Amtrak Service Begins in Greenfield, Northampton

Staff ReportsPrint Story | Email Story
The John W. Olver Transit Center has been waiting two years for Amtrak trains. Passenger service between Washington, D.C., and St. Albans, Vt., begins Dec. 29 with stops in Greenfield and Northampton.

GREENFIELD, Mass. — Amtrak will begin Amtrak Vermonter service to Greenfield and Northampton beginning Dec. 29. Tickets are now available for purchase.

The Vermonter will also add a stop in Holyoke later in 2015 when station work is complete. The added stops because of the reroute will replace service provided to the Amherst station, which will end on Dec. 28.

The restoration of train service to the Knowledge Corridor has been a goal of the state Department of Transportation and Gov. Deval Patrick's administration, which have been leading the effort to improve the Pan Am Southern tracks and shorten trip times within the commonwealth. Funding for the project was provided through the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The John W. Olver Transit Center in Greenfield opened in 2012 in anticipation of the restoration of passenger train service and the hope that it will also be restored west through the Hoosac Tunnel to North Adams.

In preparation for the new service, Amtrak has been working with local authorities to raise rail safety awareness by meeting with community groups and schools. A variety of rail safety education tools are available from Operation Lifesaver, a rail safety education organization.



The Vermonter operates daily between Washington, D.C., and St. Albans, Vt., with service to Philadelphia, New York, Hartford, Conn., Springfield and Essex Junction, Vt., and other intermediate stops. In fiscal year 2014, ridership on this route increased 6.6 percent, providing service to more than 89,000 passengers.

Passengers may book travel via Amtrak.com, mobile apps, or by calling 800-USA-RAIL for any station along the route between Washington and St. Albans, Vt., using the attached schedule.
 


Tags: amtrak,   passenger rail,   transportation,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

McCann Nursing Graduates Urged to Be 'Positive Influence' on Health System

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

See more photos from the pinning ceremony here
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — McCann Technical School celebrated the graduation Tuesday of 17 new nurses from its licensed practical nursing program. 
 
"I can say, without reservation, that I am incredibly proud of each and every one of these individuals before you," Christa Berthiaume, program coordinator and doctor of nursing practice, said to family and friends in the school gym. "This class has come together as family to support each other, grow, learn, laugh, and even cry together. 
 
"Thank you for joining us this evening as we celebrate this accomplishment in their lives and thank you for providing the support and guidance that has fostered the success of these amazing people."
 
When they interviewed for the program last January, Berthiaume said she told the program would be hard but that they wouldn't understand until they had gone through it. 
 
She asked them to think back of their first day —what they could do then and what they can do now. 
 
"Throughout this year, we have seen so much growth in each of you. Whether it was overcoming the fear of a certain procedure, going to a clinical site that you were not exactly looking forward to, improving your critical thinking and clinical judgment, and yes, even your nursing-test-taking skills," she said. "The growth is immeasurable."
 
The 10-month, 1,155-hour program began in January and included clinical rotations on evenings and weekends. Many of the graduates were assured of jobs after taking their licensing exam as they were sponsored by entities such as Berkshire Health Systems and Integris Healthcare, which covered costs and paid them a salary.
 
View Full Story

More North Adams Stories