Draft:Compass Rail
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Last edited by OrdinaryScarlett (talk | contribs) 5 months ago. (Update) |
| Overview | |
|---|---|
| Service type | Inter-city rail |
| Status | Proposed |
| Locale | Massachusetts, United States |
| Current operator(s) | Amtrak (Proposed) |
Compass Rail is a proposed initiative by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) to expand and improve intercity passenger rail service across Central and Western Massachusetts. The proposal envisions Springfield Union Station as the central hub, linking north-south and east-west rail corridors. The project includes improved rail routes between Boston and Albany, New York, as well as expanded services to New Haven, Connecticut, and northward through the Connecticut River Valley. The proposed Boston-Albany service, known as East-West Passenger Rail, is a central component of Compass Rail.
A central aspect of the Compass Rail proposal is the restoration of Amtrak's Inland Route between New Haven and Boston (a service previously discontinued in 2004), which will provide faster travel times between Boston and Springfield, complementing existing Amtrak services like the Valley Flyer, Vermonter, and the Amtrak Hartford Line. The plan also includes infrastructure upgrades to support new routes and increase the capacity of the rail system west of Worcester.
The Compass Rail terminology was first publicly outlined by MassDOT on October 18, 2023, as a branding measure to consolidate statewide intercity rail initiatives under one comprehensive label. The "compass" metaphor refers to the concept of north-south and east-west rail corridors converging in Springfield, facilitating travel in all cardinal directions. Additionally, the term "compass" is meant to be a portmanteau of the words "Commonwealth" and "passenger". The broader regional vision for Compass Rail is part of MassDOT’s efforts to align with specifications under the Federal Railroad Administration’s Corridor I.D. program, which provides funding and planning assistance for the development of intercity rail corridors.
Background
[edit]Improvements to rail services in Western Massachusetts have been proposed for over forty years. Passenger rail