Compass Rail

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 months, we encourage all passenger rail advocates from the Quaboag region to participate and demonstrate your support for renewed train service to a Palmer stop.

Benefits of a Palmer Rail Stop

The Palmer Train Station will —

• Serve residents of the 21 towns of the Lower Quabbin Region, including Amherst and the flagship campus of the University of Massachusetts;
• Spur economic development and tourism in Palmer, Monson, Warren, Brimfield, Belchertown, Ludlow, and Wilbraham;
• Create new housing development opportunities in these suburban and rural towns stretching across Central Massachusetts between Springfield and Worcester;
• Expand and interconnect regional transit options as part of a Palmer/Ware hub, improving access for Central Mass residents to employment, education and training, medical care, food, recreational activities, and cultural amenities.

More About Compass Rail

For more on Compass Rail, the upcoming hiring of a “Compass Rail/East-West Director,” and the FRA-funded track upgrades between Worcester and Springfield, please see the Streetsblog article, “MassDOT Outlines ‘Compass Rail’ Vision for New Passenger Services in Western Mass.”