A Weekend Trip In The Future To New York From The Berkshires?

Berkshire Flyer, the proposed passenger train line connecting the Berkshires to New York City, recently got a major shot in the arm that could launch the plan into action.

The Berkshire Eagle reports the during a Monday night Town Hall Meeting in Sheffield, state Senator Adam Hinds said the Massachusetts Department of Transportation supports a seasonal, July through Columbus Day, weekend trial run of the railroad network.  The rail service could be up and running taking people on a four -hour ride from Pittsfield to New York City by as soon as next year. However, the chance for a pilot season according to Hinds is far from a done deal.

The Berkshire Flyer would provide passenger rides from Pittsfield to Albany, N.Y. Passengers could then hop on the New York line to get to New York City. The idea is, the rail connection would better accommodate commuting, tourism, quality of life and business.

Berkshire Flyer supporters now have to fix their attention to "the last mile" of the project, a plan that would bring many types of transportation options to the station so that people would be able to get around Berkshire County once they get off the train.