Schedule of Free Trains to RI Air Show Beefed Up with More Trains

NORTH KINSTOWN, RI—The state wants people to take the train to see planes and ditch the automobile this weekend.

To lure attendees of the Rhode Island Air National Guard Open House and Air Show this weekend into foregoing the car for a train ride, the state Department of Transportation is dangling fare-free ridership on three trains to and from Quonset, T.F. Green in Warwick and Providence Station.

It’s a tempting offer for anyone who has sat in bumper-to-bumper traffic to get in and out of the enormously popular air show that draws about 75,000 people to Quonset State Airport in North Kingstown.

The resulting traffic in and out of Quonset can get severe, so the DOT hopes that people take advantage of the free train offer, which promises to deliver passengers from Providence to Quonset in about 45 minutes.

Free parking will be available at Providence Station, 100 Gaspee St., and at T.F. Green Station, 700 Jefferson Blvd., Warwick. Two trains will leave each station and three trains will return with stops at both stations.

In this debut year of Air Show train service, the capacity of the trains is limited and is first come, first served. Free parking will be available at the State Offices parking lots and at the T.F. Green Station/Interlink parking garage. Space is limited at both locations. RIDOT will post signs and use its electronic highway message boards to direct attendees to the parking areas. RIDOT also will use its electronic message boards to indicate if the lots and trains are full. As always, parking is free at the Air Show. During the event, RIDOT will provide updates on train availability and traffic conditions on its social media sites on Facebook (www.facebook.com/RIDOTNews) and Twitter (@RIDOTNews).

The updated schedule, which is the same for both days of the Air Show, is as follows:

To the Air Show:

Depart Providence at 7:29 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.

Depart T.F. Green at 7:45 a.m. and 11:15 a.m.

Arrival times Quonset: 8:15, 10:15 and 11:45 a.m.

From the Air Show:

Depart Quonset at 2:30, 4:30 and 6:30 p.m.

Depart T.F. Green to Providence at 3, 5 and 7 p.m.

Arriving in Providence at 3:16, 5:165 and 7:16 p.m.

The same rules regarding what attendees can bring into the Air Show are also in effect on the trains. Backpacks, coolers, bicycles and pets are not allowed. While the Air Show does allow visitors to bring lawn chairs and camp chairs into the event, attendees traveling on the train are asked to only bring collapsible camp chairs. More information on items you can and can't bring with you into the Air Show are listed online at www.rhodeislandairshow.com.

RIDOT teamed up with the National Guard, National Guard Association of Rhode Island, the state airport corporation and the Quonset Development Corporation along with Seaview Railroad and the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority to offer the service.

Officials hope that the trains are packed with riders, freeing area highways and local roads from some of the traffic associated with the annual event.

It's a pilot year, which means the service will be monitored and if successful, might come back for future Air Shows.

The service is possible thanks to the rail infrastructure in Quonset. Home to the Port of Davisville, Quonset is also a busy shipping port and a top import site for automobiles.

It remains unclear if the headlining act, the USAF Thunderbirds, will perform after one of their jets crashed last week. The pilot safely ejected in that incident.

Commuter rail service between Providence, T.F. Green and the Wickford Junction station runs Monday through Friday, with continuing service to Boston on most trains.

Last month, the MBTA modified its train schedule for improved service including better options for morning and after-work commutes and a late train for nights out or attending sporting events. Visit www.dot.ri.gov/CommuterRail for the latest schedule.

Additionally, bus service is now available at Wickford Junction, providing a combined bus and train schedule with 80 stops per day and free parking.