SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Nearly $37 million in federal funding for West-East Rail will help advance the massive transportation initiative. 

The money will be used to support the Springfield Track Reconfiguration Project, designed to increase capacity to accommodate both freight and added passenger rail service.

The project will include building new crossovers and layover tracks, upgrading platforms around Springfield’s Union Station, and modernizing track and signal systems. 

West-East Rail Director Andy Koziol said the improvements will help enhance the West-East rail. 

Leaders said the project will take time to complete.  

"In general, railroad projects do take a lot of time, and I understand the public sentiment when you see the rails are already there, why aren't we just operating? And it really has to do with capacities” said Koziol. “So, we're adding passenger rail services, we need to make room for ourselves, so we don't negatively impact the freight operations that exist because it's very important to the Commonwealth to have a strong freight rail network. This project in particularly, we're taking it through the entire project lifecycle from planning to design to construction. So, we appreciate the patience and we are trying to work as quickly as possible to get delivered." 

Nearly $200 million has been invested into the project so far.