Something you don’t see very often from Amtrak is the unveiling of a new route. Specifically aimed at New Yorkers’ wanting to get away for a weekend, the new ‘Berkshire Flyer’ will start it’s operations from 08 July and run between New York’s Penn Station, NY and Pittsfield, MA. Departing Penn Station at 15.16 and arriving at 19.12 in Pittsfield.

I would recommend that your accommodations are booked prior to leaving so that you can get some time to enjoy the evening. The inbound train times are leaving at 15.00 and arriving back at Penn Station at 19.05.

Stops follow the Empire Service -Yonkers, Croton-Harmon, Poughkeepsie, Rhinecliff, Hudson and Albany-Rensselaer.

Initially this service will run for two summers and has been introduced as a collaboration between the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and the New York State Department of Transportation.

The Berkshire’s in Massachusetts offer cultural  opportunities with a wealth of museums and concert venues as well as multiple outdoor activities. For a downloadable guide to the The Berkshires can be found here.

At time of writing the Amtrak Website isn’t showing tickets for sale yet so keep checking back with Amtrak for additional information.