Today’s Headlines
• Ongoing efforts to Extend the Vermonter to Montreal
• Sinkhole Stops Amtrak’s Trains to Pittsfield, for Now
• Northern Tier Passenger Rail: Summer Update
• Report: Strong Support for East-West Rail in the Region
• Valley Flyer Extension into Vermont?
• West Springfield | Upgrades Coming to Memorial Ave Crossing
• Willimansett Railroad Bridge a.k.a. Bridge 7.09
• Amtrak Board Hosts Not 1 but 2 Public Meetings
Calendar
Sat. October 4, 2025 | Metro-North Railroad New Haven Open House
8 am – 4:20 pm | Free
Timed-entry tickets are available on the link above
Tues. October 7, 2025 | Palmer Station planning and design public information meeting
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm | Palmer High School, 4105 Main St, Palmer, MA
Thu. November 13, 2025 | Second Avenue Subway book event with local author Dan McNichol
5:30 pm | Glendale Ridge Vineyard, 155 Glendale Rd, Southampton, MA
Hosted by the Edwards Public Library — Call 413-527-9480 to register
Wed. November 19, 2025 | Vermont Rail Advisory Council
1 pm – 3 pm | VTrans, 2178 Airport Rd, Barre, VT
(hybrid meeting w/online option)
Ongoing efforts to Extend the Vermonter to Montreal
Planning for a proposed U.S.–Canada customs preclearance facility at Montreal’s Central Station is underway, but it will likely be several years before passengers from western Massachusetts can travel directly to Montreal by train.
“Building a customs facility at Montreal Central Station”
Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility | May 7, 2025
The new facility, planned to be located beneath the main waiting hall next to track 23, would allow passengers to complete U.S. Customs and Border Protection preclearance before departure and be processed by Canadian Border Services upon arrival — similar to the preclearance process already in place at Canadian airports for U.S. flights.
“Building a customs facility at Montreal Central Station”
Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility | May 7, 2025
The project has been studied for more than a decade. Early feasibility studies confirmed the concept was viable, and recent assessments by Québec authorities have refined the design, identified infrastructure needs, and evaluated the optimal site within the station.
Significant planning work remains before construction can begin.
A detailed building analysis must be completed, and a preliminary architectural plan developed to support the business case. Cost-sharing agreements among the involved parties must be finalized, and operational agreements established between U.S. and Canadian Customs.
In parallel to this work, upgrades are needed along the rail corridor in Quebec between Montreal and the international border.
The remaining jointed track must be upgraded to welded rail, and the swing bridge over the Richelieu River must be automated.
“Building a customs facility at Montreal Central Station”
Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility | May 7, 2025
Amtrak is advancing other cross-border initiatives, including converting the pre-inspection process at Vancouver’s Pacific Central Station into a full preclearance facility for the Amtrak Cascades service and extending Michigan’s Amtrak Wolverine service from Detroit to Windsor, Ontario, with a preclearance facility in Windsor.
Ongoing cross-border coordination is being led by Amtrak, the Vermont Agency of Transportation, the New York State Department of Transportation, and Quebec Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility. This group meets monthly to coordinate their work on the project and to discuss options to move the project forward.
For readers interested in a deeper dive, please have a look at the presentation decks linked below.
The presentations were give by a representative of the Quebec Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility and Amtrak at the recent meeting in Quebec City of the Eastern Border Transportation Coalition.
Further reading
Building a customs facility at Montreal Central Station (PDF)
Quebec Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility | May 7, 2025
Intercity Passenger Rail Cross-Border Service Improvement Projects (PDF)
Amtrak | May 7, 2025
Vermonter Extension to Montreal
Trains In The Valley
Sinkhole Stops Amtrak’s Trains to Pittsfield, for Now
Amtrak has replaced its train service to Pittsfield with bus service due to unstable ground conditions affecting a section of track along the route in East Greenbush, New York.
The issue — first identified in May — appears to be a large sinkhole, under and adjacent to a section of Amtrak-owned track, about three miles south of the Albany-Rensselaer station.
The Amtrak trains affected include the seasonal Berkshire Flyer service between New York City and Pittsfield, and the Lake Shore Limited (Trains 448 & 449) between Boston and Albany-Rensselaer station.
Until repairs are completed, Amtrak is operating substitute bus service in place of its trains.
Further reading
Lake Shore Limited, Berkshire Flyer Schedule Changes
Service Alerts & Notices | Amtrak
Northern Tier Passenger Rail: Summer Update
Even though it’s summer, work to advance the Northern Tier Passenger Rail (also known as Route 2 Rail) is moving forward on several fronts.
Here’s the latest:
MassDOT Update
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 on July 11th.
The meeting is one more signal that the project has a green light to proceed with further development, which is great news.
Planning for an FRA Corridor ID grant application
MassDOT is preparing an application for the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Corridor Identification and Development (Corridor ID) program. If awarded, this grant would make the Northern Tier Passenger Rail project eligible for future federal funding.
The Corridor ID program is designed to support the planning and development of new and expanded intercity passenger rail project across the country. What we don’t know yet is when the FRA will open this program to new application.
To strengthen the forthcoming application, Senator Comerford’s office and others are collecting letters of support for the application. Individuals, organizations, and businesses are encouraged to help with this effort by preparing a letter, and a template is available [here]. The goal is to gather 100 letters by September 5th.
All Aboard for Northern Tier Passenger Rail Videos
Over the summer, Lily Frank, an intern in Senator 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.
You can watch the first three videos [here].
Further reading
Northern Tier Passenger Rail
Trains In The Valley
New Report Notes Strong Support for East-West Rail in the Region
A newly released report, The People and Transportation Project Report, prepared by the MassINC Polling Group in partnership with Way Finders and sponsored by MassDOT, offers a detailed look at the transportation challenges facing low-income residents in Western Massachusetts.
The study—based on surveys of more than 1,600 Way Finders clients, 601 other low-income residents of Hampden and Hampshire counties, and several focus groups paints a clear picture of how transportation costs and access affect daily life in the region.
For many households, transportation is a significant financial burden. Four out of five Way Finders clients say transportation costs are a strain on their budget, with nearly half calling it a “very big burden.” This often forces people to make difficult choices, such as missing bill payments or skipping important trips. The impacts are far-reaching: missed work and school, delayed or foregone medical care, and even being stranded without a way to get home.
Cars remain the dominant mode of travel, but most Way Finders households rely on a single vehicle and have limited means to afford repairs or borrow a car if it breaks down. For those without a car, mobility options are limited. PVTA bus service is heavily used by Way Finders clients, but riders want faster, more frequent service and routes that better meet their needs. Others turn to ride-hailing services to fill the gaps, but these can be too expensive. Some even resort to informal “Hood Ubers,” which are cheaper but raise safety concerns.
One of the most striking findings in the report relates to travel between Springfield and Boston. While most residents can make local trips without major difficulty, getting to Boston is a significant challenge — especially for those needing specialized medical care.
The study found strong interest in the planned East-West Rail service, with a majority of survey respondents saying they would likely ride once the service begins in 2030.
Participants in the focus groups saw the project as a potential lifeline for improving access to healthcare, jobs, and other opportunities, though some expressed skepticism about whether it will actually be completed and concerns about whether ticket prices will be affordable.
The report makes it clear that affordable, reliable transportation — both within the region and to Boston — would be transformative for many residents, reducing barriers to essential services and opening the door to new opportunities.
Further reading
The Cost of Getting Around: The Transportation Burdens of Lower-Income Residents in Western
Massachusetts (PDF)
June 2025
Valley Flyer Extension into Vermont?
Amtrak’s Valley Flyer service could be expanding, North.
The draft 2025 Vermont State Rail Plan is recommending an extension of the service north from Massachusetts to either Brattleboro or White River Junction.
The draft plan projects the an extension to White River Junction would add 33,000 riders annually by 2045, while the Brattleboro option would add 12,000 riders.
In other news, a new $10 million Amtrak station is also under construction in Brattleboro, with a completion target of February 2026.
Further reading
“More Amtrak service ahead?”
By C.B. Hall | The Commons | August 6, 2025
West Springfield | Upgrades Coming to Memorial Ave Crossing
May 2025 | Google Street View image
For years, the Memorial Avenue (Route 147) railroad crossing in West Springfield has been flagged as a safety concern. CSX freight trains serving two local businesses currently cross four lanes of traffic here at just 10 mph — with only manually activated flashing lights, and no gates or bells.
Thanks to persistent advocacy from railroad workers and local officials, that’s about to change.
The City of West Springfield has announced that CSX will upgrade the crossing with cantilever mounted flashing lights, traffic lights on both sides as a redundant warning system, and crossing gates.
Construction is expected to start this fall and wrap up in 2026. These changes will make a busy crossing — with more than 16,000 vehicles daily — safer for drivers and train crews alike.
Further reading
Railroad Crossing of Note | Memorial Avenue
Trains In The Valley
“Unions call for safety gate at West Springfield railroad crossing”
By Tyler Lederer | The Reminder | September 24, 2024
Willimansett Railroad Bridge a.k.a. Bridge 7.09
MassDOT Board of Directors Meeting | July 30, 2025
The Rail and Transit Administrator has announced that MassDOT is planning to rehabilitate the railroad bridge at milepost 7.09 on the Connecticut River Main Line.
The bridge, which spans the Connecticut River between Chicopee & Holyoke, is currently used by Amtrak (Vermonter and Valley Flyer services) and the Berkshire & Eastern Railroad (for freight service). A permanent speed restriction of 15 miles per hour has been in place on the bridge for many years due to its deteriorated condition.
Bridge 7.09 is a girder bridge consisting of two interconnected 10-span superstructure units, each designed to carry a single track. The bridge is 755 feet in length overall.
The bridge’s substructure (abutments and piers) was built in 1883 by the Connecticut River Railroad to support the original bridge which was a 5-span iron truss bridge. The current superstructure— a riveted steel deck plate girder bridge — was constructed in 1921 by the Boston & Maine Railroad, in part to accommodate heavier locomotives.
In its early days, the bridge was equipped with a sidewalk for foot passengers, who paid a two-cent toll to cross.
Further reading
Connecticut River RR Willimansett Bridge (PDF)
Massachusetts Historical Commission | September 2014
Amtrak Board Hosts Not 1 but 2 Public Meetings
On May 22, 2025, Amtrak’s Board of Directors allowed the public to observe (virtually via Zoom) a 90-minute portion of a regularly scheduled 2-day plenary meeting of the board. This was an important development since this was the first time that Amtrak Board has opened any portion of a regularly schedule plenary meeting to the public.
Amtrak senior management provided a Finance Report, a Commercial Report, a National Network Strategy Update, a Capital Project Delivery Review, and an Update on NJ Service Area/Summer 2025 Preparations. At the end of the meeting board members participated in a brief question and answer session with Amtrak’s management.
At no time during the meeting did Amtrak’s Board explain why this special meeting was opened to the public, but we assume that this was done pursuant to the resolution that was approved by the Board on December 4, 2024.
In June Amtrak launched a redesigned webpage for the Board of Directors. The updated page includes recorded videos and presentations from the Board’s public sessions, as well as a selection of corporate governance documents — including the corporation’s bylaws.
Taken together, these developments suggest a slow but measurable shift toward greater transparency.
Amtrak is a quasi-public corporation, largely funded by taxpayer dollars. This makes Amtrak riders more than just customers; they are also stakeholders and investors. When the Board of Directors operates behind closed doors, it cuts off the public from understanding how their money is being spent and why major decisions are made.
These moves toward greater transparency, while small, are a crucial step in upholding the principle that public money demands public oversight.
Further information
Amtrak Board of Directors (Official webpage)
Amtrak Board of Directors – a transparency assessment
Train In The Valley