UPDATED 8:40AM: To include a statement from MassDOT. 

The only trans-commonwealth service in Massachusetts is in sight once again (WMP&I)

Over the summer, the earth opened up and swallowed the only rail connection between Boston and Western Massachusetts. Technically, the track itself did not fall into the bowels of the earth. A sinkhole appeared along a stretch of Amtrak-owned track that connected Albany to points east, suspending rail service. Buses pinch hit for both the seasonal Berkshire Flyer, which links Pittsfield and New York, and the Lake Shore Limited, a transcontinental train that is also the only service between Boston and the 413.

The isolated location of the sinkhole in East Greenbush, New York complicated repairs. The timeline for service restoration varied as widely as end of summer to next January. However, tickets for the Lake Shore Limited between Albany and Boston recently became available starting December 1. On Monday, an Amtrak spokesperson confirmed service would resume that day.

The 413 has been waiting with bated breath for expanded rail access to Boston. The suspension of the Lake Shore Limited was a reminder of both the region’s limited connections to the state capital and the minimal control the Commonwealth has over this service.

The sinkhole up along the Boston Post branch. That track runs southeast of Albany to connect with the CSX line into Massachusetts. (via OpenRailwayMap.com)

The Lake Shore Limited is a national service entirely within Amtrak’s control. When East-West rail between Boston and Springfield begins at the end of this decade, it will be a state-supported service. In other words, it will be a partnership between Amtrak and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.

The Berkshire Flyer, however, is a state-supported service, however. The route essentially a weekend extension to Empire Service between New York and Albany. Still, it has become a way for the Berkshires to promote tourism. The sinkhole all but ruined the 2025 run.

With regard to both services, MassDOT expressed thanks to Amtrak, CSX and the New York State Department of Transportation’s efforts to get service like the Berkshire Flyer on track and the first place to work through the interruption “even with ongoing corridor infrastructure projects underway.”

“We have appreciated the patience of customers in recent months as shuttles have replaced trains, and look forward to the resumption of the Lake Shore Limited train service December 1 and the Berkshire Flyer service in 2026.” the agency said in a statement.

In addition to erasing the only trans-commonwealth rail link temporarily, the suspension coincided with some downgrade in service from Springfield.

Work along the Springfield to New Haven route, including construction of a new station in Windsor Locks, led to some bustitutions on both Amtrak and the Connecticut-run Hartford Line. Nevertheless, all three one-seat rides between Springfield and Washington via New York continued operating during construction.

MassDOT is in the process of gaming out what East-West service will look like as improvements between Springfield and Worcester come on-line. That is still years off, though.

The suspension of the Lake Shore Limited cut one of the few alternatives to private automobile travel between Boston and Springfield. Its return, however—ahem—limited in itself, will put one more option back on the Commonwealth’s transportation scoreboard.