Larry Parnass reports for The Berkshire Eagle that train service between Pittsfield, Massachusetts and New York City begins July 8. So far, that service is just a Friday afternoon four-hour trip from Penn Station in Manhattan to Pittsfield and a return Sunday afternoon. “This has been years in the making,” said state Sen. Adam Hinds, a Democrat from Pittsfield. Massachusetts officials are providing $240,000 to underwrite operations, a $30,000 fee for a program director, and $100,000 for marketing. “Western Massachusetts and the Berkshire region offer a whole host of cultural and recreational opportunities during the summer and we hope this pilot service will encourage even more visitors to this part of our state,” Gov. Charlie Baker said in a statement provided by the state Department of Transportation. Read more about this story in The Berkshire Eagle.