<p>Whats the fastest route to other cities, especially philly, from Northampton without going to Boston first? Is there a direct route (seems like a waste to go to boston, it adds 4 hours)?</p>
<p>There is an Amtrak train to Amherst: The vemonter. I think there is also bus service to New York, where you could transfer to a bus to Philly.</p>
<p>I think you'd have to go to New York or boston first to catch a bus to philly, though it's possible you could get a more direct bus from Springfield (almost all the noho buses have to change in springfield anyway). Have you checked the Peter Pan website? They should have routes and things. If there's no direct Peter Pan route, you'd have to go to a more major city and transfer to a different carrier that services philly. </p>
<p>Though the fastest route of course, is to fly out of Bradley airport, but I'm assuming you meant overland? </p>
<p>Train doesn't save you much time on the bus.</p>
<p>If you take the Peter Pan bus to Philly from Northampton you do not go to Boston first. The route is something like Northampton --> Springfield --> Hartford --> New York --> Philly (with a transfer or two along the way).</p>
<p>Or via air, which is quicker and slightly more expensive (Southwest doesn't fly from Bradley to Philadelphia anymore). </p>
<p>Having done both (I'm from central PA), I'd rather fly.</p>
<p>Our daughter travels to the area either by air (Philly to Hartford) or train (to Springfield), The Valley Transporter or similar service can get to to Smith from either. If you are going by train, The Vermonter is o.k. going north (and you could even take it to Amherst, but it makes the trip much longer because of the track change, etc.). I would reccommend that going south, you take a train that connects in New Haven. It's an easy connection and the Vermonter southbound has proved very unreliable and the Amherst station is an awful place to wait!</p>