New "Ambus": Worcester - New Bedford - Providence

https://media.amtrak.com/2023/08/provid ... s-service/

Amtrak Introduces New Round Trip Bus Service for New Bedford and Worcester, Mass. Via Providence

PROVIDENCE – Amtrak announced today the launch of its latest connecting bus service, linking New Bedford and Worcester to Providence Station. Customers can connect to Amtrak trains at Providence Station serving the Northeast Corridor, including Boston, New Haven, New York and more, as well as more than 500 destinations nationwide.

“Amtrak’s latest connecting bus service will bring a brand-new link from New Bedford and close an existing gap in Worcester with convenient, timed connections between trains and buses to Providence and our national network,” said Amtrak Executive Vice President, Strategy and Planning Dennis Newman. “Customers can enjoy a comfortable journey from start to finish knowing Amtrak will get them to their final destination with ease.”

Schedules are optimized for connections on both weekdays and weekends, with a dedicated connecting bus available in the morning, afternoon and evening. All buses are ADA accessible and have modern amenities including electrical outlets, Wi-Fi and comfortable reclining seating. The Providence to New Bedford route will also include an intermediate stop in Fall River. Tickets can be purchased at Amtrak.com, the Amtrak app, or by calling 800-USA-RAIL. Service will be operated by DATTCO under an agreement with Amtrak.

“DATTCO is pleased to have been selected for the launch of this important new regional service being introduced by Amtrak,” stated Dennis Lyons, Vice President of DATTCO’s Coach & Tour Group. “As a long-time bus partner of Amtrak in New England, we look forward to putting our more than 20 years of experience together to work in delivering connecting bus service between Central and South Coastal Massachusetts and Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor.”

Amtrak connecting bus services make coordinated connections with trains and enable passengers from cities without rail stations to connect with the national network. Amtrak has produced a short video about how simple it is to use the service.

Now until October 9, Providence customers can also take advantage of the station’s connecting service with RIDOT and the Seastreak Ferry.

New Thruway bus service. Should help, but nothing exciting.

The private bus operator, DATTCO who will be operating the WOR-PVD-Fall River-New Bedford Thruway Bus, ironically cancelled their Boston-New Bedford bus this spring due to passenger loads <1/3 pre Chinese Coronavirus, and impending new MBTA Commuter Rail service. (MassDOT found a new vendor).

PVD-New Bedford should be much more efficient than by bus than train. They should extend it to Cape Cod! WOR-PVD would presumably be better served by trains at rush hour, buses off-peak.

146 is basically an interstate highway between Worcester and the MA/RI line, and traffic isn't nearly as bad as between Worcester and Boston(where even the semi-express trains could beat a car during rush hour). That said, anyone have a timetable for the New Haven or Penn Cetnral service? I'd be curious to see the how competitive the railroad were compared to the bus today.

In 1930, all-stops locals took 2 hours, while trains making about 5 intermediate stops did it in 1:15. I think 1:20 would be a reasonable goal for 7 intermediates (Pawtucket/CF, Manville, Woonsocket, Blackstone, Uxbridge, Northbridge, Millbury). That's not quite time competitive with driving (0:40 with no traffic; I'd budget a full hour at peak), but about the same as the various MBTA commuter rail lines.

Efficient connecting services like this will definitely boost ridership and it's great for people to have multiple options when traveling from a place like Worcester to New York City, so if the commuter rail is having delays on the Worcester-Boston route, they can take a bus to Providence instead.