A long-awaited upgrade to the north-south Amtrak line through the Pioneer Valley starts running next week. But work on the tracks is not complete, and the project’s total cost is uncertain.
Amtrak’s Vermonter trains will shift to the new line on Monday, but construction will be ongoing through 2016, according to state rail spokesperson Kelly Smith. She says most of the remaining work is to allow passenger and freight trains to run simultaneously. Only one passenger train will run in each direction per day, at least for now.
“We have to see what the demand is, and if demand is growing, then I think Amtrak would be ready to meet those needs, but that’s a decision Amtrak has to make,” says Smith.
Smith says the line is being built to handle possible commuter rail service in the future, but no decision has been made on that.
The project was pushed forward by close to $80 million in federal stimulus funds. Smith says the price tag will be much higher.
“It’s looking as if the total will be somewhere around $130 million, but the cost won’t be final until all the work is completed,” Smith says.
The upgrades completed so far will allow the Vermonter to stop in Northampton and Greenfield, with a stop in Holyoke planned to open later next year.