Union Station News
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.
The funds will be used to complete the design for the Springfield Area Track Reconfiguration Project including track, signal, and infrastructure improvements at Springfield Union Station to increase rail capacity and reduce congestion
“This award moves us one step closer to making West-East Rail a reality. By making these critical upgrades at Springfield’s Union Station, we’ll be able to expand rail capacity and ensure smoother service across Western Massachusetts,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Our team at MassDOT and our entire administration has been aggressively competing for every opportunity to bring home federal dollars to our communities, and we keep winning. I’m grateful to the Biden-Harris Administration for their continued investment in Massachusetts’ transportation infrastructure and to our Congressional delegation for their strong partnership.”
“This CRISI award is a major boost to our mission to improve our transportation infrastructure across our state and improve quality of life,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “We’re excited for riders to see the impacts of this grant with more frequent service and shorter travel times. We’re continuing to make important progress in our efforts to build West-East Rail, and we’re going to continue moving forward together.”
“East-West rail will fundamentally transform the Massachusetts economy,” said Senator Elizabeth Warren. “Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration and Congressional Democrats, this investment will help Springfield’s residents and visitors travel faster and safer, while moving us closer to a rail system that connects our Commonwealth.”
“We are reminded just how significant an achievement the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was as we celebrate nearly $70 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation coming to western Massachusetts,” said Congressman Richard Neal. “Just one year ago, I joined Governor Healey at Springfield Union Station to announce a $108 million CRISI grant to support West/East Rail. Today, we celebrate yet another CRISI grant totaling $36.8 million to support the Springfield Area Track Reconfiguration Project. This funding will increase capacity and improve efficiency at Springfield Union Station, preparing for what USDOT has described as ‘anticipated growth in regional rail service.’ In other words, the reality of West/East Rail.”
“This is a wonderful development for the advancement of West-East Rail, and a testament to the importance of the Springfield Area Track Reconfiguration Project,” said Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt. “I applaud our Rail and Transit Division for continuing to make a strong case for the projects that will deliver enhanced connectivity that will benefit rural and urban communities across the Commonwealth.”
“The track and station enhancements in Springfield are an essential component of the planned long-term transformation of our rail network,” said MassDOT Rail and Transit Administrator Meredith Slesinger. “Our passenger rail vision elevates Union Station as a major New England hub, with improved connections to destinations at a number of our neighboring states.”
by Union Station
2nd Annual Track-or-Treat at Union Station
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