Service History
Amtrak has served Providence since its inception in 1971, with Northeast Corridor trains from Boston to New York and Washington. Local commuter service - both intrastate service and service to Boston - has been intermittent during this era. After Penn Central discontinued their New London to Boston commuter train in 1972, Rhode Island sponsored a short lived Westerly to Providence service (which lasted until 1979) in addition to the MBTA's Providence to Boston service. Sunday service ended in October 1977 and off-peak and Saturday service ended in April 1979 due to Rhode Island's limited subsidies; rush-hour service ceased on February 20, 1981. Rush hour commuter service began again (to the new station) in February 1988, with off-peak service added in December 2000 and weekend service added in July 2006. Service was further extended to T.F. Green Airport in December 2010 and to Wickford Junction in April 2012.
Additionally, some game-day service to Foxboro has run from Providence since 1994, as well as a brief stint in 1971. Special trains run for New England Patriots football games as well as some New England Revolution soccer games and college sporting events.
The first revenue Acela Express service to Providence was on December 11, 2000, concurrent with the expansion of MBTA service.
Read more about this topic: Providence Station
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