Springfield to Worcester

The current rail line between Springfield and Worcester is owned by CSX and is used primarily for movement of freight. Passenger rail service is clearly a secondary use of the track. At this time the only passenger train utilizing the line is the Amtrak Lake Shore Limited. This track is near capacity. It is an important freight corridor and thus any passenger service will always have to share track time with freight service.

We can divide this section of the line into three portions, Springfield to Palmer, Palmer to Auburn and Auburn to Worcester. The Trans Mass Tunnel #1 would bypass the Palmer to Auburn section.

The first and third sections are short, relatively level and straight, it is the second section that hinders any increase in speed or capacity. This section is a slow, crooked rail line built in the 19th century. For most of the way it borders the Quaboag river. It is a single-track line that runs through rural residential areas. Any enlargement and improvement of this section involves major hurdles of land taking, work within the buffer zone of a river, work within wetlands, and work within protected Natural Habitats. It would require permitting from at least (6) separate municipalities. It would have substantial impact on and objection from track abutters.

You can see by the above cross section that the TMT#1 would not only avoid the snakelike layout of this section but also the substantial elevation changes

The worst part of the existing plans is that even if this section were improved it would never permit any high-speed trains due to its snakelike layout.

If the goal is high speed intercity rail (and why bother if not), then this section of the line must be bypassed. The cost, in both dollars, environmental and social disruption would make any new above ground rail right of way out of the question.

The answer is the Trans Mass Tunnel #1.

Springfield/Palmer Portal Options

Heading from Springfield to Boston the train would utilize the existing rail right of way between Springfield and Palmer. Upgrading this section per any of the other committee alternatives.

At Palmer the rail line would go underground.

There are several options for locating a tunnel portal in Palmer. The Route 67 location is the shortest tunnel option and thus the lower cost option. The two Route 20 options have more tunnel (approximately 5-6 miles) and thus more cost but also allow higher speeds to be carried for a longer distance. Further a new station at the Mass Pike would service not only the Palmer area and Route 32 corridor, it would pull a substantial amount of traffic off the Mass Pike.

The Route 67 portal option would utilize the existing Palmer Rail Station while the other options would require a new Palmer Station. The Route 67 option would have more shared track with freight operations and would require upgrading the existing station. A parking garage would be needed, and the location of the existing station would not be as accessible as a new station at the Mass Pike. Each option would have to be examined to determine their respective viability and cost.

New Palmer Rail Station

A new rail station at Palmer would be constructed under ground between the east and west bound rail tunnels. The station would be approximately 50 - 100 feet below the Mass Pike and the Palmer exit ramps. Directly above would be a 2500-5000 car parking garage that would be built within and above the current taking for the Mass Pike off ramps.

With direct access, this would pull Worcester and Boston bound traffic off the Pike. It would also pull traffic off Route 32, from both the north and south of Palmer, before it got onto the Mass Pike.

Once entering the TMT#1 at Palmer the rail tunnel continues beneath the Massachusetts Turnpike to the intersection of the Mass Pike and Route 84. Here it would rise closer to the surface where a Maintenance and Emergency Access Facility would be constructed.

Route 84 Maintenance Facility:

The Maintenance and Emergency Access Facility would be built between and under the Mass Pike and Route 84 off ramps. This would be constructed so it could be converted to a regular passenger station in the future.

Any future station would be similar to the Palmer Station in that it would have a parking garage above and could be directly accessed from both the Mass Pike and Route 84. This would take east bound traffic off Route 84 before it reached the Mass Pike.

The TMT would continue beneath the Mass Pike until it reached Auburn where it would surface through an exit portal back onto existing rail rights of way.

Worcester Portal Options:

There are several options for locating a tunnel portal in Auburn. Each one has its advantages and disadvantages. The Dark Brook Reservoir location is the shortest option and thus the lower cost option. The Route 290/St John Cemetery and Route 146/ Millbury options have more tunnel (approximately 5 miles) and thus more cost but also allow higher speeds to be carried for a longer distance.

The Route 146 option would also permit another future station at the intersection of the Mass Pike and Route 146 in Millbury if it was found to be important. This would pull traffic off Route 146 before it reached the Mass Pike. Route 290 traffic could get off on Route 20 and go east to the station or get on the Mass Pike to reach it. It would be a similar station to Palmer with direct access from both the Mass Pike and Route 146. The station would be underground with a parking garage above.

Worcester Union Station:

Service would run on the existing track right of way from the Auburn portal to Union Station. Union Station has been completely refurbished and except for the need for more platforms, it is ready for additional train service. The TMT#2 would go underground through an entrance portal just east of the station in the CSX Intermodal Terminal.

Though more expensive, the entrance portal could be placed to the west of Union Station. A new station then could be constructed beneath Union Station. This would avoid disruption of the CSX terminal and the existing local passenger rail service to Boston which would continue to use the existing platforms.