Hartford Line and Western Massachusetts commuter rail (Boston, Springfield: colleges, casino)

[OyCrumbler]

There's a lot more activity on the Connecticut forum on this, but Springfield Massachusetts is also served by this line. Anyone on this forum give it a go? Does a further northward or westward extension of the line make any sense?

Springfield's Union Station is interesting as it's at a crossroads for lines going north to south and east to west. I've seen talk about increasing rail service between Springfield and Boston as well as a proposal to extend Empire Service trains past Albany and through to Pittsfield for weekend trial runs during the summer which seems like it should be extended past Pittsfield to Springfield to become a connecting service.

[in_newengland]

It's supposed to be extended north to Northampton and Greenfield but I don't know when. I'd like to take it when it goes to Northampton.

There was a chance, quite some time ago, for trains to go from Springfield to Boston but the owner of the bus company, Peter Picknelly, selfishly blocked it. It would be so great to be able to go across the state on a train. Funny how we can get to NYC but not to our own state capital!

[OyCrumbler]

Originally Posted by in_newengland

It's supposed to be extended north to Northampton and Greenfield but I don't know when. I'd like to take it when it goes to Northampton.

There was a chance, quite some time ago, for trains to go from Springfield to Boston but the owner of the bus company, Peter Picknelly, selfishly blocked it. It would be so great to be able to go across the state on a train. Funny how we can get to NYC but not to our own state capital!

I had never heard about bus operators blocking this. On what grounds are they able to do that? It seems absurd.

Given that the Pittsfield Empire Service extension is during a time period where Boston's South Station isn't anywhere close to peak, I think it'd make sense for it to go not just to Pittsfield or even Springfield, but all the way to Boston. The Lake Shore Limited is understandably quite limited.

[in_newengland]

Originally Posted by OyCrumbler

I had never heard about bus operators blocking this. On what grounds are they able to do that? It seems absurd.

Given that the Pittsfield Empire Service extension is during a time period where Boston's South Station isn't anywhere close to peak, I think it'd make sense for it to go not just to Pittsfield or even Springfield, but all the way to Boston. The Lake Shore Limited is understandably quite limited.

https://www.masslive.com/politics/in...tate_hous.html

Peter Picknelly lobbied against Springfield to Boston rail study

The owner of Springfield's Peter Pan bus company sent an email to Baker and legislators urging Baker to reject Sen. Eric Lesser's rail study proposal.

"It's sketchy."

https://www.masslive.com/news/index....r_rail_bi.html

Peter Picknelly lobbied against proposed Springfield to Boston rail study, sending email two days before Gov. Baker's veto

You should read through the entire length of the articles. To me, this is why nothing much ever gets done about the situation of Springfield. Just one example of corruption that has been going on for decades. And they say the Mob is gone from Springfield too, LOL. Wait until that casino opens! They'll be crawling like flies all over it.

How many times are people going to try to improve things for Springfield only to have it undermined by the corruption. Until they stop the corruption (is that even possible?) Springfield is going nowhere. (Why is it only the people FROM the Springfield area who know about this stuff!) Better spread the word--maybe someone can do something. I mean it. This guy (and others) shouldn't be able to exercise so much power over the rest of us, the entire state.

[massnative71]

Originally Posted by OyCrumbler

I've seen talk about increasing rail service between Springfield and Boston as well as a proposal to extend Empire Service trains past Albany and through to Pittsfield for weekend trial runs during the summer which seems like it should be extended past Pittsfield to Springfield to become a connecting service.

It's a nice pipe dream, problem is nobody will ride it.

[in_newengland]

Originally Posted by massnative71

It's a nice pipe dream, problem is nobody will ride it.

A lot of people from WMass (I am not talking about the Berkshires/Pittsfield as I am not familiar with that area) would go back and forth the Boston by rail. Even if you just count the UMass students going back and forth on weekends. Lots of other students who would make use of a train as there are many other colleges in the area. The could get from the Northampton area down to Springfield and then take the train.

People who have to drive the Mass Pike for their job would gladly take the train. People who want to go to Boston to go to museums or whatever else for a day trip would use the train. There's a large demand but if you read the above article, it was blocked by a selfish lobbyist who runs a bus business.

[western mass and love it]

I would use the train to go to Hamp as long as the schedule was good. I used the train today to go from Springfield to Windsor locks and then back. Took a little longer than usual but it was nice to just sit back relax, and I was able to get some work done on the trip which enabled me to be finish up my day about 1 1/2 hours early.

[mp775]

There is an RFP coming out this summer to study east-west rail from Boston to Springfield and possibly Pittsfield - https://www.google.com/amp/s/article...ent_approv.amp. A feaibility study of a CapeFlyer-type seasonal service from New York was just completed in March - https://www.massdot.state.ma.us/Port...eport32718.pdf.

[tovarisch]

I think in_newengland has it right; I wish we taxpayers didn't have to fund the study. The solution is just logical.

[in_newengland]

Originally Posted by mp775

There is an RFP coming out this summer to study east-west rail from Boston to Springfield and possibly Pittsfield - https://www.google.com/amp/s/article...ent_approv.amp. A feaibility study of a CapeFlyer-type seasonal service from New York was just completed in March - https://www.massdot.state.ma.us/Port...eport32718.pdf.

Well, this is just going to hold us back and take more time. Peter Picknelly (who wrecked the plans last year) is probably getting his cronies ready to wreck it again. Why do we have to study it again? This has been decades in the waiting. People want to get to Boston. It's the capitol of the state and we have to take a *******BUS to get there? Or drive back and forth on the Mass Pike? No train. STILL no train? Now they're going to STUDY it again? It sure makes me suspicious of the amount of corruption in this state. Who's getting rich from these studies? And why do those dirty politicians side with Picknelly in lobbying against it? Gov Baker and others in Boston need to take a better look at what's going on here.