Passenger Rail Service

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Passenger Rail Travel Options

There are now several passenger rail options to and from Northampton as well as more frequent rail options from Union Station, Springfield, and the Windsor Locks, Connecticut, rail platform, which is conveniently adjacent to Exit 42 on I-91. Union Station has fee-based parking, and Windsor Locks has free parking. 

Valley Flyer

The Valley Flyer is a rail service that started in September 2019 as a pilot program. In October 2022, MassDOT and Amtrak announced that the Valley Flyer would become a permanent service. Service runs seven days a week from Greenfield to New Haven, Connecticut, with stops in Northampton, Holyoke, and Springfield. Please visit Amtrak for more information on this service, including schedules, arrival times, departures, and fares.  

Vermonter

Since 2014, the Amtrak Vermonter has been serving Northampton as part of the Vermonter's change in its travel route, moving service from Amherst (east side of the Connecticut River) over to Northampton (west side of the river). The Vermonter operates from St. Albans, Vermont, through Greenfield, Northampton, Holyoke, and Springfield; and Hartford and New Haven, Connecticut, and all points along the east coast ending in Washington, D.C. Please visit Amtrak Vermonter for routes and schedules.

East-West Rail

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is conducting a study to examine the costs, benefits, and investments necessary to implement passenger rail service from Boston to Springfield and Pittsfield, with the speed, frequency, and reliability necessary to be a competitive option for travel along this corridor. The study will assess up to six alternatives, which will feature a range of approaches including high-speed rail and potential infill stations.

Hartford Line

The Hartford Line is a commuter rail service between New Haven, Connecticut, and Springfield, using the Amtrak-owned New Haven–Springfield Line. The Hartford Line connects communities along the I-91 corridor.

Studies and Plans

  • A Northern Tier Passenger Rail Study was conducted by MassDOT, investigating the feasibility of restoring passenger rail service between North Adams, Greenfield, and Boston's North Station. In November 2024, MassDOT issued its final report concluding that while passenger rail service between North Adams and Boston is feasible and could bring economic benefits, the high capital costs (ranging from $878 million to $2.9 billion) might not be offset by the benefits. MassDOT has announced plans to submit the Northern Tier corridor for inclusion in the Federal Railroad Administration's Corridor ID program in Fall 2025.
  • The 2018 Draft Massachusetts State Rail Plan reports on North-South rail and ranks this service as a "Tier 1 Priority Project".
  • For more information on the Connecticut River Rail Improvement Project, access the Knowledge Corridor Rail Study (PDF).

"Trains In The Valley" Rail Advocacy

Trains in the Valley represents the efforts of residents to promote the expansion of rail service through its website, which not only advocates for expanded rail passenger service but also offers useful and current information on rail and transit issues and positive events.