SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Congressman Richard Neal met with MassDOT, state, and local leaders at Springfield Union Station to give an update on the West-East Rail project. "Springfield was located in North, South, West, East opportunity, it was seen with that vision and now we're in the stage of full implementation," said Neal. Springfield Union Station is expected to become a robust hub for railroad transportation, connecting the commonwealth. The project was given nearly $37 million from the federal railroad administration earlier this week. This is all part of the Springfield Area Track Recognition project. Track, signal, and infrastructure improvemnts are expected to be made to Springfield Union Station, reducing congestion and increasing rail capacity. The rail service will expand between western, central and eastern Massachusetts, connecting Pittsfield, Springfield, and Worcester. Some of the improvements expected to be made are high level platforms to make it easier for passengers to board a train. Along with designing new layover modern facilities for trains to be stored overnight or lightly serviced. "Folks need to get in and out of the places they live, work and go to school. And we've seen very constantely investing in transportation and infrastructure not only improves peoples lives but improves the econmony and creates new jobs," said Massachusetts Director of Federal Funds and Infrastructure, Quentin Palfrey. Now this is not the only effort being made towards improving the rail services. $500,000 dollars will be used to start scoping the Boston - Albany corridor, which will begin in 2025. $108 billion is expected to go to track work in between Worcester and Springfield. This will enable two daily round trips to run from Boston to Springfield to New Haven. Construction for this is set to begin in 2027 and be completed by the end of 2029. There is also planning and design efforts for a furture Palmer Station and a track capacity improvement program in the area of Pittsfield. Local News Headlines Congressman Richard Neal met with MassDOT, state, and local leaders to give an update on the West-East Rail project Eversource installing latest electric meter technology in Mass. Five arrested in alleged drug deals near Springfield shelter on Worthington Street Springfield man sentenced to prison in rape case WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.