Improving the
Massachusetts Passenger Rail Network
John C. WestonRail Director
Harris Miller Miller & Hanson
Massachusetts Passenger Rail Network
MBTA Commuter Rail Service
Seasonal / Tourist Passenger Rail Services
Amtrak Services
Massachusetts-based Amtrak Ridership
Over 3.3 million trips in FY 2018
More than 20% growth since 2010
MassDOT Rail Acquisitions After 2010
Since 2010 MassDOT purchased ~184 Miles of Active ROW
Rail Ownership Trends: 2015 Ownership
Seasonal / Tourist Services
Amtrak Services in Massachusetts
Amtrak Acela (Boston to Washington DC)
Northeast Regional (Boston to New York, New York)
Lake Shore Limited (Boston to Chicago, IL)
Downeaster (Boston to Brunswick, ME)
Vermonter (St. Albans, VT to Washington, DC - via Springfield, Massachusetts)
Amtrak Hartford Line (formerly known as the Springfield Shuttle)
Valley Flyer (newly extended service extension from Springfield to Greenfield)
Knowledge Corridor - Background
To improve passenger rail service MA used a $72.8 M Federal grant and $37.2 M in state funds to purchase and upgrade the former PanAm Railways freight line between Springfield and East Northfield.
The resulting “Knowledge Corridor” provides a 23 minute time savings and a more direct route than the route that Amtrak had been using via Palmer and Amherst.
Knowledge Corridor - Background
“Knowledge
Corridor” Route
(49 miles)
Former
Vermonter
Route (60 miles)
New Stations
New stations have been created in Greenfield, Northampton and Holyoke
Northampton
Greenfield
New Stations
Union Station at Springfield has been renovated providing parking, intercity and local bus, and Amtrak service
Knowledge Corridor – Vermonter Service
Vermonter operates one round trip per day, 7 days a week.
Vermonter route is St Albans, VT to Washington, DC.
MA stops are Greenfield, Northampton, Holyoke, Springfield– Northampton is largest ridership (21,500 annual trips)
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
FFY 2014 FFY 2015 FFY 2016 FFY 2017 FFY 2018
Annual Amtrak Vermonter Ridership atKnowledge Corridor Stations
Amherst (till 12/14) Greenfield Northampton Holyoke (start 8/15)
Knowledge Corridor – Current Service
14,124
29,69827,751
24,455
21,541
Amtrak Hartford Line
In coordination with CT DOT – Amtrak Service (known as the Springfield Shuttle) increased from 4 to 7 daily round trips in June 2018 along with the initiation of CT Rail Hartford Line Service
Amtrak Valley Flyer
Amtrak Valley Flyer
2 year pilot service providing Greenfield, Northampton and Holyoke more frequent service to CT, NYC and beyond
Service started August 30, 2019 (Labor Day Weekend)
2 Southbound trips in AM – 6:10 AM & 8:00 AM departure from Northampton– 10:22 AM & 12:21 arrival in New York– Timed Transfer required in New Haven
2 Northbound trips in PM– 9:57 PM & 12:12 AM arrival in Northampton
Serves same stations in Massachusetts as the Vermonter (operating between VT and Washington, DC)
Valley Flyer Opportunity
Demonstrate the overall demand for service, while detailed information regarding passenger market is collected
Provide immediate benefits without significant up front capital investment
Marketing – MassDOT has provided grant for marketing to Western Massachusetts
Regional Planning Agencies
– Amtrak will assist with national platform
Identified as successful if service carries 24,000 new riders annually (as compared to 29,698 in FFY18 for Vermonter)
Valley Flyer Support