Union Station News
by Nicole Sweeney
Amtrak Reports 30% Growth on the New Haven-Springfield Line
SPRINGFIELD -- Amtrak’s New Haven-Springfield shuttle trains carried 577,133 riders in its most recent fiscal year, a 30.6% increase from the 441,943 it carried in the 2023 fiscal year, according to ridership statistics the passenger railroad released this week.
It was nearly the biggest ridership jump by percentage across Amtrak’s system in fiscal 2024, the Pacific Surfliner in southern California jumped 30.8%.
Amtrak reports 30% growth on the New Haven-Springfield line - masslive.com
by Nicole Sweeney
Union Station Prepares for Busy Holiday Weekend
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – One of the busiest holiday travel weeks has just begun, and many are choosing to go by rail or bus to get to their Thanksgiving destination.
22News learned what travelers need to know if they plan to go by rail before and after the holiday, and these travelers arriving at Springfield Union Station did just that the Monday night before Thanksgiving—the calm before the storm of one of the busiest weeks for holiday travel.
“You have to try to leave early, try to plan, get the flex tickets if you can,” says Matt from New York City. “I got those and it helped us out.” Whether it’s by bus or rail, Union Station in Springfield is prepared for the nearly 20,000 passengers who will pass through the doors here for the holidays this year.
The two busiest travel days are expected to be November 27th—-the day before Thanksgiving, and December 1st—the Sunday after.
The property manager of Springfield Union Station Nicole Sweeney says unlike Grand Central or South Station, you don’t have to be at Union Station hours ahead. “We are pretty small and easy to navigate, so 45 minutes to a half hour is generally plenty, if you already have your ticket, to get here & get comfortable and then catch your ride.”
by Nicole Sweeney
West-East Rail, a project underway to offer commuters service between western Massachusetts to Boston has reached a new milestone.
The Healey-Driscoll Administration announced the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has been awarded $36.8 million from the Federal Railroad Administration’s (FRA) Fiscal Year 2024 Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant program.
by Nicole Sweeney
The Richard E. Neal Cybersecurity Center of Excellence in Springfield Opens at Union Station
The Richard E. Neal Cybersecurity Center of Excellence is the newest addition to Union Station in Springfield. The 6,000-square-foot center will be a hub in western Massachusetts for advancing cyber security awareness, education, innovation, and battling global security threats. The center is in collaboration with Springfield Technical Community College (STCC).
Cybersecurity center at Union Station in Springfield (wwlp.com)
by Nicole Sweeney
Operation Railsafe
August 29th was Operation Railsafe Day at Union Station. Amtrak Police Department's Railsafe program coordinates & integrates the response from Amtrak Police and their partners like the Springfield Police Department MA State Police & other first responders, to improve the security of passengers, employees, and infrastructure from acts of terrorism. So, if you're here, be sure and tell Greg the dog what a very good boy he is!
by Nicole Sweeney
All Aboard for Kids on Track at Union Station
On Aug. 3 and 4, the Amherst Railway Society, CTrail and Springfield’s Union Station partnered to bring Kids On Track - a model railroad show - to Union Station.
The two-day show - held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day - featured operating model railroads set up in the Union Station concourse. In addition, families were able to enjoy a special roundtrip train ride between Springfield and Hartford provided by CTrail.
All aboard for Kids on Track at Union Station (Photos) - masslive.com
by Union Station
Springfield's Cybersecurity Center Promises Students 'Hands-On Experience with Real-World Problems'
SPRINGFIELD — Recent headlines reinforce the need for the newly named Richard E. Neal Cybersecurity Center of Excellence: how a cyberattack hobbled the payment system widely used in health care, concerns over election integrity and hackers who target older adults.
“If you talk about a growth industry,” U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D- Springfield, said Tuesday during a tour of the $5 million center now under construction within the city’s rail hub Union Station. “Springfield Technical Community College is so well positioned on this very issue.”
by Union Station
Local Non-Profit Spreads Joy with Sixth annual Coach Claus Toy Giveaway at Union Station
The spirit of giving illuminated Union Station as I Found Light Against All Odds (IFLAAO) hosted its sixth annual Coach Claus Toy Giveaway, bringing joy to hundreds of children in the Springfield community.
by Union Station
Union Station Lights Springfield-Inspired Christmas Tree
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Union Station held its annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony decorated with iconic landmarks representing Springfield.
This year’s theme is “Welcome Home, Springfield”, with a 15-foot tree on display that has a bent top that resembles Whoville’s iconic “Mount Crumpit” in the book by Dr. Seuss, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” It even has Grinch’s hands poking out.
by Union Station
Track-or-Treat takes Halloween to Two Cities by Rail
SPRINGFIELD — Imagine the main concourse of Union Station festooned with nearly 200 tiny versions of every cartoon character, Disney princess and Star Wars good guys (no one likes the bad guys) — even the smallest Springfield firefighter. The very first Track or Treat Halloween celebration hit Springfield, with a reprise just down the track in Hartford.
by Union Station
$108 Million Federal Grant Means 2-Hour Train Ride Between Springfield & Boston Possible
Amtrak and MassDOT are promising two-hour train trips to Boston from Springfield, once track improvements paid for by a $108 million federal grant are complete.
by Union Station
Everett ‘Andy’ Anderson says staying focused allowed him to drive 4 million miles accident-free
MASSLIVE: SPRINGFIELD — Chairman and CEO of Peter Pan Bus Lines Peter A. Picknelly playfully greeted driver Everett L. ‘Andy’ Anderson Monday, asking him: “You didn’t get into an accident on the way over here, did you? Because that would be bad.”
by Union Station
Richard Neal celebrates $3 million for Cybersecurity center at Springfield Union Station
MASSLIVE: SPRINGFIELD — U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal announced a $3 million earmark Tuesday funding the Cybersecurity Center of Excellence at Springfield Union Station.
by Union Station
SCI-TECH CHORUS PERFORMS “BELIEVE” AT SPRINGFIELD UNION STATION’S ANNUAL TREE LIGHTING
Springfield students decked the halls at Springfield Union Station, with joyful music for the second annual holiday tree lighting. The historic concourse was filled with holiday cheer as U.S. Rep. Richard Neal and Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno assisted in lighting the tree and kicking off the holiday travel season. The Sci-Tech high-school choir, under the direction of Dr. Jose Passalacqua, performed “Believe” from The Polar Express.
Read more … SCI-TECH CHORUS PERFORMS “BELIEVE” AT SPRINGFIELD UNION STATION’S ANNUAL TREE LIGHTING