This page provides access to public reference information related to railroad crossings of note in our area.
This list is maintained by Trains In The Valley. The list is updated and reviewed as needed.
Current crossing of note
Front Street crossing | West Springfield
Front Street crossing
West Springfield, Mass.
Issue | CSX freight trains block this crossing for very long periods of time on a regular basis.
Summary | The Front Street crossing (also known as the Bridge Street crossing) is a problem for people in the area because CSX’s freight trains have frequently been blocking the crossing for lengthy periods of time.
According to local news media reports, this crossing has been blocked for up to 90 minutes, on a regular and ongoing basis.
Further information
Front Street crossing (West Springfield)
Trains In The Valley
A page dedicated to this topic, with everything you need to know.
Previously listed as a crossing of note
Birnie Road railroad crossing
Longmeadow, Mass.
Issue | Multiple accidents at this crossing over the years. The safety issues were mitigated when Amtrak installed active traffic control devices at the crossing in 2019.
State Street railroad crossing
Springfield, Mass.
Issue | This crossing is only protected by passive signs and has limited sight lines. The safety issues were resolved when Amtrak effectively closed the crossing in 2019.
Further details for each of these crossings can be found below.
Bernie Road crossing | Longmeadow
Grade Crossing ID | 501939D
U.S. DOT Inventory Form – Bernie Rd Crossing (PDF)
October 3, 2019
Summary | The Bernie Road crossing of Amtrak’s 2-track main line in Longmeadow was for decades protected by nothing more than passive signage at the crossing. Over the past few decades numerous accidents resulted in the death of six people at this crossing.
After the most recent fatality, in March 2017, considerable political and media attention was applied to the dangerous situation at this particular crossing.
In the end Amtrak installed active traffic control devices (flashing lights, bells, and gates) at the crossing.
BEFORE | October 2015
AFTER | February 2020
Locus map | Birnie Road railroad crossing, Longmeadow, Ma. | Google Maps
News articles
August 20, 1975 | Collision with vehicle, 1 person killed
Accident Report (PDF)
“Train Kills Robber”
By Ann Doyle | Springfield Union | August 27, 1975
May 20, 1981 | Collision with vehicle, 2 persons killed
Accident Report (PDF)
“Fiery crash of car, train takes 2 lives”
By John Appleton | Springfield Union | May 22, 1981
December 10, 1982 | Collision with vehicle, 1 person killed
Accident Report (PDF)
“West Side drive killed in train-collision”
By Penny Filosi | Springfield Union | December 11, 1981
“Questions on crossing rise again”
By John Appleton | Springfield Union | December 18, 1982
June 20, 1983 | Collision with vehicle, no injuries
Accident Report (PDF)
“5 leap from stalled car moments before train hits”
By John Appleton | Springfield Union | June 21, 1983
November 18, 1990 | Collision with vehicle, 1 person seriously injured
No accident report found
“Longmeadow driver hurt when train strikes car”
By Patrick Johnson | Springfield Union-News | November 19, 1990
July 27, 2005 | Collision with vehicle, no injuries
Accident Report (PDF)
March 14, 2017 | Collision with vehicle, 1 person killed
Accident Report (PDF)
“1 killed when train hits Longmeadow DPW truck during Winter Storm Stella”
By Greg Saulmon | The Republican | March 14, 2017
“Longmeadow DPW plow driver’s death is fifth at Birnie Road rail crossing, records show”
By Greg Saulmon | The Republican | March 14, 2017
“Decades before crash that killed DPW worker, Longmeadow officials sought to improve safety at railroad crossing”
By Greg Saulmon | The Republican | March 24, 2017
“New signs installed at Longmeadow rail crossing — but who put them there?”
By Greg Saulmon | The Republican | June 23, 2017
“New temporary barriers up at Longmeadow railroad crossing; here’s how they’re different from the old ones”
By Greg Saulmon | The Republican | June 23, 2017
“Safety upgrades at Longmeadow railroad crossing, site of collision that killed DPW foreman Warren Cowles, included in MassDOT work plan”
By Greg Saulmon | The Republican | September 23, 2017
“Long, steady effort brought safety improvements to deadly Longmeadow railroad crossing”
By Greg Saulmon | The Republican | October 20, 2018
” ‘For too long, this site was ignored’: Safety improvements complete at railroad crossing where Longmeadow DPW worker died in train collision”
By Greg Saulmon | The Republican | November 15, 2019
State Street crossing | Springfield
Grade Crossing ID | 973101X
U.S. DOT Inventory Form – State St Crossing (PDF)
October 5, 2017
Summary | The State Street crossing of the double-track Amtrak line in Springfield was for many years protected by nothing more than passive signage as a warning to anyone wishing to cross the tracks.
There are no recorded accidents at this crossing but people in biking community in Springfield have felt that this crossing was an “accident waiting to happen” — with the limited sight lines, numerous trains, and more recently the construction on a new playground at Riverfront Park.
In 2019 Amtrak installed a locked sliding gate on both sides of the tracks. The gate now can only be opened with the permission of Amtrak Police.
BEFORE | October 2018
AFTER | June 2019
Springfield, Ma. | June 10, 2019
Locus map | State St railroad crossing, Springfield, Ma. | Google Maps
Related news articles
“Riverfront Park in Springfield is getting a facelift — but is a rail crossing a barrier to access?”
By Greg Saulmon | The Republican | October 16, 2018
“Springfield’s Riverfront Park reopens after $3.1 million renovation project”
By Peter Goonan | The Republican | June 12, 2019
External links
Crossing Inventory and Accident Reports Lookup
Federal Railroad Administration
Page last updated: February 23, 2022
Page last reviewed: October 29, 2018