Behind the Scenes at Peter Pan Bus Lines’ First Day in New Union Station Offices

MASSLIVE (June 25, 2018) — The Peter Pan Bus Lines’ sign and logo — a drawing of the eternal boy flying off to Neverland — that once decorated the Springfield bus terminal on Main Street, now graces the company’s new offices in Springfield’s Union Station.

“We wanted to create modern office space for our employees,” said Peter A. Picknelly, chairman and CEO of Peter Pan Bus Lines. “We tried to blend the old with the new, with all the history we have here in Springfield.”

Monday was Peter Pan’s first day in its new offices on the third floor of Springfield Union Station, and the official end of its presence at the old depot at 1776 Main Street, a space it had occupied since April 1, 1969.

The new offices feel open and airy with tall ceilings, large windows and sweeping views of Union Station’s bus and rail operations. The new training room features a floor-to-ceiling mural of an old aerial photo of the old station and its surrounding neighborhood. Mounted in front of the mural are the bold red letters “BUS” that were once in front of the old station.

PHOTO GALLERY & MORE: bit.ly/us-PeterPan

 

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Mayor Sarno Announces Commuter Parking Rates

SPRINGFIELD, MA (June 13, 2018) – Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and the Springfield Parking Authority (SPA) today announced parking rates for commuters utilizing Union Station transit, in advance of the new Hartford Line commuter rail service set to begin this Saturday, June 16, 2018.

“We’re pleased to offer parking in our new parking garage adjacent to Union Station at affordable rates,” said Mayor Domenic J. Sarno. “Commuter rail has long been a goal for us along with the refurbishing of Union Station and we are thrilled to welcome it starting this weekend.”

The Harford Line is offering free service this weekend, June 16th and June 17th. The city will offer free parking for commuters for those two days as well. Starting on Monday, commuters will be able to access a $5.00 daily parking rate. Beginning in July, commuters may take advantage of a monthly rate of $65.00.

“Union Station is again becoming the hub of transit that we all knew it would become with the redevelopment,” said Kevin Kennedy, Chief Development Officer. “We want to be able to help commuters access this great new service with ease and to enjoy our new parking garage and historic Union Station.”

The new Hartford Line will offer 12 daily trains between Hartford and Springfield. The service continues to New Haven, where passengers can connect to Metro-North to points beyond including New York City.

The new commuter parking rates are available for commuters utilizing all rail or bus services out of Union Station.

Union Station and the new adjacent parking garage opened in June 2017 after a $95 million redevelopment completed by the Springfield Redevelopment Authority (SRA).

 

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Expanded North-South Rail Service from Springfield to Begin in June 2019

MASSLIVE (June 12, 2018) – About a year from now, travelers will be able to leave Greenfield on a morning train, make it to Manhattan’s Grand Central Terminal in 4 hours, 15 minutes and be assured that there’ll be a night train home that same day.

The commonwealth of Massachusetts has an agreement with Connecticut authorities and Amtrak to provide on a pilot basis two extended daily CT rail trains from Springfield with stops in Holyoke, Northampton and Greenfield.

One train will run in the morning and one later in the day — both north and south — on the Knowledge Corridor line paralleling the Connecticut River.

The only train traveling north of Springfield now is Amtrak’s Vermonter, which runs once a day in each direction.

MORE: http://bit.ly/us-masslive

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