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Double_Farmer_2662 t1_iw7jngp wrote

There’s really two options. You can take Amtrak/Acela train all the way from Providence to NYC. It’s the more comfy train, outlets, reclining seats, etc. it makes stops all the way through RI and CT. It’s more expensive, but depending on the time of day it can be faster. It typically has less frequent travel times.

Other option is Shoreline East Rail which starts in New London CT, and is basically a commuter rail to NYC. It’s much cheaper, but can take longer since it makes more stops. It honestly depends on how much you want to drive, but I’ve left cars in New London (garage parking $), Old Saybrook (free parking at station), New Haven (parking in lots $, will have to walk a couple blocks to station).

You could also Amtrak to a CT stop and then switch to the commuter rail.

For Amtrak, buy online, prices are usually cheap weeks before, more expensive the close you are to the day, and then will drop again day off.

My recommendation, drive at least to New London, and get on shore line East there. You usually won’t have to switch train, except maybe once in new haven. You can buy tickets online or day of, I think they even have like a round trip off hours pass.
Or take Amtrak straight to NYC. It’s comfy, WiFi, can nap, or read, they have a cafe car with food and drinks. My husband and I did it to DC and are planning to do it again

Edit: Make sure you factor in traffic if your driving. It’s only an hour to New London, very little traffic, another 20 minutes to Old Saybrook, also low traffic, both easy drives. Going to New Haven and farther you risk a much high chance of traffic, along with driving through the cities to get to the station.

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BlackbirdDesignRI t1_iw7m2o7 wrote

Having tried the commuter rail from Stamford and Amtrak from Providence, I second taking the Amtrak/Acela straight to NYC. There are a lot of stops on the Amtrak Northeast Regional route, but it takes you right into Penn Station’s new Moynihan Train Hall in Midtown.

Have a great trip, whichever option you choose!

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_hanShan_ t1_iw872k2 wrote

So expensive though

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SeanRobertsFerngully t1_iw9jxjm wrote

I'm going this weekend, got round trip tix for 55 bucks. If you buy at the right time they're not bad!

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_hanShan_ t1_iw9ngk8 wrote

Yeah that’s not bad I saw 207 one way the other day

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laterbacon t1_iwc0ph3 wrote

Prices automatically increase based on how full the train is. When you search for trains it shows how sold it is at that point. When it gets over 50%, it ramps up a lot. If you can buy at least 2 or 3 weeks ahead of traveling, you can get NE Regional round trip to NYC for under $60

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Double_Farmer_2662 t1_iw7jssh wrote

If you message me I will be glad to help you! I’m from CT, and take the trains down all the time to visit my family!

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Distinct-Ad5751 t1_iw81dwx wrote

Amtrak all the way is the most comfortable way to go. It’s a pain to drive to New Haven and get on the commuter rail and the seats are hard.

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Babelette t1_iw7yyzf wrote

If you're driving all the way down to new London I suggest checking if the same train leaves from mystic, it's one stop north, has free parking and is a safer place to leave your car.

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Double_Farmer_2662 t1_iw80ead wrote

Shoreline East doesn’t run to Mystic, it’s last stop is New London. Old Saybrook is probably safest for cars, but New London would rank next along the track. It only gets worse the close you get to NYC.

I’ve parked in New London many times for nights, or over nights and never had a problem. But it’s one of those things where one person will never have a bad experience, but then someone else will get their car broken into in the 10 minutes they left it alone.

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Artistic-Passenger-9 t1_iw9fo6u wrote

Amtrak Northeast Regional. Cheap, not as fast as Acela but the time difference is negligible; and you get where you need to go safely.

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