east-west rail study
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MassDOT Begins Planning New Palmer Station for Future ‘Compass Rail’ Service
A new Amtrak station between Springfield and Worcester is part of the Commonwealth's plans to bring better rail service to more rural parts of the state.
September 25, 2025
MassDOT Wins More Federal Funds to Plan Increased Boston-Albany Amtrak Service
Last week, the Biden administration's Federal Railroad Administration awarded a $500,000 grant to MassDOT to plan for additional Amtrak service between Boston and Albany.
December 11, 2023
Officials Announce $108 Million Federal Grant to Build East-West Rail
The proposed track improvements could enable Amtrak trains to run at speeds up to 80 mph between Boston and Springfield.
September 22, 2023
MassDOT Seeking Funds to Add More Frequent, Faster Worcester-Springfield Passenger Rail Service
MassDOT estimates that its proposed track improvements could enable Amtrak trains to run up to 80 mph, and reduce the time for passenger rail trips between Boston and Springfield to 2 hours and 10 minutes – roughly the same amount of time it takes to drive.
July 24, 2023
State House Transportation Committee Discusses Bills Regarding East-West Rail, T Oversight
The legislature's Joint Committee on Transportation hosted a hybrid in-person and virtual public hearing on Monday afternoon to discuss several bills related to transit expansion projects, East-West rail, and MBTA oversight.
May 8, 2023
Could An Infrastructure Stimulus Fund High-Speed Rail for New England?
The North Atlantic Rail initiative is seeking a $105 billion investment for "a rail-enabled economic transformation strategy."
March 3, 2021
MassDOT Multiplies Ridership Forecasts, Narrows Alternatives for East-West Rail
The three remaining service options under study would upgrade and double-track an existing freight rail line between Worcester and Pittsfield to support between 7 and 9 round trips a day between Pittsfield and Boston, with travel times between Springfield and Boston reduced to under two hours.
August 5, 2020
MassDOT Will Revisit Its East-West Rail Ridership Projections
A coalition of regional planning groups wrote that the East-West passenger rail study's low ridership projections "require more explanation, clarity and re-analysis."
March 2, 2020
