MassDOT Breaks Ground on $31 Million Pittsfield Track Project

Massachusetts has committed $31 million to track capacity work in Pittsfield, and construction has now begun. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) broke ground on rail infrastructure improvements that will support permanent seasonal Berkshire Flyer service, improve reliability for passenger and freight trains, and lay the groundwork for expanded passenger rail in Western Massachusetts.

The project builds on an agreement announced earlier this month between MassDOT and CSX, the freight railroad that owns and dispatches the affected infrastructure. Since launching in 2022, the Berkshire Flyer has run seasonal weekend passenger rail service between New York City and Pittsfield.

"People in Western Massachusetts deserve better rail connections, and we're making real progress to deliver them," said Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey. "Now, we're investing in the infrastructure needed to make this service a permanent seasonal option and move our broader West-East Rail plans forward."

What will actually be built?

Two physical elements anchor the scheme:

• Construction of a passing track in Richmond, near the Pittsfield border, which allows trains travelling in opposite directions to cross on a single-track line rather than waiting at signals
• Track upgrades at CSX's Pittsfield Yard

A passing track is the operative piece. On a corridor shared by freight and passenger movements, the ability to pass determines how many trains a route can carry and how reliably each one arrives. MassDOT has placed $31 million for the Pittsfield Track Capacity Project in its fiscal year 2027–2031 Capital Investment Plan. The department is also studying the feasibility of a second passenger platform at Pittsfield Station to further improve rail operations and accessibility.

"Today's groundbreaking in Pittsfield represents an important step forward in that commitment," said MassDOT Interim Secretary and Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority General Manager Phil Eng, who framed the Berkshire Flyer as a service "about expanding access to jobs, supporting local businesses and creating new opportunities for economic growth throughout the region."

How does CSX fit in?

The work sits on freight railroad territory, which makes the public-private structure central to the story. MassDOT Rail and Transit Administrator Meredith Slesinger tied the groundbreaking to Compass Rail, the state's plan for expanding the Commonwealth's passenger rail network.

"Our collaboration over the last several years is resulting in major investments in the passenger and freight rail network and is a true model for what a public-private partnerships can accomplish," Slesinger said.

CSX Senior Director of Passenger Rail Operations Andy Daly said the improvements "will support safe, reliable passenger service while preserving the efficient freight operations that support regional businesses, communities, and economic growth." That framing reflects the standard tension in shared-corridor projects: passenger additions must not degrade freight performance, and the passing track exists largely to manage that trade-off.

Where does this sit in the wider rail plan?

The Pittsfield work is one component of a larger funding effort. Since taking office, the Healey-Driscoll Administration has secured $108 million in federal funding for track improvements between Worcester and Springfield to support future Inland Route service connecting Boston, Springfield and New Haven. The Inland Route (the first phase of the broader West-East Rail concept) is scheduled to begin two daily Amtrak round trips in 2030.

Fleet investment runs in parallel. Amtrak has been awarded approximately $2 billion through the Federal Railroad Administration's National Railroad Partnership Program for additional Siemens Airo trainsets. Those trains are expected to serve the Berkshire Flyer and the planned Inland Route, alongside other Amtrak services nationally. The Airo trainsets are designed with spacious seating, power outlets, 5G Wi-Fi, bike storage, improved accessibility and updated passenger information systems.

Amtrak Vice President of Planning and State Partnerships Nicole Bucich said the Pittsfield Station improvements show the administration's commitment to "ensuring it is the best way to get to the Berkshires over the summer," adding that Amtrak looks forward to the ribbon cutting "when our customers can begin enjoying the benefits from these improvements."

What does this change for riders? In the near term, nothing yet — the groundbreaking marks the start of construction, not service. Once complete, the work converts the Berkshire Flyer from a pilot-style seasonal offering into a permanent one, and adds the physical capacity that any future Western Massachusetts service expansion would require.