A proposal to start passenger rail service between Greenfield and Springfield is picking up steam.
Along with repair of 49 miles of track along the Connecticut River to move Amtrak’s trains back through Greenfield, Northampton, Holyoke and Springfield, state officials are looking at starting an intercity passenger service in the Pioneer Valley.
Although the idea began with the notion of making use of Amtrak trains during a pair of two-hour daily stopovers in Springfield between runs to and from New Haven, it’s morphed into having the state buy used MBTA equipment to have the flexibility to operate to meet the needs of commuters.
A proposal, supported by the western Massachusetts legislative delegation as well as the Patrick administration, calls for amending the proposed $12.5 billion transportation bond to include refurbishing of MBTA passenger coaches and locomotive equipment for what’s called “enhanced intercity service” between Springfield and Greenfield, according to Rep. Stephen Kulik, D-Worthington. He said that western Massachusetts Congressmen Richard Neal and James McGovern also support the plan....
A conference call among legislators and state Transportation Secretary Richard A. Davey outlined plans to amend the multiyear bond bill when it comes up for debate in the House next Wednesday to include about $31 million for capital equipment, most of which has been retired from the MBTA. The state, which is negotiating with Pan Am Railways to buy the track between Springfield and Northfield, is also looking at including funding to operate service a couple of runs daily with stops in Greenfield, Northampton and Holyoke as a way of boosting economic development and diverting some of the commuter traffic along the Interstate 91 corridor....
