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Everyone from Amherst to Stafford, Sixteen Acres to the Brookfields, Sturbridge to Ludlow — if you are interested in restored train service to our region, please: Save this date & time: Monday, Dec. 16, 2024, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Come to the Palmer Station Public Meeting at the Palmer Public Library, 1455 North Main Street, Palmer, MA. […]

Thanks to all our supporters for your continuing patience as we near the end of what is increasingly likely to be a successful campaign to bring back passenger rail service to the Town of Seven Railroads. Starting in 2029, Amtrak plans to run trains between Boston and New Haven, and the trains will be stopping […]

Key documents for planning and design of a new Amtrak station in Palmer, Massachusetts, including the NNEIRI study’s prior analysis of potential station sites: The Northern New England Intercity Rail Initiative provides the most detailed and advanced study of potential station sites in Palmer. The Palmer Station Analysis is in the Alternative Analysis Report, pages […]

Our nine years of advocacy have finally hit pay dirt! At the January 17, 2024 MassDOT Board of Directors meeting, Rail and Transit Division (RTD) Administrator Meredith Slesinger announced that “RTD selected a consultant in December of 2023 for Planning and Conceptual Design” of a Palmer intercity passenger rail station. “This contract will include public […]

Major East-West Rail Projects: Palmer and Pittsfield   We strongly second the Commission endorsement of MassDOT as an “experienced project manager, evidenced by the agency’s most recent 5-year plan, including $350 million in rail projects and two major projects directly related to East-West Rail.” (p. 19) Central Corridor Passenger Rail Feasibility Study We are disappointed […]

A revived Palmer Train Station is finally on the horizon! During a slideshow presentation on “Compass Rail” at the MassDOT Board of Directors meeting on 10/18/23, Rail and Transit Administrator Meredith Slesinger shared this “Happening Now” slide — “State-funded planning/design of Palmer Station” is an upcoming project. As this process moves forward in the coming […]

Thanks to Governor Healey and MassDOT, a Palmer station is now on the leading edge of East-West rail planning, and positioned to be at the heart of the work to be done in the next few years. $4 million for study and design of a Palmer station On July 19 the MassDOT Board of Directors […]

At its meeting yesterday (7/19/23), the MassDOT Board of Directors approved the FY2024-FY2028 Capital Investment Plan (CIP), including $4 million for “study and design of Palmer station” to be expended over FY2024-FY2025. The CIP also includes $8 million for track work in Pittsfield to be expended over FY2024-FY2027. Thank you Governor Healey Gov. Maura Healey […]

MassDOT Adds East-West Rail Funding to its 2024-2028 CIP The Healey Administration’s proposed $12.5 million initial investment in East-West passenger rail has been added to the MassDOT Capital Investment Plan for 2024-2028. David Mohler, Executive Director of MassDOT’s Department of Transportation Planning, made the announcement at the MBTA/MassDOT Joint Board Meeting on June 22. For […]

Informative slideshow presented by Meredith Slesinger, Rail & Transit Administrator for MassDOT, at the final public hearings of the Western Massachusetts Passenger Rail Commission, held in Worcester and Natick on May 16, 2023. Administrator Slesinger’s slideshow notes: “Good morning. I’m Meredith Slesinger, Rail & Transit Administrator for MassDOT. I’m joined by my colleague Mike Muller, […]