of travellers.

Amtrak's train routes and destinations

Amtrak offers over 30 train routes throughout the United States, with some extending into Canada, and serves more than 500 destinations in 46 states. The train service is divided into three categories: Northeast Corridor routes, state-supported routes, and long-distance routes.

Northeast Corridor Routes

These routes connect some of the most culturally vibrant cities in the Northeast, including Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New York City, and Boston. The Northeast Regional train, for example, runs between Boston, MA, and Virginia Beach, VA, connecting over 50 cities in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.

State-Supported Routes

Amtrak partners with 18 states to provide additional short- and medium-distance services. Three routes—the Carolinian, Northeast Regional, and Vermonter—are state-subsidized only on sections of their routes off the Northeast Corridor.

Long-Distance Routes

These routes offer cross-country trips, such as the Empire Builder, which travels from Chicago to Portland or Seattle, passing through mountain passes, alpine valleys, and past 7,000-year-old glaciers. Another example is the California Zephyr, which runs from Chicago to Emeryville, California.

Routes to Canada

Amtrak also offers several routes that extend into Canada. The Adirondack route, for instance, takes passengers from New York City to Montreal, Quebec, with stops in Saratoga Springs and Ticonderoga, New York, along the way. The Maple Leaf route connects New York City to Toronto, Ontario, with stops in Buffalo and Niagara Falls, New York.

New Brunswick, New Jersey

While there is a train station in New Brunswick, New Jersey, served by Amtrak, it appears that there are no direct routes from New England to New Brunswick, Canada, via Amtrak. However, one can take a train from Boston, Massachusetts, to New Brunswick, New Jersey, which is a different destination.

Amtrak Downeaster train platform in Brunswick, ME

The Amtrak Downeaster train platform in Brunswick, Maine, is an outdoor platform located at the Brunswick Visitors Center at 16 Station Avenue, Brunswick, ME 04011. The platform is served by local and regional buses and is also accessible by car, with limited paid parking available across the street and free parking at the Cedar Street Park and Ride. The Brunswick Link provides public transit to the platform from elsewhere in Brunswick.

The Downeaster train offers five daily round trips between Brunswick, ME, and Boston, MA, with stops in New Hampshire and Maine. The entire route takes approximately 3.5 hours, and the train features comfortable reclining seats with legroom, oversized windows, free Wi-Fi, and an onboard café. Business class seating is also available, offering perks such as fully refundable tickets and complimentary non-alcoholic beverages.

The Brunswick Visitors Center, located adjacent to the train platform, is open daily from 9:45 am to 4:00 pm. Here, passengers can find the Amtrak self-service ticketing kiosk, restrooms, and other services. The center is within walking distance of restaurants, banking, and other businesses on Station Avenue, as well as the downtown retail district, Bowdoin College, and local inns.

The Downeaster train is a convenient option for travellers looking to explore New England destinations, offering a car-free connection to historic colonial cities, beautiful beaches, and a thriving arts and entertainment scene. The train also provides access to outdoor activities like bike paths and trails along the Androscoggin River.

Frequently asked questions