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Improving the Massachusetts Passenger Rail Network John C. Weston Rail Director Harris Miller Miller & Hanson

Improving the Massachusetts Passenger Rail Network · Vermonter (St. Albans, VT to Washington, DC - via Springfield, Massachusetts) Amtrak Hartford Line (formerly known as the Springfield

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Page 1: Improving the Massachusetts Passenger Rail Network · Vermonter (St. Albans, VT to Washington, DC - via Springfield, Massachusetts) Amtrak Hartford Line (formerly known as the Springfield

Improving the

Massachusetts Passenger Rail Network

John C. WestonRail Director

Harris Miller Miller & Hanson

Page 2: Improving the Massachusetts Passenger Rail Network · Vermonter (St. Albans, VT to Washington, DC - via Springfield, Massachusetts) Amtrak Hartford Line (formerly known as the Springfield

Massachusetts Passenger Rail Network

MBTA Commuter Rail Service

Seasonal / Tourist Passenger Rail Services

Amtrak Services

Page 3: Improving the Massachusetts Passenger Rail Network · Vermonter (St. Albans, VT to Washington, DC - via Springfield, Massachusetts) Amtrak Hartford Line (formerly known as the Springfield

Massachusetts-based Amtrak Ridership

Over 3.3 million trips in FY 2018

More than 20% growth since 2010

Page 4: Improving the Massachusetts Passenger Rail Network · Vermonter (St. Albans, VT to Washington, DC - via Springfield, Massachusetts) Amtrak Hartford Line (formerly known as the Springfield

MassDOT Rail Acquisitions After 2010

Since 2010 MassDOT purchased ~184 Miles of Active ROW

Page 5: Improving the Massachusetts Passenger Rail Network · Vermonter (St. Albans, VT to Washington, DC - via Springfield, Massachusetts) Amtrak Hartford Line (formerly known as the Springfield

Rail Ownership Trends: 2015 Ownership

Page 6: Improving the Massachusetts Passenger Rail Network · Vermonter (St. Albans, VT to Washington, DC - via Springfield, Massachusetts) Amtrak Hartford Line (formerly known as the Springfield

Seasonal / Tourist Services

Page 7: Improving the Massachusetts Passenger Rail Network · Vermonter (St. Albans, VT to Washington, DC - via Springfield, Massachusetts) Amtrak Hartford Line (formerly known as the Springfield

Amtrak Services in Massachusetts

Amtrak Acela (Boston to Washington DC)

Northeast Regional (Boston to New York, New York)

Lake Shore Limited (Boston to Chicago, IL)

Downeaster (Boston to Brunswick, ME)

Vermonter (St. Albans, VT to Washington, DC - via Springfield, Massachusetts)

Amtrak Hartford Line (formerly known as the Springfield Shuttle)

Valley Flyer (newly extended service extension from Springfield to Greenfield)

Page 8: Improving the Massachusetts Passenger Rail Network · Vermonter (St. Albans, VT to Washington, DC - via Springfield, Massachusetts) Amtrak Hartford Line (formerly known as the Springfield

Knowledge Corridor - Background

To improve passenger rail service MA used a $72.8 M Federal grant and $37.2 M in state funds to purchase and upgrade the former PanAm Railways freight line between Springfield and East Northfield.

The resulting “Knowledge Corridor” provides a 23 minute time savings and a more direct route than the route that Amtrak had been using via Palmer and Amherst.

Page 9: Improving the Massachusetts Passenger Rail Network · Vermonter (St. Albans, VT to Washington, DC - via Springfield, Massachusetts) Amtrak Hartford Line (formerly known as the Springfield

Knowledge Corridor - Background

“Knowledge

Corridor” Route

(49 miles)

Former

Vermonter

Route (60 miles)

Page 10: Improving the Massachusetts Passenger Rail Network · Vermonter (St. Albans, VT to Washington, DC - via Springfield, Massachusetts) Amtrak Hartford Line (formerly known as the Springfield

New Stations

New stations have been created in Greenfield, Northampton and Holyoke

Northampton

Greenfield

Page 11: Improving the Massachusetts Passenger Rail Network · Vermonter (St. Albans, VT to Washington, DC - via Springfield, Massachusetts) Amtrak Hartford Line (formerly known as the Springfield

New Stations

Union Station at Springfield has been renovated providing parking, intercity and local bus, and Amtrak service

Page 12: Improving the Massachusetts Passenger Rail Network · Vermonter (St. Albans, VT to Washington, DC - via Springfield, Massachusetts) Amtrak Hartford Line (formerly known as the Springfield

Knowledge Corridor – Vermonter Service

Vermonter operates one round trip per day, 7 days a week.

Vermonter route is St Albans, VT to Washington, DC.

MA stops are Greenfield, Northampton, Holyoke, Springfield– Northampton is largest ridership (21,500 annual trips)

Page 13: Improving the Massachusetts Passenger Rail Network · Vermonter (St. Albans, VT to Washington, DC - via Springfield, Massachusetts) Amtrak Hartford Line (formerly known as the Springfield

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

FFY 2014 FFY 2015 FFY 2016 FFY 2017 FFY 2018

Annual Amtrak Vermonter Ridership atKnowledge Corridor Stations

Amherst (till 12/14) Greenfield Northampton Holyoke (start 8/15)

Knowledge Corridor – Current Service

14,124

29,69827,751

24,455

21,541

Page 14: Improving the Massachusetts Passenger Rail Network · Vermonter (St. Albans, VT to Washington, DC - via Springfield, Massachusetts) Amtrak Hartford Line (formerly known as the Springfield

Amtrak Hartford Line

In coordination with CT DOT – Amtrak Service (known as the Springfield Shuttle) increased from 4 to 7 daily round trips in June 2018 along with the initiation of CT Rail Hartford Line Service

Page 15: Improving the Massachusetts Passenger Rail Network · Vermonter (St. Albans, VT to Washington, DC - via Springfield, Massachusetts) Amtrak Hartford Line (formerly known as the Springfield

Amtrak Valley Flyer

Page 16: Improving the Massachusetts Passenger Rail Network · Vermonter (St. Albans, VT to Washington, DC - via Springfield, Massachusetts) Amtrak Hartford Line (formerly known as the Springfield

Amtrak Valley Flyer

2 year pilot service providing Greenfield, Northampton and Holyoke more frequent service to CT, NYC and beyond

Service started August 30, 2019 (Labor Day Weekend)

2 Southbound trips in AM – 6:10 AM & 8:00 AM departure from Northampton– 10:22 AM & 12:21 arrival in New York– Timed Transfer required in New Haven

2 Northbound trips in PM– 9:57 PM & 12:12 AM arrival in Northampton

Serves same stations in Massachusetts as the Vermonter (operating between VT and Washington, DC)

Page 17: Improving the Massachusetts Passenger Rail Network · Vermonter (St. Albans, VT to Washington, DC - via Springfield, Massachusetts) Amtrak Hartford Line (formerly known as the Springfield

Valley Flyer Opportunity

Demonstrate the overall demand for service, while detailed information regarding passenger market is collected

Provide immediate benefits without significant up front capital investment

Marketing – MassDOT has provided grant for marketing to Western Massachusetts

Regional Planning Agencies

– Amtrak will assist with national platform

Identified as successful if service carries 24,000 new riders annually (as compared to 29,698 in FFY18 for Vermonter)

Page 18: Improving the Massachusetts Passenger Rail Network · Vermonter (St. Albans, VT to Washington, DC - via Springfield, Massachusetts) Amtrak Hartford Line (formerly known as the Springfield

Valley Flyer Support