One of the best places to go for cheap multi-segment trips in the Northeast is the routes that connect to the NEC. There are a number of cheap fares on the Keystone, NEC Inland Route (NHV-SPG) & Downeaster services. Check them out below. Empire Service on the other hand tends to have prices more akin to the NEC.

Keystone Service

This whole route is great. The total fare from HAR-PHL is $19. Head four stops from HAR to LNC (HAR-MID-ELT-MJY-LNC) or from PHL to DOW (PHL-ARD-PAO-EXT-DOW) for just $6 ($1.50 per ticket). Basically, if you have nothing to do and are in PHL, you can swing out to Downingtown and back for $12 and bring in at least 800 points. For Select+ that would be 100 points per $!!


Inland Route

$3 per ticket is easily achievable here. NHV-HFD: NHV-WFD-MDN-BER-HFD for $12. Try HFD-SPG via WND & WNL for $9 or BER-HFD-WND-WNL-SPG for $12.


Downeaster Service

Similar to Keystone, the fare from one end of this route to the other (BON-POR) is $21. The cheapest fare between any 5 points, creating 4 segments is $10 (2.50 per ticket). This applies from POR-DOV (POR-ORB-SAO-WEM-DOV) or for mid-route runs like HHL-WEM (HHL-EXR-DHM-DOV-WEM). To/from Boston is a bit trickier thanks to the Woburn stop's receiving/discharging restrictions. A couple of options. One could take the commuter rail out to WOB and then head four stops to DOV (WOB-HHL-EXR-DHM-DOV) for $12 ($3 per ticket), but add in the commuter rail cost and really you pay $15.50 ($3.88 per ticket). The method I prefer is to buy two ticket sets. You could do BON-HHL for $7 and add HHL-WEM for $10 = $17 for 5 segments ($3.40 per ticket). Still, why not just spend a few hours in Portland and maximise your effort.

Buy one set (BON-HHL-EXR-DHM-DOV) & another (DOV-WEM-SAO-ORB-POR) for a total cost of $25 and you'll get 8 segments ($3.13 per ticket).


Cheers.