WORCESTER, Mass. - Renovations to Union Station are now halfway done, and plans are starting to emerge for expanded rail service to and from Worcester. 

A handful of state and local leaders stopped by Union Station on Tuesday to celebrate the milestone, including Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and Transportation Secretary Jamey Tesler. 

The project is expected to be completed in roughly a year, and additions will include a new center platform to accommodate more than one train at a time, infrastructure upgrades, a pedestrian bridge and accessibility improvements to the commuter parking area. 

Currently, Union Station is the only stop on the Worcester/Framingham line that can only serve one train at a time. With boosted capacity and more efficient service now on the horizon, Polito believes the symbol of Worcester's past will finally be able to keep up with the city's modern needs. 

"1911 was a long time ago, and it's obviously time not only to preserve the historic elements of this building, but to enhance it and modernize it so it can serve Worcester today, and more importantly, where it is heading," Polito said. "Transportation, connectivity and mobility are key pieces of how people choose where they live."

For years, Union Station hasn't exactly been a bustling transportation hub, despite its prime location in the heart of Massachusetts. By this time next year, there's hope it could finally house the necessary infrastructure to bridge the rail gap between Springfield and Boston. 

"As the 'Heart of the Commonwealth,' it is so important for Worcester to be what it really should be, which is the economic pulse of transportation here," said state Sen. Harriette Chandler. "This will make a difference."

"This is a fast-growing city," said Polito. "It was in a trajectory of growth before the pandemic, and since the pandemic it's continuing to grow. It's a city that offers a lot of opportunity for people and families to be able to afford a good home, a good education for their kids and a good quality of life."

2020 census data shows Worcester is the fastest-growing major city in New England, and with modern rail infrastructure on the way, Tesler and MassDOT see statewide opportunities. 

"Together, we have applied for a $135 million to add two trains that will go west to east and east to west, connecting all parts of the Commonwealth through Worcester," Tesler said. "That is coordinated here to ensure that it supports and is consistent with the investments we're making here so that we can build together."

The renovations to Union Station are projected to cost roughly $45 million, and construction has been ongoing since last fall.