Railroad crossings are an everyday part of life in the Pioneer Valley, where freight trains, Amtrak passenger service, and local road traffic all share the same space.
While the region does not experience a large number of train—vehicle incidents, safety at these crossings remains a critical concern because even a single accident can have serious consequences.
At a Glance — Railroad Crossings in the Pioneer Valley
• 122 public railroad crossings
• 119 private and pedestrian railroad crossings
• 2 accidents reported (2020–2024)
• 78,538 motor vehicle crashes in the region during the same period
Each crossing represents a point where daily life and rail operations intersect — drivers on their way to work, students on school buses, and freight trains carrying goods across the region. Although accidents at crossings are rare, the potential severity of these incidents is what drives the continued investment in safety upgrades and community awareness.
This page provides an overview of the crossings in our region, the improvements that have been made, and the record of safety in recent years.
All of these crossings are marked with various forms of passive signage — and most of them are also marked with active traffic control devices, e.g., flashing lights, gates, and bells.
A sampling of railroad crossings in the region
Location – Damon Rd, Northampton | looking west
Railroad line – Connecticut River Main Line
The crossing has active warning devices that consist of flashing lights mounted on a gantry structure over the road. It also has audible warning which is created using an electronic bell.
The active warning devices at this crossing were replaced and upgraded in 2015 as part of the Knowledge Corridor Restore Vermonter project. They were replaced and upgraded again in 2024 as part of MassDOT’s Damon Road Reconstruction Project. The crossing also has a considerable amount of passive warning signage and roadway markings.
Unique to this crossing as a connection between the railroad signalling and the traffic light control system at the intersection of Damon Road and King Street, and Damon Road and Industrial Drive. When a train approaches, the railroad signalling connection activates traffic signal preemption, temporarily changing traffic lights to give the train priority and prevent vehicles from being on the tracks
There have been no reported accidents at this crossing since 1975 when the Federal Rail Administration (FRA) started collecting accidents reports related to highway-railroad crossings.
Location – Bridge St, Amherst | looking north
Railroad line – Palmer Subdivision, New England Central Railroad
The crossing has active warning devices (flashing lights and bells) as well as passive signage and roadway markings.
FRA accident records show that there have been a total of five (5) accidents at this crossing since 1975.
Location – Twiss St, Westfield | looking west
Railroad line – Easthampton Branch, Pioneer Valley Railroad
This crossing has active warning devices (mast mounted gates, lights and bells). This crossing was upgraded from passive warning (crossbucks) in 2024.
FRA accident records show that there has been no accidents at this crossing since 1975.
Federal Railroad Administration accident reporting
From the FRA’s Office of Safety Accident/Prediction website it is possible to generate a report (shown below) of all public highway-rail crossing in our region, ranked by predicated accidents per year.
Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire counties in Massachusetts (2020–2024)
Source: FRA Office of Safety Accident Prediction System
The report shows that there were no reported accident at a public railroad crossings in the Pioneer Valley during calendar year 2024.
The report also shows that there were a total of two (2) reported accidents at public railroad crossing in the Pioneer Valley during the five-year period from January 1, 2020 – December 31, 2024.
The number of railroad crossing accidents in our region is exceedingly low compared to the 78,538 reported vehicle crashes that occurred in the Pioneer Valley during the same five-year period. (Source: MassDOT Crash Portal)
Railroad Emergency Notification System
This video teaches drivers and the public how to stop a train if something is obstructing the tracks.
This video, which is meant for first-responders, explains how to deal with emergency situations at railroad crossings.
Further information
Railroad Crossing Safety & Trespass Prevention
Federal Railroad Administration
Crossing Inventory and Accident Reports
Federal Railroad Administration
Highway-Rail Crossing Handbook – Third Edition (PDF)
Federal Highway Administration | 2019
Private Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety (PDF)
Federal Railroad Administration | 2008
Video | How Railroad Crossings Work (18m)
Practical Engineering | 2024
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The Train Horn Rule and Quiet Zones
Federal Railroad Administration
How to Create a Quiet Zone
Federal Railroad administration
Page last updated: August 16, 2025
Page last reviewed: in progress