Level 1: Operational Compatibility
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 here! That will be nearly 50 years since Boston & Albany service to Palmer ended.
Palmer Station Planning + Design
MassDOT, consulting firm VHB, and Palmer officials are currently evaluating eleven potential passenger rail platform locations.
Level 1 Fatal Flaw Screening: Operational Compatibility
Level 1 review will determine operational compatibility based on three things:
- Is the site on the Compass Rail Corridor?
- Does sufficient space exist to accommodate a high-level platform on a siding track with signal infrastructure meeting minimum standards?
- Does the site interfere with freight operation at the diamond junction (where CSX and NECR tracks cross) or the CSX Palmer Yard?
Site locations with operational compatibility will undergo Level 2 Comparative Evaluation, followed by work to “define potential station amenities.”
Public Meeting in the Fall (date TBD)
A public meeting in the Fall will share the results of the site location and design analysis, and seek public input.
We will let you know the date of the public meeting when it is announced. We will also share any information made public at that time (or before), as well as opportunities to submit questions and comments to MassDOT by mail, email, or online.
Amtrak Service
Amtrak plans to run two round-trip trains between Boston and New Haven, stopping in Palmer, in 2029. That gives MassDOT and CSX sufficient time to do track upgrades between Worcester and Springfield, and to build out a high-level platform in Palmer.
Progress on all fronts!
Please let me know more about developments and how I can help.
Thank you for offering to help. Here’s where things stand in October 2024: MassDOT and its consultant VHB are working on site selection for the Palmer passenger rail platform. This fall they will hold a public meeting to present their findings and solicit feedback. As soon as we know the date and time, we will publicize this meeting and any related ways to send comments to MassDOT. We encourage everyone — from Amherst to Stafford, from Ludlow to Sturbridge, from the Brookfields to Sixteen Acres — to participate in the public meeting and public comment process afterwards. We are looking forward to the return of passenger rail service to Palmer in 2029!
I am so happy to hear about the potential developments with this project! I am continuing to do research on it for other class assignments and getting to see how it has moved along since the start of this year is so encouraging.
Thanks for the updates!