Passenger Trains > The 2017 Amtrak Autumn Express is Here

The 2017 Autumn Express is Here

Saturday and Sunday, October 14 and 15, 2017

All Aboard for Spectacular Fall Colors
*Tickets go on sale Tuesday, September 12 at 10:00 am ET, and are sure to go fast.

Reserve your seats quickly.*

Back by Popular Demand

The Amtrak Autumn Express excursion is back for another year. Come along for a historic train ride, experience stunning scenery and experience rare mileage along a route that hasn't seen regular passenger service in decades. The 2017 Autumn Express will be departing from and returning to New York - Penn Station, NY, on Saturday and Sunday, October 14 and 15, 2017. Please note the Autumn Express train will also make a stop to receive passengers at Newark – Penn Station, NJ but will not make this stop on the return trip. *Passengers who wish to board in Newark will need to make return travel arrangements from Penn Station, NY, to return to Newark.*


Excursion Itinerary and Overview

This year we’ll be traveling along one of the best rail journeys on the east coast as we travel up and down the Hudson River Valley and see the beauty of the Hudson River valley this fall. The excursion will begin in the Big Apple — New York City, and pass underneath the Hudson River. We will stop at Newark, NJ, for a transition from electric to diesel power. After Newark, we’ll change directions and head toward Jersey City for a quick glimpse of the New York Harbor before ducking under the Bergen Hills heading north. We’ll arrive on the west bank of the Hudson River just below Haverstraw, where passenger trains have not run in decades. Riverscapes dominate the next 40 miles as we'll pass landmarks: Bear Mountain Bridge, Storm King Mountain, the US Military Academy at West Point, Newburgh, and the Poughkeepsie Bridge (Walkway Over The Hudson). Then we’ll turn away from the Hudson for the next 50 miles as we head inland, passing through Kingston and smaller communities like Catskill, Athens, and Ravena. When we reach the junction at Selkirk, NY, the train will reverse direction again before crossing Hudson on the Alfred H. Smith Memorial Bridge at Castleton. Once over the bridge, we’ll descend down onto the Amtrak Hudson Line for a scenic 112-mile run down the east shore of the Hudson River on the classic ex-NYC Water Level Route. Highlights include Hudson, Rhinecliff, Pollepel Island (Bannerman's Castle), Break Neck Tunnel, Peekskill, and other suburban communities served by Metro-North Railroad, along with cross-river views of places we passed earlier on the opposite shore. Finally, we'll cross the Spuyten Duyvil moveable bridge and follow the Amtrak Empire Connection the final 12 miles to Penn Station.
Due to the operational nature of this year’s trip and to allow everyone a chance to view the Hudson River from their side of the train, seating on the Autumn Express will be arranged with half of each car’s seats facing the opposite direction. Seats facing in the direction of travel heading north along the Hudson River will be facing rearward for the southbound return, while the seats facing rearward while heading north up the Hudson will be facing forward for the southbound return.

* The train departs New York - Penn Station, NY, at 8:00 am and Newark
- Penn Station, NJ*, at 8:30 am, returning to New York at 6:10 pm.
*The train will board in Newark but there is no Newark stop on the
return trip.
* Tickets are $169 for adults and go on sale September 12; includes a
boxed lunch with souvenir tote bag and commemorative lapel pin.
* Children 2 - 12 ride for half price and also receive a boxed lunch,
souvenir tote bag and pin.
* Additional food selections will be available for purchase onboard.
* Seating is limited for this unique opportunity.


Get the 2017 Autumn Express Commemorative Shirt

Limited edition Autumn Express apparel featuring the striking 2017 Hudson River Loop design will be made available online shortly. Please check back soon for a link to order. Autumn Express apparel will not be sold aboard the train so don’t miss out. Excursion ticket purchase not required for apparel purchases.


How to Book this Trip

From the 'Buy Tickets' tab:

1. Select One-Way.
2. Enter New York - Penn Station, NY (NYP) or Newark, NJ (NWK) in the
*From* box.
3. Enter Autumn Express - Excursion Train, NY (AXP) in the *To* box.
4. Select October 14 or 15, 2017 as the *Depart* date.
5. Select the number of Adult or Child passengers. Maximum of 8.

Passengers with disabilities should call 1-800-USA-RAIL (1-800-872-7245) to book this trip.


Special Requests

Vegetarian Meals are available on request. If your reservation is made on Amtrak.com or by using the Amtrak App, please call 1-800-USA-RAIL and ask to be transferred to the Special Services Desk to request the Vegetarian meal. If you make your reservation by calling 1-800-USA-RAIL, after the train reservation has been made, please ask your Sales Agent to transfer you to the Special Services Desk to request the Vegetarian meal. The Special Services Desk is available between 8:30 am and 10:30 pm ET.


Terms & Conditions

* Tickets are non-refundable.
* Valid for sale September 12 - October 15, 2017.
* Valid for travel on October 14 and 15, 2017 only.
* Valid between New York - Penn Station, NY (NYP) or Newark, NJ (NWK)
and Autumn Express - Excursion Train, NY (AXP).
* Flat price of $169 for adults and includes a boxed lunch/souvenir
tote bag, and lapel pin.
* Up to two (2) children ages 2 - 12 may accompany each adult at half
the adult fare.
* Children and infants must travel with an adult who is at least 18
years or older.
* Special excursion trains are eligible to earn Amtrak Guest Rewards
points, but not available for redemption travel.
* Not combinable with any other discount offer or passenger type.

-AMTRAK



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/29/17 20:32 by GenePoon.

Oh, ugggh. A chance to ride the West Shore, which I've never done before, and I'm going to be out in New Mexico.

It just occurred to me that if Amtrak's Fall Excursion goes north on the West Shore Line in the morning and south on the Hudson Line in the afternoon as planned riders would have the sun in their eyes and the Hudson River gorge in the shadows both ways on a sunny day. Am I correct about this? If so, who should we ask at Amtrak to reverse its excursion timetable?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/08/17 16:26 by railwaybaron.