58-441: The Connecticut River Line (colloquially known as the Conn River Line ) is a railroad line owned by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), running between Springfield and East Northfield, Massachusetts . Freight rail service along the line is operated by Berkshire and Eastern Railroad , and passenger rail service is operated by Amtrak . The line is dispatched and operated on behalf of MassDOT by
116-880: A decrease of 1.8% from FY15. The Vermonter was preceded by an overnight train between Montreal and Washington that was known as the Montrealer , which was inaugurated in 1924 as a joint service of the Pennsylvania Railroad , the New Haven Railroad , the Boston & Maine Railroad , the Central Vermont Railway and the Canadian National Railway . Another train, the Ambassador , ran the same route during
174-457: A five-person board of directors which approves major decisions. The Department directly administers some operations, while others remain semi-autonomous. Formerly an independent state entity, which until 1992 even had its own uniformed police force for vehicular traffic law enforcement, the Registry of Motor Vehicles Division is now directly administered by MassDOT. It is the equivalent of
232-763: A pilot program. The service began August 31, 2019, and is operated under the Valley Flyer moniker. In October 2022, MassDOT and Amtrak announced that the Valley Flyer service had matched projected ridership and would be made permanent. All stations are located in Massachusetts. [REDACTED] Media related to Connecticut River Line at Wikimedia Commons Massachusetts Department of Transportation The Massachusetts Department of Transportation ( MassDOT ) oversees roads, public transit, aeronautics, and transportation licensing and registration in
290-646: A specialized "Auxiliary Power Vehicle" which will include a pantograph to collect power from overhead lines and will feed it to four traction motors in the car, and via a DC link cable, to the four traction motors in the locomotive. The arrangement will offer a near seamless transition between power sources at New Haven, a process that currently requires a time-consuming locomotive change. All classes of service include complimentary WiFi, an electric outlet (120 V, 60 Hz AC) at each seat, reading lamps, fold-out tray tables. Reservations are required on all trains, tickets may be purchased online, from an agent at some stations,
348-962: A ticketing machine at most stations, or, at a higher cost, from the conductor on the train. The Vermonter uses Amtrak and ConnDOT 's electrified Northeast Corridor line from Washington, D.C., to New Haven, Connecticut. After switching to a diesel locomotive at New Haven, it then uses the Amtrak-owned New Haven–Springfield Line north to Springfield, Massachusetts, and the MassDOT -owned Connecticut River Line between Springfield and Northfield, Massachusetts . From Northfield to St. Albans, Vermont, it traverses New England Central Railroad trackage. Weekend trains have an additional stop at Metropark station in Iselin, New Jersey . The Vermont Agency of Transportation offers discounted fares for travel between most Vermont stations along
406-466: Is forecast to incentivize an additional 31,100 to 40,900 riders per year by 2040. A key component to increasing the speed limit would be the installation of centralized traffic control from Greenfield to Brattleboro and from White River Junction to the border . Most Vermonter trains consist of five cars hauled by a locomotive . The passenger cars are the Amfleet I series passenger cars built by
464-549: Is not expected to start until after the preclearance agreement has been approved by both governments. Enabling legislation was enacted by the United States on December 16, 2016, as the Promoting Travel, Commerce, and National Security Act of 2016. As of late 2018, logistics have delayed the extended route's introduction until at least 2023. As of late 2021, according to Vermont transportation officials, while
522-669: Is privately operated. MassDOT is a member of the Northeast Corridor Commission . The Aeronautics Division, formerly the Massachusetts Aeronautics Commission, administers state financing of its airports; inspects and licenses airports and landing pads; registers aircraft based in Massachusetts as well as aircraft dealers, regulates airport security, safety, and navigation; and is responsible for statewide aviation planning. The Department of Transportation does not own any airports;
580-862: Is the staff of the Boston MPO and with which the MBTA contracts for planning assistance. The Highway Division accepts submissions for projects from its district offices and municipalities. The Accelerated Bridge Program is a bond bill signed into law by Governor Deval Patrick in August 2008, a year after the I-35W Mississippi River bridge collapse put the state's bridges in the spotlight. The $ 3 billion, 8-year accelerated bridge program will replace and rehabilitate around 270 bridges statewide. 300–500 additional bridges will be preserved to prevent further deterioration. As of September 1, 2015,
638-600: Is thus a net recipient of general state funds. Massachusetts has 10 regional metropolitan planning organizations : and three non-metropolitan planning organizations covering the remainder of the state: By law, all federal transportation grants must be allocated by the responsible MPO. Statewide planning and coordination of MPOs is handled by the Department of Transportation. CTPS is the Central Transportation Planning Staff, which
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#1732794144345696-547: The Berkshire and Eastern Railroad , a subsidiary of Genesee & Wyoming . The original line between Springfield and Northampton was built by the Northampton and Springfield Railroad (chartered in 1842) during the early 1840s. While the line was under construction, the rail company merged with another company building a line from Greenfield, Massachusetts , south to Northampton. The Connecticut River Railroad (CRRR)
754-693: The Budd Company in the mid-to-late 1970s. Most trains include an Amfleet club car which has a combination of Business Class seating with a Café (food service/lounge) and four Coach Class cars. Between St. Albans and New Haven, trains are pulled by a GE Genesis diesel locomotive at speeds up to 110 mph (177 km/h). Between New Haven and Washington, the service operates over the Northeast Corridor which has overhead electric wires and trains are pulled by Siemens ACS-64 electric locomotives at speeds up to 125 mph (201 km/h) In
812-670: The Central Vermont . This detour added an hour of running time, but at the time was judged more practical than seeking to use the direct route over the then-decayed former Boston and Maine Railroad trackage owned by the Guilford Rail System . The train travels from Washington to New Haven on the Northeast Corridor , where electric locomotives are substituted for the diesel locomotives used north of that location. Vermont declined to pay for continuing
870-781: The Department of Motor Vehicles in most states, and processes driver's licenses and motor vehicle registrations. All public transportation agencies are administered independently. However, the DOT board of directors is also the board of directors for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority , the major provider of public transportation in the Greater Boston area. The remaining 15 public transit authorities are called Regional Transit Agencies (RTAs), and they provide public bus services in
928-588: The Montrealer traveled on the Connecticut River Line between Springfield and Brattleboro with a stop in Northampton . Due to the deteriorating condition of the tracks in that section, Amtrak ceased service by the train. When the Vermonter service restored train service between Springfield's Union Station , Brattleboro and points north in 1995, the Vermonter traveled a somewhat-indirect route: east to Palmer, Massachusetts , and then north up
986-770: The Vermont and Massachusetts Railroad (which later became part of the Fitchburg Railroad ). The line became part of the Boston and Maine Corporation (B&M) in 1893 when the CRRR was acquired by the B&;M. In 1983 the line became part of Guilford Rail System (which later became Pan Am Railways). Pan Am Railways sold the line to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation in late 2014, but retained an exclusive common carrier freight easement over
1044-601: The Vermonter can be extended to Montreal, the United States Congress must pass enabling legislation for the preclearance agreement and the Parliament of Canada must ratify the agreement. Construction of a preclearance facility in Central Station is expected to take about three years: one year for planning and permitting and two years for construction. Construction of the preclearance facility
1102-456: The Vermonter to Montreal due to high labor and terminal costs in Montreal. For a time, Amtrak offered passengers a connecting Amtrak Thruway bus service, operated by Vermont Transit , which met the train at St. Albans for connections to and from Montreal. Ridership plunged when the train schedule was moved two hours earlier, requiring a southbound departure before 5:00 a.m. The schedule
1160-644: The daytime , but terminated in New York City. Both services used the Boston and Maine's Connecticut River Line south of Vernon, Vermont , rather than the route prior to 2014 over the New England Central . Amtrak took over the train in 1971, and continued operating it until 1995 (excepting a brief suspension from 1987 to 1989). The Vermonter replaced the Montrealer on April 1, 1995, bringing daytime Amtrak service to Vermont. Business Class
1218-422: The Connecticut River Line, Vermonter service was restored to it on December 29, 2014. With the re-route, the train ceased stopping at Amherst , but a stop was restored to Northampton and, for the first time for Amtrak, a stop at Greenfield was added. The re-route and consequent elimination of the backup move saved about 25 minutes of travel time between Springfield and Brattleboro when the line rehabilitation
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#17327941443451276-596: The Department of Transportation, but the Secretary of Transportation serves on the Massport board of directors. Massport owns and operates the maritime Port of Boston , Boston's Logan International Airport , Hanscom Field and Worcester Regional Airport , which was transferred from the City of Worcester in 2010. The Woods Hole, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority regulates all ferry services to and from
1334-571: The MBTA. Local cities and towns also receive vehicle excise tax revenues, and levy property taxes. Both state and municipal agencies can levy fines for parking and traffic violations. Article 78 (LXXVIII) of the Massachusetts Constitution says all motor vehicle fees and taxes (except registration excise tax in lieu of property tax), including fuel taxes, must be spent on transportation, including roads, mass transit, traffic law enforcement, and administration. Transportation
1392-619: The Massachusetts taxpayers approximately $ 1 million per year. It is not clear if MassDOT has paid taxes on the benefit or reported it to the Internal Revenue Service , or who would be responsible if a payment to the IRS is required. As an executive department, the Governor of Massachusetts appoints the state Secretary of Transportation, who is also the "chief executive officer" of the Department. The governor also appoints
1450-546: The US state of Massachusetts . It was created on November 1, 2009, by the 186th Session of the Massachusetts General Court upon enactment of the 2009 Transportation Reform Act. In 2009, Governor Deval Patrick proposed merging all Massachusetts transportation agencies into a single Department of Transportation. Legislation consolidating all of Massachusetts' transportation agencies into one organization
1508-527: The United States remains active on the project, interest and engagement from regional and federal authorities on the Canadian side has frozen. In 2021, VTrans looked into potential infrastructure upgrades that would allow the Vermonter to reach 79 mph (127 km/h) on sections in Vermont, up from 59 mph (95 km/h). Saving around 1 hour 30 minutes between New Haven and Montreal, this scenario
1566-543: The United States signed the "Agreement on Land, Rail, Marine, and Air Transport Preclearance Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Canada". The agreement would allow for the establishment of a preclearance customs and immigration facility within Central Station in Montreal that could be used by both an extended Vermonter and Amtrak's existing Adirondack train. Before
1624-423: The bridges to traffic faster. Some of these options for the projects are: As of September 2015, there were 198 active or completed contracts, including replacement or repair of the following bridges (some of which span multiple contracts): Vermonter (train) The Vermonter is a passenger train operated by Amtrak between St. Albans, Vermont , and Washington, D.C. , via New York City . It replaced
1682-414: The coming years all equipment will be replaced with Amtrak Airo trainsets, the railroad's branding of its combination of Siemens Venture passenger cars and a Siemens Charger diesel-electric locomotive. The trainsets for the Vermonter will have six passenger cars, which will include a food service area and a mix of 2x2 Coach Class and 2x1 Business Class seating. The car closest to the locomotive will be
1740-633: The east side of the Connecticut River via Amherst, Massachusetts . It used CSX Transportation 's Boston Subdivision between Springfield and Palmer. At Palmer, it made a backup move on to the New England Central Railroad (NECR), as no direct track connection existed. Massachusetts later rehabilitated the more-direct Connecticut River Line route with $ 10 million in state and $ 73 million in federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds. During rehabilitation of
1798-505: The four daily through trains for service to Holyoke, Northampton, South Deerfield, and Greenfield; limited Friday and Sunday service to serve college students was also retained. The Springfield–Greenfield sections of two daily through trains were dropped on April 29, 1962, leaving just two daily round trips – the Montrealer / Washingtonian and Ambassador . Those trains were cut on September 6, 1966, ending through passenger service over
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1856-498: The islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket , and also operates its own passenger, vehicle, and freight ferries. The Authority has an effective monopoly on car ferry service, but private companies operate various passenger routes. Transportation funding available to the state and its agencies include: The statewide budget included $ 919 million for transportation in FY2009, not including $ 797M in sales tax revenue dedicated to
1914-484: The largest potential customers, Yankee Candle , despite being on the other side of the road, receives wax shipments via truck from a competing railroad's depot further south. In order to shorten travel times on the Vermonter and add additional local service to the populated Connecticut River Valley, the Connecticut River Line was rebuilt with $ 73 million in federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 money and $ 10 million in state funds. The restoration work on
1972-478: The line and continued to maintain and dispatch the line under a contract with MassDOT. The Berkshire and Eastern Railroad took over Pan Am's operations on the line in September 2023. Several local trains were dropped during systemwide cuts on May 18, 1958. Most local service ended on June 14, 1959; stops at Brightwood, Riverside, Mount Tom, Whately, and Deerfield were dropped. Local passengers were allowed to use
2030-412: The line in Vermont from the Boston and Maine Railroad, but the train was rerouted over the Central Vermont Railway through Massachusetts and Connecticut to avoid the still-dilapidated Connecticut River Line, because Guilford Rail System refused to improve poor track conditions. A stop was added at Amherst to replace Northampton. The Montrealer was replaced by the daytime Vermonter in 1995, using
2088-501: The line included the replacement of about 95,000 ties ; installation of 49 miles (79 km) of new continuously welded rail; new active warning signals and crossing gates at 23 public grade crossings and four private crossings; upgrades to six bridges; and the first phase of a new signal installation. Restoration work began in August 2012 and was scheduled to be completed in 2016. A 100-person Norfolk Southern Railway work crew began major track work on July 7, 2014, intending to complete
2146-560: The line's upgrade over the summer. The arrival of the NS crew allowed the Pan Am crews, who had previously started the track work, to focus on grade crossings and other work on the line. Commuter rail service has been proposed for the corridor, running between Springfield and Greenfield with four daily round trips. A 2014 state transportation funding bill included $ 30 million for acquiring used MBTA Commuter Rail rolling stock and new locomotives for
2204-428: The line. Limited local service (one southbound Friday trip, and two Sunday round trips) between Springfield and Brattleboro lasted until later that year. In 1972, Amtrak began running the Montrealer along the line at night, stopping at Northampton but not Holyoke or Greenfield. The Montrealer was discontinued in 1987 due to poor track conditions on the line. Service resumed in 1989 after Amtrak seized control of
2262-482: The new Hartford Line commuter rail service. In March 2020, the Vermonter was truncated to New Haven as part of a reduced service plan due to the COVID-19 pandemic . The move was forced after the pandemic prompted Vermont Governor Phil Scott to declare a state of emergency. The Vermonter resumed its full route on July 19, 2021, with $ 1 promotional fares on that date for travel within Vermont. Until 1987,
2320-571: The number of Vermonter riders using the two new stations (in Northampton and Greenfield) was up 84 percent compared to the equivalent station in Amherst the previous year. An infill stop in Holyoke was added on August 27, 2015. On March 26, 2020, service north of New Haven was temporarily suspended. On November 30, 2020, service was cut back further from New Haven to New York . This
2378-565: The original route through Connecticut but still avoiding the Conn River Line in Massachusetts. Freight service along the Connecticut River line has for many years been operated by Pan Am Railways. In recent years the line has been operated at FRA Class I levels, with freight trains limited to a maximum speed of 10 miles per hour (16 km/h). Due to these conditions, there are only a few remaining online customers. One of
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2436-472: The overnight Montrealer , which terminated in Montreal until 1995. Amtrak receives funding from the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Vermont for Vermonter operations north of New Haven . During fiscal year 2023, the Vermonter carried 99,974 passengers (not including riders between New Haven and Washington, D.C.), a 14.5% increase from FY22. In FY16, the train earned $ 5,718,268 in revenue,
2494-514: The program has reduced the number of structurally deficient bridges to 408, from 543 in 2008. The program is paid for using bonds in anticipation of future federal transportation grants to be issued to the state. The MassDOT has called the Accelerated Bridge Program the "Laboratory of Innovation". Engineers on each project are invited to investigate other options to replace the bridges faster and more efficiently to reopen
2552-464: The purchase of diesel multiple unit (DMU) trainsets for use on the New Haven – St. Albans stretch of the line, with Amtrak offering a $ 2 million grant to help make the switch and market the new service. The new cars would purportedly have saved $ 4.25 million over three years, being four times more fuel efficient than a locomotive-hauled train. In 2008, the Vermont state legislature approved
2610-482: The purchase of five cars from Colorado Railcar at a cost of $ 18.2 million, but the company closed while the decision was awaiting approval of Governor Jim Douglas . With no other DMU designs available that were capable of operating in mixed traffic with other trains, the plan was dropped. On November 9, 2010, the State of Vermont, Amtrak, and New England Central began a $ 70 million project to increase train speeds along
2668-552: The remainder of the state. The regional transit authorities are: The regional transit authorities shown in italics above are within MBTA's commuter rail service area, and provide connections to MBTA trains. DOT retains oversight and statewide planning authority, and also has a Rail section within the Mass Transit Division. Intercity passenger trains are operated by the federally owned Amtrak , and freight rail
2726-486: The route in Vermont to 59 miles per hour (95 km/h) between St. Albans and White River Junction, Vermont , and to 79 miles per hour (127 km/h) between White River Junction and Vernon, Vermont . On October 5, 2012, the Federal Railroad Administration announced the completion of track work within the states of Vermont and New Hampshire for the above-mentioned stimulus plan. Within
2784-415: The service. On August 20, 2014, the state finalized a $ 17 million deal to purchase the line from Pan Am Southern. In 2014, following several years of planning and construction, the original mainline was restored to modern standards, with a maximum authorized speed of 79 miles per hour (127 km/h) for passenger trains on the long straight sections of track between Hatfield and Deerfield . The Vermonter
2842-799: The state-owned airports are controlled by the independent Massachusetts Port Authority (which shares its headquarters with the Aeronautics Division). Government regulation of aviation in the United States is dominated by the Federal Aviation Administration . Airline passenger and baggage screening is provided by the federal Transportation Security Administration , but airport security is provided locally. The 2009 reform law also created within MassDOT: The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) remains independent from
2900-405: The states of Vermont and New Hampshire 190 miles (310 km) of track were refurbished. The track work included installation of continuous welded rail , road-crossing improvements, ballast replacement, tie replacement, bridge repair and renovation, and embankment improvements. The top speed of the line within Vermont was increased to 79 miles per hour (127 km/h). The Massachusetts portion of
2958-646: The track work was completed in 2015. On October 5, 2015, the southbound Vermonter derailed in Northfield, Vermont , after striking a rock slide. Five cars and the engine derailed; the engine and an empty car slid down an embankment. Five passengers and two crew members were injured, one seriously. Starting June 9, 2018, the Vermonter no longer serves the Berlin and Wallingford stations in Connecticut. These locations are served by other Amtrak trains and by
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#17327941443453016-476: Was added to replace the sleeping cars that were taken out of service upon the change to the Vermonter . The route was changed to allow travelers from Vermont to again stop in Springfield and Hartford . This was made possible by the use of cab cars , or engineer positions on both ends, so that the train could travel east from Springfield to Palmer, Massachusetts , and reverse direction to continue north on
3074-436: Was completed, in early 2015. Although the backup move at Palmer is eliminated by the re-route, a short backup move at Springfield is still required due to the layout of the tracks. The tracks at Springfield Union Station run east-west, so the northbound Vermonter needs to curve into the station, back out, and switch back onto the tracks continuing north; the opposite move occurs for southbound trains. In January 2015,
3132-486: Was done in response to the COVID-19 pandemic . Service to St. Albans resumed on July 19, 2021. Efforts have been underway for many years to extend the Vermonter to Montreal. In 2012, the Federal Railroad Administration awarded $ 7.9 million to allow for the upgrade of the existing freight rail line between St. Albans and the Canada–US border. Work on this project was completed in late 2014. On March 16, 2015, Canada and
3190-530: Was rerouted to the line on December 29, 2014, stopping at Northampton and Greenfield . New handicapped-accessible platforms have been built at both of these stations. A station stop in Holyoke was added in the summer of 2015. In February 2016, Massachusetts Secretary of Transportation Stephanie Pollack said that MassDOT was looking at starting a pilot commuter service as early as 2017. In June 2018, Governor Charlie Baker announced that two Amtrak Shuttle round trips would be extended to Greenfield in 2019 as
3248-427: Was returned to its previous position, but the service was dropped by Vermont Transit (which had been running it without a subsidy as part of its regular schedule) on October 30, 2005. On October 30, 2006, the Vermonter began stopping at the towns of Wallingford and Windsor Locks (near Bradley International Airport ) in Connecticut for the first time. In the late 2000s, Amtrak and the State of Vermont considered
3306-540: Was signed into law on June 26, 2009. The newly established Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MASSDOT) assumed operations from the existing conglomeration of state transportation agencies on November 1, 2009. This change included: In June 2018, The Boston Globe reported 467 current and former Massachusetts Department of Transportation employees were using the E-ZPass transponders for free. This employee benefit , that has been going on since at least 2009, costs
3364-653: Was then formed in 1845 by the merger of the Northampton and Springfield Railroad with the Greenfield and Northampton Railroad . The line opened between Springfield and Northampton in 1845 and by the following summer was extended to Deerfield , and then to Greenfield in November 1846. In 1849, the line was extended further north to the Massachusetts - Vermont state line, where it met the Brattleboro line of
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