When it comes to passenger rail serving Greenfield and points south, the Franklin Regional Council of Governments is taking on the persona of the Little Engine that Could.

We’re thankful that the COG is keeping the plans for expanded passenger train service on some kind of track. Otherwise, the Amtrak Montrealer, with its once-a-day service up and down the Pioneer Valley, might be the only rail travel stopping in Greenfield and Northampton.

Admittedly, getting more daily passenger trains running to Springfield, to connect with other rail service or for people who work or visit, isn’t on any kind of express track.

As Maureen Mullaney, COG transportation manager, explained in a recent Recorder story, the council, the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, and the states of Massachusetts and Connecticut are looking at a couple of options to increase passenger service.

One of those options would dovetail with the Connecticut Department of Transportation plans to increase daily commuter service between New Haven and Springfield. Earlier this year, the department put out a request for proposals for running what it calls the “CTrail Hartford Line.”

As envisioned by Connecticut, there would be 12 trains daily running between Springfield and New Haven. This service is expected to begin in January 2018.

To create more service along the “Knowledge Corridor” of the Pioneer Valley, the plan would have the state of Massachusetts refurbish a number of MBTA trains with either Amtrak or Connecticut running the operation.

After meeting with Connecticut officials, Mullaney said “They were very open to those discussions (about expanding service in the Valley). It may be a really good opportunity for us.”

We don’t disagree, even if Massachusetts’s commitment to expanded rail service may not be keeping pace with what Connecticut is doing. The public has heard little about the status of refurbishing MBTA train cars for use in the Knowledge Corridor and there seems to be little else going on that indicates the state is moving forward.

Here’s where the COG may face its biggest challenge — pulling the state along. But that’s nothing for the Little Engine to accomplish.