By Danny Jin, The Berkshire Eagle December 22 2021
PITTSFIELD — Passenger rail service between Berkshire County and New York City could begin in summer 2022, as long as the company that owns part of the tracks agrees to allow Amtrak to operate service on those tracks.
A pilot for the project, known as the Berkshire Flyer, was set to begin in summer 2020. But, legal questions and the onset of the pandemic delayed its start.
Funding for the pilot, and an agreement for Amtrak to operate service, are in place for a summer 2022 launch, state Sen. Adam Hinds, D-Pittsfield, said in a Tuesday phone interview.
But, CSX Corp., which owns the stretch of tracks between Albany, N.Y., and Pittsfield, still needs to reach an agreement with Amtrak over the use of that 35-mile stretch.