Boston to Hartford, CT train

Trains from Boston to Hartford

Traveling by train is a scenic and efficient way to get to your New England destination. Traveling from Boston, MA to Hartford, CT takes about 3h 53min on average, although the journey can be a quick as 3h 03min or as slow as about 6h 10min, depending on the train and the length of the layover in New Haven. On most weekdays, about six trains depart from Boston throughout the day (with one fewer departure on Friday evenings). On weekends, you can catch an afternoon or an evening train on Saturdays or the sole afternoon train on Sundays.

Boston to Hartford Train Time: Daily Departures

About six Boston to Hartford train departures are scheduled on weekdays between about 6:10 a.m. and 6:45 p.m., leaving every few hours throughout the day. On Fridays, the schedule is the same except there is no 5:35 p.m. train. On Saturdays only two trains depart from Boston, one at about 1:40 p.m. and one at about 6:40 p.m. On Sundays, the only train on the schedule is the 1:40 p.m. train.

How long is the journey by train from Boston to Hartford?

The fastest trains from Boston to Hartford reach their destination in about 3h 03min, but the journey can last just over 6h on the slowest routes. All of the routes require a transfer at Union Station in New Haven, CT.

What are the departure and arrival stations for trains from Boston to Hartford?

Departure train station: All of the trains from Boston to Hartford depart from South Station and stop at Back Bay Station before heading out of the city. South Station is located near city’s Chinatown District, about 0.4 miles (0.6 km) south of downtown. Amtrak, Boston’s MBTA commuter rail trains, and the Red Line of the “T”, which is Boston’s subway system, all use the South Station transit complex.

If you don’t want to take the 7min walk from downtown to South Station, you can hop on the T’s Red Line at the Downtown Crossing station and take a 1min ride the station. South Station is a the city’s largest transit station. It is fully accessible for handicapped travelers. At South Station, you’ll find shops, restaurants, Amtrak’s Metropolitan Lounge, Amtrak ticket counters and automated kiosks, Amtrak’s checked baggage service, a station information desk, luggage, Amtrak’s Red Cap luggage assistance, free public Wi-Fi, vending machines, restrooms, and same-day and overnight parking.

Boston’s Back Bay Station is located about 1.2 miles (1.9 km) southwest of the Downtown Crossing subway station in the city center, and it takes about 5min to travel between the stations using the Orange Line of the T. Amtrak, the T, and Boston’s MBTA commuter rail all use this transit station. The station is fully accessible and has many amenities, including Amtrak ticket kiosks, ATMs, restrooms, and same-day and overnight parking. However, there is no baggage assistance or checked baggage service at this station.

Boston National Garden. Source: Shutterstock

Arrival train station: All of the trains from Boston to Hartford arrive at Hartford Union Station, which is located about 0.5 miles (0.8 km) west of the city center. It takes about less than 10min to walk to downtown Hartford from the station and about 5min to ride the #30, #82, #83, or #84 CTTransit bus to the Pearl St & Ann St bus stop downtown. At the station, travelers will find full handicapped accessibility plus a waiting area, ATMs, restrooms, an Amtrak ticket office and Quik-Trak kiosks, baggage assistance, and vending machines. Please note that there is no checked baggage service at this station.

Which train companies travel from Boston to Hartford?

Amtrak is the train company that travels from Boston to Hartford. Amtrak provides medium- and long-distance passenger train services in the US. In fact, it is the only provider of regularly scheduled long-distance intercity passenger railway services in the country.

Amtrak trains from Boston to Hartford

Passengers on the Amtrak trains from Boston to Hartford will start their journey on either the Northeast Regional line (which travels between Boston and Virginia Beach and has a branch that runs between New Haven, CT and Springfield, MA) or the Acela line (Amtrak’s high-speed train that runs between Boston and Washington, DC), which runs once daily for passengers bound for Hartford.

In New Haven, CT, all passengers will need to change trains to complete the trip to Hartford. For this part of the journey, passengers will use either the Northeast Regional line, the Hartford line (which runs between New Haven and Springfield, MA), the Vermonter line (which runs between Washington, DC and St. Albans, VT). The fastest route is the once-daily Acela / Vermonter route, which completes the trip in about 3h 03min. The slowest route is the Northeast Regional / Hartford line route, which departs Boston at about 5:35 p.m. Monday through Thursday and takes about 6h 10min to reach Hartford. On weekends, only the Northeast Regional line operates on this route, offering two trips on Saturdays and one trip on Sundays.

Trains from Boston to Hartford: Services on Board

All of the trains from Boston to Hartford offer comfortable seating, café service (except for the portion of those routes using the Hartford line), electrical outlets at each seat, and free public Wi-Fi. Passengers are allowed to bring up to two small personal items and two carry-on items on the trains for free. You can also check in up to two luggage items (up to 50 pounds, or 22.7 kg and 75 linear inches, or 190.5 linear cm) for free; for an additional charge, passengers may check in up to two additional bags. On most trains, bikes can be stored in a bike rack either in the passenger car or in the cargo area.

There is an additional fee to store your bike on the train. If you have a folding bike, you can bring it on board with you for free (in the fully folded position) as one of your carry-on items. For a small fee, small cats and dogs may travel with passengers as long as the pet can travel comfortably in a carrier that fits in the carry-on area at your seat. The total weight of the pet in the carrier must be less than 20 pounds (9.1 kg). Service animals are always welcome aboard any Amtrak train without fees or restrictions. Amtrak trains are equipped with reserved wheelchair spaces and are fully accessible for travelers with disabilities. Call Amtrak or visit one of their staffed ticket offices to make any arrangements necessary for their safe and comfortable travel.

Hartford Capitol. Source: Shutterstock

How to find cheap train tickets from Boston to Hartford?

If you have some flexibility around when you can travel, you’ll easily find cheap train tickets from Boston to Hartford. Looking for off-peak days of the week and off-peak times of the day to travel is an easy way to save money. Booking your trip in advance and riding on the slower trains are some other simple money-saving strategies.

To Hartford by train—travel tips

Connecticut’s capital city is a modern city with plenty to see and do. As one of the country’s oldest cities, Hartford has many opportunities to take in some local history, including visiting the Old State House and the Museum of Connecticut History. You can also tour the homes of two legendary writers, Mark Twain and Harriet Beecher Stowe.

After spending time walking through history, step into the present with a visit to the State Capitol building, an impressive piece of architecture in the High Victorian Gothic style. Art lovers will enjoy browsing the American arts collections in the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum.

If the weather is nice, you can stroll through the Elizabeth Park Rose Garden, which is the first municipal rose garden in the US, and the ride the carousel at Bushnell Park, which is the first public park in the US. Kids of all ages will enjoy the hand-on exhibits in the Connecticut Science Center. Spend the afternoon relaxing and watching the boats pass by at the Mortensen Riverfront Plaza or Charter Oak Landing, which are just two of the many parks along the Connecticut River.