The Revitalized Springfield Union Station and Amtrak's Hartford Line
After the 2017 reopening of Springfield Union Station, other towns along the Hartford Line plan to follow suit.
On January 23rd, 2025, I rode Amtrak’s Hartford Line from Springfield Union Station to Hartford.
Union Station was bright and bustling on the morning of the 23rd. Travelers sat waiting for trains and buses, glancing up at the large rectangular screen displaying departures. The screen is a result of the $94 million project that updated the once dilapidated and abandoned facility. The project not only saved the building but added amenities to make travel convenient and practical. Six train platforms, 26 bus stands, and a multi-level parking garage make it easy for commuters to move freely in-and-out of Springfield.
Even with its new look the station retains the deep history of Springfield, walking the line between updated amenities and historical charm. Across from vendors like Dunkin Donuts and Subway sit original wooden benches, with other historic Union Station artifacts scattered throughout the facility. Just one of these artifacts is a wooden luggage cart that was once pulled by hand in the 1920s. The space feels like a museum at times, with informational signage located next to each artifact. The way the station highlights its history gives reason for why long and laborious efforts were made for restoration
Springfield Union Station was built in 1926. After the Massachusetts Turnpike opened in 1957, there was a major shift in regional travel. During this period, ridership from Springfield to Boston decreased by 50%. This drop in ridership led to the station’s closure in 1973. After nearly 40 years of effort to revive the station, ground was broken in 2012. Union Station and its new intermodal transit facility reopened in 2017.
At 11:50 AM I walked through the hallway that leads to train platforms. The hallway is welcoming, with many traveler-friendly features: a leave-a-book take-a-book stand, a kiosk selling an assortment of items, vending machines (that accept credit cards), and an area for travelers to post their New Year’s resolutions on sticky notes. On the walls hang murals of more local history, and a sign showing walkable destinations from the station.
From Springfield, Amtrak’s Hartford Line runs nearly parallel to I-91, making stops at Windsor Locks, Windsor, Hartford, Berlin, Meriden, Wallingford, New Haven State Street, and New Haven Union Station. CTrail’s Hartford Line runs on the same route but with slightly more frequency than Amtrak. The only difference between the two lines is the rolling stock, with CTrail using outdated Mafersa coaches. Amtrak’s Valley Flyer runs the same route as both CTrail and Amtrak’s Hartford Line, but extends north of Springfield to Holyoke, Northampton, and Greenfield. My ride from Springfield to Hartford was around 35 minutes, and the ticket cost an affordable $6.
I boarded cab car 9647, which was accompanied by a GE P42DC locomotive (#94). Heading South from Springfield, the Hartford Line creeks around a slow curve before following the beautiful Connecticut River south. While passing Kings Island (the largest island in the Connecticut River) the train slows down to endure the sharp curve that crosses to the west side of the Connecticut River into Windsor Locks.
Windsor Locks Station isn’t impressive to look at. Its tiny platform shares a space with a small, barren parking lot. These tight quarters won’t last much longer, as a new station is in the works and is scheduled to be completed sometime this year. Construction has also been approved for projects around the new station, adding a mixed-use complex on Main Street. This project is just the beginning for development on the Hartford Line; construction will begin sometime this year on a new station in Enfield, whose previous station closed in 1986.
Just a four minute ride south is Windsor, whose small brick station is charming to look at from the tracks. With a CTrail ticket machine, benches, coverage for inclement weather, and wheelchair accessible ramps, Windsor has all the amenities needed for a small station.
As mentioned in my writing about CTrail’s Hartford Line, the route’s scenery is constantly changing. Rural forests and suburbs line the railway before abruptly transforming to industrial areas. Hartford Union Station feels like it comes out of nowhere with old buildings and bridges that obstruct any sort of scenic view of the city.
Central Connecticut and Massachusetts is an ever expanding market for transit. Amtrak’s route running from Springfield to New Haven totaled 577,133 riders in the 2024 fiscal year, marking a 30% increase in ridership from 2023. This increase is the second highest in Northeast routes behind the Adirondack Train that jumped from 26,892 to 71,012 riders, a 164% increase. With growing demand, more updates are on the way; $102 million will be used to add double tracking in the stretch of track from Hartford to Windsor Locks, allowing more trains to run to and from Springfield.
An updated intermodal transit facility was much needed in Springfield, a city with a population reaching just over 150,000. Beyond its benefits for locals, Springfield Union is also an important crossroads for transit in the region. Amtrak runs four different routes through Springfield: The Hartford Line, The Northeast Regional, The Valley Flyer, and The Vermonter. Three bus lines also run out of the station: Peter Pan, Greyhound, and PVCA.
The revival of Springfield Union Station adds another transit hub along the Hartford Line to match New Haven Union and Hartford Union Stations, welcoming more passengers on trains and buses alike.
For more on my trip, watch my youtube video below.