LINK: Amtrak reservations
Amtrak operates "The Vermonter," a reserved-seat train from Washington, D.C., to Montreal which runs through New York to New Haven, Conn., up the Connecticut River Valley to Springfield, Amherst, and into Vermont (and back).
The train departs New York Penn Station (NYP) at 11:30 a.m. daily and arrives in Springfield (SPG) at 3 p.m., continuing to Amherst (AMM) arriving at 4:30 p.m.
The return departs Amherst at 1:19 p.m. (Springfield at 2:50 p.m.) and arrives at Penn Station at 6:25 p.m. The train runs on Saturday and Sunday.
The fare is $38 northbound and $50 southbound, one way, roundtrip is $88.00.
That's at least an hour longer than driving to Amherst from NYC, and about a half
hour longer than driving to Springfield, from New York City. But it sure
beats all that time behind the wheel and the price is right.