MassDOT-owned rail is utilized by the MBTA and Amtrak to provide transit services to the region. Currently, the MBTA Commuter Rail uses 82 miles of MassDOT owned rail to provide its service and Amtrak uses 94.3 miles.
MassDOT also contributes support to Amtrak’s Vermonter and Hartford services. Ridership on the Vermonter reached 35,173 in FY23, which was a 36% increase from FY22. The Hartford Line had an annual ridership increase of 29% to 135,141 in FY23. Additionally, beginning in 2022, MassDOT initiated the Berkshire Flyer Pilot Service, which is a seasonal Amtrak-operated intercity passenger rail service operated on weekends between New York City and Pittsfield, Massachusetts. The 2022 season averaged 46 riders per trip for a season total of 819 riders. The 2023 season was expanded, and the average trip had 32 riders with 1,261 all season. The planned 2024 season will shorten the season’s span from 2023 to focus on high ridership weekends.
