The real question is What should be happening with the Berkshire Line?
We have quite a few new subscribers so I thought I should publish an update on the train line that launched the Train Campaign back in 2011. I dragged my staff down to the tracks in our new Train Campaign tshirts—yes, so very 2011!
The photo at the top of this post shows what the same tracks look like today, after an investment by Massachusetts of over $50 million. They are ready for passenger service, yet neglected by the Commonwealth and failing to provide the service to residents and tourists that that investment was intended to provide. How can get get Berkshire (Housatonic) Line rolling again? A summary from 2025 and some links to other posts follow, including one about how we could get EV service running between Pittsfield and Canaan now.
What's happening with the Berkshire Line?
February 2025
Until 1971, the Berkshire Line (also known as the Housatonic Line) carried passengers from Grand Central Terminal through western Connecticut and on to Pittsfield. The tracks remain in place and have continued to be used as a freight line by the Housatonic Railroad Company (HRRC). The tracks and property right-of-way between the CT-MA border and Pittsfield were purchased for $13 million by the Commonwealth in 2014, under Gov Deval Patrick's leadership. The legislature also allotted $35 million to upgrade the 37 miles of rail line. Massachusetts also committed an additional $78.8 million to be funded when Connecticut also authorized funding for their portion of the Berkshire Line, another 37 miles.
The Commonwealth's contract with HRRC stated that the state's reason for the purchase was to restore passenger service: "The acquisition of the subject Railroad Assets is one step in what MassDOT anticipates will be an involved, multi-step process that ultimately will lead to the establishment of a new railroad passenger service route in the Northeast."
After Gov Patrick stepped down in early 2015, MassDOT downgraded the project, saying that they would not continue because Connecticut was facing major financial difficulties and did not consider the line a priority. Nonetheless, upgrade work began in July 2018, and MassDOT details the improvements made: "rehabilitation of 4 grade crossings, replacement of 45,000 ties over the entire 36 miles, 3 bridges will be replaced and 3 other bridges repaired and replacement of jointed rail with continuous welded rail." Over $50 million has now been spent, and the rail line in Berkshire County could support passenger service today.
And how about Connecticut? The current CT Rail Plan says the DOT will "study the feasibility" of expanded rail service and "update travel patterns for post-COVID. “There have been track and crossing upgrades in Canaan, and over $1 million was committed to study of track rehabilitation from Southeast to Danbury. There has been agitation for Metro-North service past Danbury to New Milford. These sections are part of the Berkshire Line. To paraphrase the late astronaut Neil Armstrong, "One small step to New Milford, and one giant leap towards passenger rail to the Berkshires.”
Imagine the CT Housatonic Line
A guest post by Connecticut resident Matt Silber. Train Time welcomes guest posts and podcast suggestions.
During the pandemic, we participated in a number of press conferences with Senator Markey, Congressman McGovern, and with Congressman Neal, talking about infrastructure investment in western Massachusetts.
Unfortunately, we've seen no leadership when it comes to the Berkshire Line, in part because coordinating across state lines seems to be too high a bar for most politicians. To date, over $50 million from MA taxpayers has been devoted to upgrading the line, but the only beneficiary at the moment is the privately owned Housatonic Railroad Company.
But in terms of infrastructure dollars, the Pittsfield-Grand Central service would be a small investment. The DOTs together with an efficient operator could take this shovel-ready project and get trains rolling again to Grand Central within a couple of years. Its return on investment would be higher than any rail project I have yet to see in the United States, whether regional or high speed.
Canaan-Pittsfield electric service now
In the autumn of 2021, I took a train to central Pennsylvania to see and ride Pop-Up Metro’s demonstration battery train that Train Campaign colleagues and I thought might be appropriate for the Berkshire Line. I discussed the prospect with Rep Smitty Pignatelli and with the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, and arranged a telephone meeting betwee…
Thanks to our sponsors and supporting subscribers!
Our emails to the DOTs
DOTS - Departments of Transportation - have a reputation for not answering citizen questions. Or reporters’ questions, for that matter.
All content in Train Time is shared under a Creative Commons License (CC BY-NC-ND):
Attribution (BY) – Always credit Train Time as the original creator with a tag or link to https://traintime.substack.com.
Non-Commercial (NC) – Content cannot be used for commercial purposes.
No Derivatives (ND) – Content may not be modified, adapted, or repurposed.