advertisement

---

As they toured the potential site of the future Holyoke passenger-rail platform, Massachusetts, federal and local officials announced yesterday that construction is under way to restore passenger-rail service along the Connecticut River Rail Line, also known as the “Knowledge Corridor.”

Massachusetts Lt. Gov. Timothy Murray, U.S. Reps. John Olver (D-Mass.) and Richard Neal (D-Mass.), and Holyoke Mayor Alex Norse toured the platform site.

“Investing in passenger-rail service along the Knowledge Corridor is one example of how government is working to promote economic development in all regions of the state,” Murray said in a prepared statement released by Gov. Deval Patrick’s office.

Funded through a $73 million federal grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s High-Speed and Intercity Passenger Rail program, the project will restore Amtrak service to its original route by relocating the Vermonter from New England Central Railroad track back to its former route on the Pan Am Southern Railroad.

Construction is under way to replace 20,000 ties from Greenfield, Mass., to the Vermont border. The Knowledge Corridor is on track to restore rail service to Northampton and Greenfield in 2014. Holyoke is beginning the design process for a station and rail work is expected to begin in fall, state officials said.