Restore Northern Tier Passenger Rail: The Time Is Now
In February 2025, a coalition of more than 100 stakeholders joined regional planning agencies, nine state legislators, passenger rail advocates, and hundreds of residents to call on the Healey–Driscoll Administration to move from planning to action on restoring Northern Tier Passenger Rail.
Their message was clear:
“Northern Tier Passenger Rail will help meet the critical needs of central and western Massachusetts while advancing the well being and goals of the entire Commonwealth.
Restoring service along the Northern Tier Route would connect western and central Massachusetts with Greater Boston, offering a cleaner, more efficient, and more affordable alternative to driving. This is the future of transportation in Massachusetts.”
But projects of this scale only happen when there is broad political and public support. To succeed, we need:
Leadership from the Governor and elected officials at the local, state, and federal level.
Voices from across Massachusetts, especially from central and western communities, calling for this project to move forward.
The Northern Tier campaign is now an active, ongoing advocacy effort to advance planning, development, design, construction, and ultimately operation of this passenger rail service.
If you’re new to this cause — or have been with us from the beginning — we welcome you.
Together, we can make Northern Tier Passenger Rail a reality.
Contents
Call to Action
Happening Now
MassDOT is in the process of putting together an application for federal funding to start the process to move the development of this project forward. The application will be submitted as part of the Federal Railroad Administration’s Corridor Identification and Development (Corridor ID) program.
The Corridor ID program is designed to support the planning and development of new and expanded intercity passenger rail project across the country.
To strengthen the forthcoming application, Senator Comerford’s office and others are collecting letters of support for the application. Businesses, organization and individuals are encouraged to help with this effort by preparing a letter.
If you need help writing a letter we have a template on this [page] with some wording.
The goal is to gather 100 letters by September 5th.
You can email your completed letter to Beth Giannini, FRCOG Transportation Planning Manager at giannini@frcog.org, who will collect all of the letters and send them to MassDOT.
Please send completed letters of support to Beth by Friday, September 5, 2025.
Project background
In 2019 Sen. Jo Comerford (Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester) led a successful effort to require the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) conduct a feasibility study to determine what it would take to restore passenger rail service between between the cities of North Adams, Greenfield and Boston.
The proposed passenger rail service would be provided along the existing rail corridor (shown on the map below) that extends through Berkshire, Franklin, Worcester, Middlesex, and Suffolk counties within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
This service would provide a means for people living in the western and central counties along this corridor to more easily travel to the Greater Boston Metro region, and a means for people living in the Boston area to more easily travel to the northern areas of Berkshire, Franklin and Worcester counties.
In addition to direct service along the Northern Tier Line the service could provide connecting service to southern New Hampshire and Vermont with a scheduled connection to Amtrak’s Vermonter service in Greenfield. A connecting service to Montreal would also be possible once the Vermonter service is extended to Montreal, as is planned.
The service would operate over two segments of an existing rail corridor. The first segment, between North Adams and Fitchburg, is owned by Pan Am Southern LLC. The second segment, between Fitchburg and Boston North Station is owned by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA).
The service would be designed so that travel times would be similar to the time to travel by car to/from Boston via Route 2.
Any new service provided would be designed so that it does not negatively impact the existing MBTA Fitchburg Line commuter rail service or the existing freight rail service along this rail corridor.
Milestones
▼ Northern Tier Passenger Rail Study (2019 – 2024)
This is a summary of the milestones that occurred during the study. For a more detailed listing please visit — Northern Tier Passenger Rail Study Overview
2019
January 2019 | Sen. Jo Comerford (Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester) introduced Bill S.2054, “An Act to examine the feasibility of rail service between North Adams, Greenfield and Boston.”
“Two big rail projects, one big vision for Massachusetts”
The Republican | March 22, 2019
May 2019 | Sen. Comerford and Sen. Anne Gobi (Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire and Middlesex) introduced Amendment 30 to the Senate version of the draft 2020 Massachusetts State Budget. The amendment called for a rail feasibility study of the route between North Adams and Boston commencing no later than June 1, 2020.
“Comerford files bill for east-west rail study”
Greenfield Recorder | May 14, 2019
May 21, 2019 | Amendment 30 to the Senate version of the 2020 Massachusetts Budget — which called for a study of the feasibility of passenger rail service between North Adams, Greenfield and Boston — was passed by a voice vote of the State Senate.
July 2019 | The FY2020 state budget was passed by the legislature and signed by Governor Baker, with the study wording intact.
2020
The COVID pandemic delays the start of the study.
2021 – 2024
March 12, 2021 | MassDOT released a Request for Proposal for the Northern Tier Passenger Rail Study. (Ref: COMMBUYS Bid Solicitation No. BD-21-1030-0P100-0P110-59782).
March 12, 2021 | MassDOT released a 9-page “Scope of Work” document as part of the bidding process for the study.
December 2021 – March 2024 | MassDOT hosted four virtual meetings of the working group and three virtual public information meetings as part of the Northern Tier Passenger Rail Study.
“East-west Rail Along Route 2 Could Reap Myriad Benefits”
Business West | July 21, 2021
“The push for Northern Tier rail expansion has found an ally in Williams College”
The Berkshire Eagle | September 19, 2023
“Northern Tier Rail Gets Strong Support at Hearing”
iBerkshires.com | April 2, 2024
“Why isn’t Northern Tier Rail included in state’s vision for passenger train travel in Western Massachusetts?”
The Berkshire Eagle | April 12, 2024
Guest Column: Full Steam Ahead: Bringing Back the Northern Tier Passenger Railroad
iBerkshires.com | July 15, 2024
Thomas Huckans, class of 2026, is a political science and astronomy major at Williams College
August 12, 2024 | MassDOT released the Draft Final Report for the Northern Tier Passenger Rail Study and opened a 60-day comment period.
“MassDOT study weighs options for Northern Tier passenger rail”
State House News Service | August 15, 2024
November 22, 2024 | The final report (112 pages) and the appendices (620 pages) to the report were released and can be found on this link on the MassDOT website: Northern Tier Passenger Rail Study Final Report
MassDOT and its consultants made no substantive changes to the text of the study in the final report. We came to this conclusion after carefully comparing the text in final report with the text of draft report, using the Adobe Acrobat Compare Files tool.
They did greatly expand the Appendices, with the addition of the full set of comments received during the study process.
Further information
Northern Tier Passenger Rail Study (Official site)
MassDOT
Northern Tier Passenger Rail Study Overview
Trains In The Valley
Letter: Advocate for Passenger Rail from North Adams to Boston
iBerkshire.com | October 9, 2024
October 11, 2024 | The Northern Tier Delegation sent this strong letter of support to Governor Healey, Lt. Governor Driscoll, and senior members of their administration.
State advances study of potential North Adams-to-Boston run
Hill County Observer | September 2024
“Western Mass. officials show support for proposed Northern Tier Rail”
The Greenfield Recorder | September 13, 2024
October 25, 2024 | During an interview with The Springfield Republican/MassLive, Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt talked briefly about the the Northern Tier Passenger Rail project. She said, “This [Northern Tier Passenger Rail] is another major commitment as far as western [Mass] passenger rail.” She went on to say, “that her department has applied for federal funding and the study won’t gather dust on a shelf.” (Interview with The Republican/MassLive)
October 29, 2024 | It was announced that Pan Am Southern (PAS) has been awarded a $21.6 million grant from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for safety improvements and rail upgrades along its Freight Main Line and Waterbury Subdivision in Connecticut.
Some of the improvements funded by this grant will be along the portion of the PAS Freight Main Line that would be use by the proposed Northern Tier Rail service. This is an important grant since these upgrades will benefit any future passenger rail service in this rail corridor. (FY2023–2024 FRA CRISI Grant Program: Project Summaries)
November 14, 2024 | A coalition of more than 100 stakeholders in support of the restart of Northern Tier Passenger Rail, including 40 municipalities from Berkshire to Middlesex Counties, called on the Healey-Driscoll Administration to turn its planning into action.
In a letter sent to Monica Tibbits-Nutt, Secretary and CEO of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT); MassDOT Rail and Transit Administrator Meredith Slesinger; and David Mohler, Executive Director, Office of Transportation Planning at MassDOT stated,
“Northern Tier Passenger Rail will help meet the critical needs of central and western Massachusetts while advancing the wellbeing and goals of the entire Commonwealth … Northern Tier Passenger Rail will be the catalyst needed for our overlooked and underserved region to attract younger individuals, families, and entrepreneurs; expand economic opportunity, growth, and mobility; assist in meeting the Commonwealth’s pressing housing demand; and reduce traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions.”
November 18, 2024 | Two press events — one in North Adams at 10am and one in Greenfield at Noon — were held to announce that more than 100 entities, including 40 municipalities, from Berkshire to Middlesex Counties have come together to support and advocate for the restart of Northern Tier Passenger Rail.
Greenfield MA station platform | November 11, 2024
Opinion: “The other east-west rail”
The Boston Globe | November 18, 2024
“One hundred entities sign letters of support for Northern Tier Rail”
Greenfield Recorder | November 18, 2024
“Passenger Rail Advocates Rally for Northern Tier Proposal”
iBerkshires | November 18, 2024
“Greenfield looks to revive Northern Tier Rail line” (1:52)
WWLP-22News | November 18, 2024
“As rail expansion continues in Massachusetts, northern communities make their case”
WAMC Northeast Public Radio | November 19, 2024
November 22, 2024 | The final report (112 pages) along with the Appendices (620 pages) and a Glossary (3 pages) were posted on the MassDOT website on this link — Northern Tier Passenger Rail Study Final Report
MassDOT and its consultants made no substantive changes to the text of the study in the final report. We came to this conclusion after carefully comparing the text in final report with the text of draft report, using the Adobe Acrobat Compare Files tool.
They did greatly expand the Appendices, with the addition of the full set of comments received during the study process.
November 27, 2024 | MassDOT formally announced the release of the Northern Tier Passenger Rail Study final report. (MassDOT Press Release)
“Study assesses ridership, costs of Northern Tier Rail”
State House News Service | December 3, 2024
“Western Mass. could see economic benefits from passenger rail service along Route 2”
New England Public Media | December 9, 2024
“If you want more studies, let’s get those studies funded”
The Berkshire Eagle | December 10, 2024
“Local officials see future with Northern Tier Rail”
Athol Daily News | December 10, 2024
“Trains in the Valley co-founder talks Northern Tier Rail study results”
WAMC Northeast Public Radio | December 16, 2024
2025
February 12, 2025 | Students from Williams College, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, and Northeastern University met with Governor Maura Healey, MassDOT, and Rep. John Barrett in Boston to advocate for restoring passenger rail service between North Adams and Boston (The Williams Record)
February 28, 2025 | At a briefing in Greenfield, hosted by Congressman Jim McGovern and attended by state and local officials, MassDOT committed to advancing the Northern Tier Passenger Rail project — beginning with a planned application to the FRA’s Corridor ID program later this this year.
Challenges remain — including federal funding priorities and negotiations with Pan Am Southern, which owns part of the corridor — but the commitment marks an important step forward. (“Proponents ‘all in’ on Northern Tier passenger rail amidst federal uncertainty”
By Jim Kinney | The Republican/MassLive
Olver Transit Center, Greenfield, MA | February 28, 2025
(list of people in the image)
“Proponents ‘all in’ on Northern Tier passenger rail amidst federal uncertainty”
The Republican/MassLive | February 28, 2025
July 20, 2025 | Secretary of Transportation Monika Tibbits-Nutt provided a progress update on Northern Tier Passenger Rail to Congressman Jim McGovern, Sen. Jo Comerford, and Rep. Natalie Blais in Worcester (Titter/X post)
July/August 2025 | Lily Frank, an intern in Sen. Comerford’s office, traveled across the region to speak with community leaders about the importance of Northern Tier Passenger Rail. She developed a set of videos that showcase local voices and help spread the word about Northern Tier Passenger Rail. (the first three videos can be found [here].)
August 18–21, 2025 | North Adams City Councilor Andrew Fitch traveled from Boston to North Adams by Commuter train, bike, and foot as part of an advocacy journey to support the Northern Tier Rail Restoration Project.
NEW – October 2025 | The Franklin Regional Council of Governments, with funding from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and in partnership with the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission and the Montachusett Regional Planning Commission, has released a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking a qualified consultant to conduct an economic impact study of the proposed Northern Tier Passenger Rail Service.
The study will analyze the potential economic benefits of re-establishing passenger rail along the Route 2 corridor, connecting North Adams, Greenfield, and Boston. This analysis will help quantify how Northern Tier Passenger Rail could contribute to long-term economic vitality in the region.
Available state funding
August 11, 2022 | $250 million | Chapter 176 of the Acts of 2022
Item 6720-2260 of Section 2F — “For the purpose of implementing rail improvements pursuant to chapter 161C of the General Laws; provided, that in addition to funds authorized in item 6622-2184 of section 2E of chapter 383 of the acts of 2020, not less than $275,000,000 shall be expended for transportation planning, design, permitting and engineering, public hearings and engagement, acquisition of interests in land, vehicle procurement, construction, construction of stations and right-of-way acquisition for the East-West passenger rail project, which shall include service from the city of Pittsfield to the city of Boston via the town of Chester, the city of Springfield, the town of Palmer and the city of Worcester; provided further, that service improvements shall include improving the existing North-South rail corridor through the city of Springfield and for passenger rail projects in western Massachusetts, including, but not limited to, the East-West passenger rail project from Pittsfield to Boston, the Connecticut River Line, the Berkshire Flyer and the Northern Tier Project;…”
External links
Northern Tier Rail Restoration Project
Center for Learning in Action | Williams College
Northern Tier Passenger Rail
Wikipedia
Page last updated: October 27, 2025
Page last reviewed: October 31, 2024