The Inland Route is an intercity passenger rail service between Boston and New Haven, CT with intermediary stops in Framingham, Worcester, and Springfield. The route is a component of West-East Rail, and it represents the first expansion of intercity passenger rail services within the Compass Rail vision.
In September 2023, MassDOT was awarded a $108 million grant from the Federal Railroad Administration's (FRA) Consolidated Rail Infrastructure Safety and Investments (CRISI) Program. Together with matching funds from MassDOT and Amtrak, it is a $135 million project. Through this project, MassDOT, Amtrak, and host railroad CSX will collaborate to construct track improvements between Worcester and Springfield that will enable two daily passenger rail trips along the Inland Route without negative impacts to freight rail.
As a first step in the project, MassDOT, Amtrak, and CSX coordinated to develop a simulation model of the Boston & Albany rail line. By simulating service patterns and growth scenarios, the partnership has identified the infrastructure projects to be designed and built with grant funds.
Project timeline:
- 2024-25: Begin design
- 2027: Begin construction
- 2029-30: Complete construction and begin operations
September 2025 update
MassDOT officially executed its federal grant on January 15, 2025. The scope of work under the grant includes design and construction of capital projects between Springfield and Worcester that will create the corridor capacity necessary to introduce new passenger rail service that will not negatively impact freight operations. This project will result in two daily passenger rail round trips along the Inland Route. With grant funds now available, MassDOT has advanced the contracting and federally required documentation necessary to move the project’s components into design.
The following graphic depicts the collection of projects to be completed through the Early Actions for the Inland Route project.
The project's primary capital components are described below.
I-ETMS (PTC) Installation on MBTA Worcester Line
This project component includes installing the Interoperable Electronic Train Management System (I-ETMS) Positive Train Control (PTC) on the MBTA operated segment of the Boston & Albany corridor. PTC systems are designed to prevent train-to-train collisions, over-speed derailments, incursions into established work zones, and movements of trains through switches left in the wrong position. This PTC overlay allows CSX to eliminate the need to swap locomotives due to PTC type thus reducing train congestion on the mainline.
North Grafton Siding and Wye Track
This Project component includes construction of an approximately 1.6-mile siding in North Grafton and a new 600-foot wye track/ yard lead between the new siding and the existing Grafton & Upton Railroad’s North Grafton Yard. These improvements will reduce train dwell time on the mainline corridor.
Cab Signal Removal – Worcester to Schodack, NY
This Project component includes removal of the cab signal system between Worcester and Schodack, NY and replacement with intermediate wayside signals.
Track Speed Improvements – Worcester to Springfield
This project component includes a program of improvements to increase track speed between Worcester and Springfield by increasing track class in certain segments in conjunction with track renewal activities (new ties, rail, and ballast), increasing track superelevation along specific curves, replacing turnouts to realign the diverging direction, and making signal changes where required.
Mainline Double Track
This Project component includes construction of three segments of double track:
- 2.4 miles to the west of Worcester
- 3.7 miles to the west of East Brookfield
- 3.1 miles to the east of Springfield
The double tracking components will include associated improvements to crossovers, turnouts, a signaling where necessary. The added capacity afforded by these segments will increase the number of trains that can safely operate on the corridor.
Project design
Project design is now underway, and it is expected to continue for two years. MassDOT will advance the various project components through multiple parallel design efforts that seek to maximize efficiency and respect the varying ownership of impacted properties. In tandem with the design effort, MassDOT will complete the project’s environmental review process in consultation with the FRA in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).