Greenfield looks to revive Northern Tier Rail line

GREENFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Fourty municipalities in Western and Central Massachusetts vouched for the revival of the Northern Tier Rail line.

Franklin County residents and officials gathered Monday to show their support for the Northern Tier Rail line. This rail line would connect North Adams, Shelburne Falls, and Greenfield to Eastern Massachusetts. Senator Jo Comerford told 22News how this benefits everyone involved.

"This can be a win-win. A win for us here in Western Massachusetts and Central Massachusetts and the Berkshires and it's a win for Boston and the entire state," said Comerford.

The rail line hasn't run towards the Boston area since the late 1950s, but overwhelming support has now been pushed to the governor's desk.

"I mean really we're looking at any funding stream possible to make this happen as quickly as possible and clearly there is the will from our communities to make this happen. so we're going to build off of what happened here today," said Blais.

MassDOT is currently conducting a study along Route 2 to determine the viability of the rail line. Initial findings have come with some success, but the final report will be issued in the coming weeks.