Amtrak adds Northeast Regional trains as it forecasts record Thanksgiving

Amtrak adds Northeast Regional trains as it forecasts record Thanksgiving Amtrak Thanksgiving travel is expected to set another record, the railroad says, as it adds Northeast Regional capacity after last year’s holiday drew over 1.2 million trips, up nearly 6% from 2024. Tickets for the holiday are selling quickly, Amtrak said this week, and the railroad is urging passengers to book early to secure a guaranteed seat and the best fares. Reservations are available on Amtrak.com, in the Amtrak mobile app, at station kiosks, at staffed ticket offices and by phone at 1-800-USA-RAIL. Thanksgiving is the busiest stretch of the year for Amtrak and one of the heaviest travel periods nationwide, and the 2025 holiday total was itself a ridership record. Extra Northeast Regional cars and round trips Select Northeast Regional trains will run with additional cars from November 20 to 30. Two more Northeast Regional round trips will also operate between Washington Union Station and New York Penn Station, serving the cities in between, on November 24–25 and November 28–29. With demand at record levels, Amtrak expects the added seats to fill quickly. Amtrak Interim President Byl Herrmann said: “We are honored to help customers reach their holiday destinations safely and comfortably, while offering more departures, amenities and services during a time when they appreciate them most.” NextGen Acela and Airo trains in holiday service Amtrak says 15 NextGen Acela trains are now carrying passengers, more than at any earlier point in the rollout. In the Pacific Northwest, Amtrak Cascades now runs the new Airo fleet on four daily trips. Amtrak has ordered eight Airo trainsets for Amtrak Cascades, which are to replace the route’s existing fleet as more of them enter service. How this Thanksgiving plan compares with 2025 For Thanksgiving 2025, Amtrak added cars to Northeast Regional routes from November 25 to 30 and expanded service at major Northeast Corridor destinations, citing double-digit growth in early bookings. This year the extra cars run over a longer window, alongside the added round trips. Demand has kept rising in fiscal 2026: ridership through July reached 30.6 million, up 7.2% year over year, while capacity grew 1.5%, Amtrak’s finance chief told the board in September. This year’s extra Northeast Regional cars cover an 11-day window instead of six, and Amtrak has added holiday round trips between Washington and New York. “None announced” means the 2025 notice did not list added round trips. Sources: Amtrak, October 30, 2025; Amtrak, November 3, 2026. In the New York area, Amtrak’s five-week Portal North Bridge cutover is scheduled to finish on November 14, and NJ Transit’s regular schedule is set to resume on November 15, subject to safety testing.