The Lake Shore Limited connects Boston, MA and Hudson, NY over a 959-mile route operated by Amtrak, calling at 23 stations across 6 states.
Quick Facts
- Operator
- Amtrak
- Service type
- Long-Distance
- Endpoints
- Boston ↔ Hudson
- Distance
- 959 mi
- Frequency
- Daily
- Stations
- 23
- States served
- 6 (MA, NY, PA, OH, IN, IL)
- Typical fare range
- $95 – $495
Route guide
The Lake Shore Limited is a long-distance service operated by Amtrak. Trains run Daily over 959 miles of mainline track between Boston South Station and Hudson, calling at 23 intermediate and terminal stations across 6 states.
What to watch for: Mohawk River valley overnight in summer; Lake Erie shore at sunrise eastbound.
History & service notes
Inaugurated by Amtrak in 1975 with the New York Central name, the Lake Shore Limited combines sections from Boston and New York at Albany–Rensselaer.
Equipment
Typical consist on the Lake Shore Limited includes viewliner sleepers, Amfleet II coaches, Viewliner II diner, cafe-lounge. Equipment assignments may vary by departure and season; consult the operator for the most current information.
Stops along the route
Stations are listed in geographical order from Boston to Hudson. Times and exact stop sequencing depend on the specific train number and direction; refer to the operator's timetable for departures.
- Boston South Station — Boston, MA
- Worcester Union Station — Worcester, MA
- Springfield Union Station — Springfield, MA
- Pittsfield — Pittsfield, MA
- Albany–Rensselaer — Rensselaer, NY
- Schenectady — Schenectady, NY
- Utica Union Station — Utica, NY
- Syracuse — Syracuse, NY
- Rochester, NY — Rochester, NY
- Buffalo–Depew — Depew, NY
- Erie — Erie, PA
- Cleveland Lakefront — Cleveland, OH
- Sandusky — Sandusky, OH
- Toledo — Toledo, OH
- Elkhart — Elkhart, IN
- South Bend — South Bend, IN
- Hammond–Whiting — Hammond, IN
- Chicago Union Station — Chicago, IL
- Moynihan Train Hall — New York, NY
- Yonkers — Yonkers, NY
- Croton-Harmon — Croton-on-Hudson, NY
- Poughkeepsie — Poughkeepsie, NY
- Hudson — Hudson, NY
Sample fares & travel times
Approximate one-way fare ranges and travel times for popular city pairs on this route. Fares vary widely by demand, time of booking, and class of service — these figures are reference midpoints suitable for planning, not booking. Click any pair for a fuller trip guide.
| From | To | Distance | Time | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | Worcester | 44 mi | 1h 3m | $41 – $212 |
| Worcester | Springfield | 44 mi | 1h 3m | $41 – $212 |
| Springfield | Pittsfield | 44 mi | 1h 3m | $41 – $212 |
| Pittsfield | Rensselaer | 44 mi | 1h 3m | $41 – $212 |
| Rensselaer | Schenectady | 44 mi | 1h 3m | $41 – $212 |
| Schenectady | Utica | 44 mi | 1h 3m | $41 – $212 |
| Utica | Syracuse | 44 mi | 1h 3m | $41 – $212 |
| Syracuse | Rochester | 44 mi | 1h 3m | $41 – $212 |
| Rochester | Depew | 44 mi | 1h 3m | $41 – $212 |
| Depew | Erie | 44 mi | 1h 3m | $41 – $212 |
| Erie | Cleveland | 44 mi | 1h 3m | $41 – $212 |
| Cleveland | Sandusky | 44 mi | 1h 3m | $41 – $212 |
| Sandusky | Toledo | 44 mi | 1h 3m | $41 – $212 |
| Toledo | Elkhart | 44 mi | 1h 3m | $41 – $212 |
| Elkhart | South Bend | 44 mi | 1h 3m | $41 – $212 |
| South Bend | Hammond | 44 mi | 1h 3m | $41 – $212 |
| Hammond | Chicago | 44 mi | 1h 3m | $41 – $212 |
| Chicago | New York | 44 mi | 1h 3m | $41 – $212 |
Connections & transfers
Major hubs along the route offer cross-platform transfers to other intercity and commuter services. From Boston, riders can change for connecting trains and intercity buses; the same is true at Hudson. The corridor passes through cities including Boston, Worcester, and Hudson, each with its own onward service map.