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Gov. Charlie Baker and U.S. Rep. Richard Neal called Tuesday for a Western Massachusetts passenger rail authority that would apply for federal funds and evenly administer expanded east-west commuter rail.

“This is an agreement on a path forward here,” Baker said.

Amtrak, which has been vocal about its plans to expand in the Northeast, would run the trains, Baker said in a news conference with Neal at Springfield Union Station.

“This was a historic meeting,” Neal said. “The governor has been open-minded about this project.”

Neal said his discussions with Baker on east-west rail are an example of how policy discussions should work: substantive talks with fact-based discussions.

“There is no need for excitable language,” Neal said.

The press session followed a rail-focused meeting with Baker, Neal, U.S. Rep. James McGovern, D-Worcester, and nearly all of the Western Massachusetts legislative delegation to Beacon Hill.

Funding from the $1 trillion federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill will be available starting in mid-2022. The law, which Neal championed in his role as chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, includes $66 billion for Amtrak nationwide and $2.5 billion for public transit in Massachusetts.

Baker pointed out that states still do not have the technical guidelines on how to apply for the money.

There is no timeline as to when trains might actually run, Neal said. The budget is also not set but he said estimates still range from about $1 billion to $2.4 billion or more.

Impediments still exist, including the possible need to take land by eminent domain.

East-west rail got a boost last week when the federal government made giving Amtrak access to the tracks in and out of Springfield a condition before approving freight carrier CSX’s acquisition of Pan Am Railways.

Also, MassDOT announced this week the return of frequent rail service between Pittsfield and New York City’s Penn Station via Albany-Rensselaer, New York. The Berkshire Flyer will provide Friday and Sunday service on summer weekends beginning July 8 and again in summer 2023 over CSX-owned rails.

Backers, including Neal and business leaders on both sides of the state, see east-west rail as a way to give Western Massachusetts residents access to good jobs in the Boston area, especially in this age of virtual workplaces, while relieving the crushing housing costs of Boston and its suburbs by allowing folks to live farther away.

Critics have accused Baker and his administration of slow-walking east-west rail. Baker on Tuesday described his attitude as one of cautious skepticism.

“That somehow got turned around to me being in opposition,” Baker said. “I had questions.”

But now he’s willing to announce his full support. He said he’d like to see the state Legislature take up the formation of an authority by the end of its session later this summer.

Neal said there was some discussion about making a Western Massachusetts passenger rail authority part of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. But Baker was concerned about the MBTA’s ability to oversee a large project in the western part of the state, Neal said.

Neal was the driving force behind the now-completed $103 million rehab of long vacant Springfield Union Station into a multimodal transportation facility.

Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno said Union Station puts Springfield at the center of passenger rail expansion.

State Sen. Eric P. Lesser, D-Longmeadow, one of the lawmakers at the meeting and a longtime east-west rail advocate, he agreed that these are significant steps forward.

“But like everything, the proof will be in the details and the ability to get the legislation done, establish the authority and get federal money flowing into the state,” said Lesser, a candidate for lieutenant governor. “A lot more dominoes need to fall.”

Lesser has been one of the critics who’s called out Baker for a perceived lack of support for east-west rail. On Tuesday, he welcomed the governor’s support.

“First it’s a very big rhetorical change for the governor,” Lesser said. “I want to give Congressman Neal a lot of credit for being able to move him to that positive position.”

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