Activists are working to make Amtrak service between Springfield and Boston faster, more frequent, and cheaper. Thanks to their work, Amtrak is set to go much faster between the Valley and New York City starting in January 2018.

In addition to Springfield, Amtrak stops in Brattleboro, Greenfield, Northampton, and Holyoke. Activists are also working to increase the frequency of Amtrak service within the Valley. They have a web site at www.TrainsInTheValley.org.

"Fast, frequent, reliable train service between Springfield and Boston could transform our economy and create thousands of new jobs for western Massachusetts families," state Senator Eric Lesser told the Valley Post on July 29. He lives in the town of Longmeadow, which borders Springfield.

Fixing Amtrak between Springfield and Boston will be expensive, but so are roads, Abe Zumwalt told the Valley Post on July 29. He works for the National Association of Railroad Passengers. “The government has subsidized transportation since the 1790s,” he said. “It's just a question of whether we want to prioritize roads or rail.”

Traveling by train is better for the environment, and safer. That's according to:

www.foe.co.uk/sites/default/files/downloads/travelling_rail_better.pdf

The trip from the Valley to New York City on Amtrak is set to get at least 35 minutes faster in January 2018, according to:

www.nhhsrail.com/objectives/expanded_network.aspx

In California, construction is underway on new Amtrak train tracks between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Trains there will travel at up to 200 mph. Details are at www.hsr.ca.gov.