Citizens for a Palmer Rail Stop

Citizens for a Palmer Rail Stop We are advocates for train service to Palmer, and public transportation in the Quaboag Valley region. Intercity bus service to Palmer ceased several years ago.

The Quaboag region of Central and Western Massachusetts is located between Worcester and Springfield, and home to two of the state's most successful freight rail corridors running east-west and north-south, intersecting at Union Station in Palmer. Amtrak's Lake Shore Limited passes through Palmer on its way between Boston and Chicago, but does not stop. Local towns, including Monson, Wilbraham, Be

lchertown, and Ware are not connected to each other by regular bus routes. The Citizens for a Palmer Rail Stop advocate for the restoration of public transportation to the Quaboag region. We call on the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) to implement the Recommended Alternative as outlined in the July 2016 Service Development Plans of the Northern New England Intercity Rail Initiative (NNEIRI). The NNEIRI study recommends construction of a new station at Palmer costing $12-14 million. Eight trains a day will stop at Palmer as part of new passenger service between Boston and New Haven. Palmer will also be a stop on daily train service between Boston and Montreal. Fast and frequent intercity passenger rail service in Palmer is the first step to addressing transportation inequities in Central and Western Massachusetts. Palmer station will serve as a hub for Quaboag area public transit. Join with us to bring passenger rail service back to the Town of Seven Railroads!

Good news: Start date for the two, daily, round trip trains from Boston to Springfield: 2030.Bad news: Projected Palmer ...
04/23/2026

Good news: Start date for the two, daily, round trip trains from Boston to Springfield: 2030.
Bad news: Projected Palmer station completion date: 2033.

MassDOT plans to add new west-east Amtrak train service from Springfield to Boston in 2030. But it doesn't plan on opening a train station in Palmer until 2033.

After Amtrak broke ridership records in 2025, the White House is proposing cuts of 13.5%, despite bipartisan congression...
04/05/2026

After Amtrak broke ridership records in 2025, the White House is proposing cuts of 13.5%, despite bipartisan congressional support, while funding for the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail (FSP) Program would be eliminated completely.

The Trump Administration's FY27 budget request is not very kind to public transit and passenger rail but, when you add in the soon-to-be expiring advanced appropriations of the IIJA, there is a looming cliff approaching.

Read our full press release here: https://twp.ai/4ix0hx

Worth watching for those interested in the Palmer Station project. Thank you Rep. Smola for continuing to push our state...
03/16/2026

Worth watching for those interested in the Palmer Station project. Thank you Rep. Smola for continuing to push our state officials to move it forward to final design and construction.

Rep. Smola questions MassDOT officials about use of Fair Share funds to advance final design and construction of the future Palmer passenger rail station. In...

03/12/2026

Once again, Senator Jake Oliveira goes to bat for the future Palmer passenger rail station. Thank you, Jake!

First look at Palmer Amtrak station design! Please send questions and comments to MassDOT’s Andy Koziol at andrew.m.kozi...
10/10/2025

First look at Palmer Amtrak station design! Please send questions and comments to MassDOT’s Andy Koziol at [email protected]

See MassDOT’s design for the Palmer Amtrak station in this video of Tuesday’s meeting at PHS. Please send your comments...
10/08/2025

See MassDOT’s design for the Palmer Amtrak station in this video of Tuesday’s meeting at PHS. Please send your comments and questions concerning the design to Andy Koziol, West-East Rail Director, at [email protected]

Palmer rail station presentation and meeting held on 10/07/2025 at Palmer High School.Web: www.M-Pact.tvFacebook: Facebook.com/MPactTV

Should the future Palmer Amtrak station have a restroom?—Will the parking area accommodate food trucks?—Do you have idea...
10/05/2025

Should the future Palmer Amtrak station have a restroom?—Will the parking area accommodate food trucks?—Do you have ideas for local art or architectural themes that could be incorporated?

Q&A with MassDOT Compass Rail Director Andy Koziol and design team
PALMER HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 5:30-7:30

On Tuesday, October 7 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Palmer High School Auditorium, MassDOT will present a conceptual design...
09/19/2025

On Tuesday, October 7 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Palmer High School Auditorium, MassDOT will present a conceptual design for the new Palmer passenger rail station. Open to the public; Q&A following the presentation. If unable to attend, submit comments & questions to [email protected]

The meeting presentation will also be available after the meeting on the study website. https://www.mass.gov/info-details/palmer-station-planning-design

The proposed new passenger rail station will enhance mobility and connectivity, support local planning goals, and drive economic development.

08/25/2025

The funding will be used to develop a service development plan examining the feasibility of a Boston-to-Albany intercity passenger rail route.

03/07/2025

Check out this illustrated description of Palmer’s future train station location, including a breakdown of why the historic location couldn’t be used. https://trainsinthevalley.org/ -station-site

Address

60 Buckland Street
Palmer, MA
01069

Telephone

+14132832141

Website

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