City

All aboard: $108 million grant coming for key rail infrastructure

The Bay State will receive a federal grant to make key improvements to increase speed and frequency.

By Jessica Burton
, September 22, 2023
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Nextdoor
  • Email

Massachusetts will receive $108 million in federal funds for rail infrastructure upgrades.

Photo by @rome_photography257

Governor Maura Healey and officials from MassDOT + Amtrak announced that Massachusetts has been awarded a $108 million grant for key rail infrastructure upgrades that will allow faster, more frequent passenger train service between Springfield and Boston.

Earlier this year, MassDOT applied for a federal grant through the USDOT’s Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvement program.

Here’s how the money will be spent:

  • Upgrade tracks and signals to meet federal standards for a “Class 4" railroad for rail trips between Boston and Springfield. Read: The Amtrak trains will be able to run at speeds up to 80 mph and reduce the time to ~2 hours and 10 minutes.
  • Add another passing track for the route to allow more trains to use the corridor. Currently, about 12 trains share the ~54 miles between Worcester and Springfield.
  • Upgrade bottlenecks on the 54-mile section of railroad that from Worcester to Springfield.
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Nextdoor
  • Email
Jessica Burton
Jess is based in Boston, MA and when she isn’t creating content, you’ll find her at one of the local breweries, walking her dogs on the Esplanade, or attending a concert. After graduating from the University of Florida, she moved to Columbia, SC where she worked at various nonprofit organizations + was a City Editor for COLAtoday before relocating to launch BOStoday in 2021.