Acela & Amtrak NEC (HSR BOS-NYP-WAS and branches only)

[F-Line to Dudley]

I did more digging on the proposal of extending 3 daily trips of NER to Ronkonkoma - which seems to be stuck as a proposal for the entirety of this year. While this was maybe an idea before it became a proposal, does anyone have anymore info on if this will go anywhere? From Reddit discussions a few months ago, it seemed to have some support. I'm sure LI will push back - and won't this require work on overhead caternary? I love the idea of connecting to JFK from Amtrak and an easier ride for those in Queens - but I wonder if that is enough support to get it built. It still wouldn't be cheap.

Amtrak and Partners Receive Federal Grants to Improve and Expand Passenger Rail Across America - Amtrak Media

Amtrak and its partners have been awarded more than $2.1 billion to improve existing routes and advance plans to expand Amtrak service across the country.

media.amtrak.com

It wouldn't happen until the dual-mode Charger 42E's are in-service, so they'd change from electric to diesel at HAROLD interlocking where the third rail -only LIRR tracks split off. All Northeast Regional equipment would be capable of making the power change by that point.

 

[AndrewOnTheMBTA]

It wouldn't happen until the dual-mode Charger 42E's are in-service, so they'd change from electric to diesel at HAROLD interlocking where the third rail -only LIRR tracks split off. All Northeast Regional equipment would be capable of making the power change by that point.

Nothing to get excited about anytime too soon then!

 

[F-Line to Dudley]

Nothing to get excited about anytime too soon then!

The equipment should be fully available within 3 years. I think that'll be lots sooner than the haggling process with Long Island. There are lots of traffic management difficulties with meshing an intercity super-express with crush-load LIRR local traffic, and the community input process is sure to be tortured because it's Long Island. Right now the pols are solidly behind it so it stands a good chance, but it also wouldn't surprise me if that support proves fickle over time and ultimately collapses.

 

[sneijder]

I happen to have a Google alert set up for that exact question. Newest info I could find indicates "late" 2024, so expect something like an 11:50PM departure on 12/31/24. Not an obviously top tier site, but they reference an email they received directly from Amtrak after an inquiry.

A spokesman for Amtrak, Jason Abrams, said in an email this week that the new units are on presently track for a public launch in "late" 2024, based on the latest information from the train’s manufacturer, Alstom.

https://www.ctinsider.com/connecticut/article/ct-new-trains-amtrak-acela-airo-hartford-line-19560494.php

I wonder if there will be any immediate timetable adjustments once all the rolling stock has been replaced? The higher top speed would maybe take ~5 mins off the BOS <> NYP run?

 

[themissinglink]

Tugboats Ferry Bridge Section Destined for $1.7 Billion Commuter Rail Upgrade

A section of the new bridge that will carry New Jersey Transit and Amtrak passengers over the Hackensack River was transported down the Hudson River on Tuesday, November 19.The steel structure is part of the $1.7 billion Portal North Bridge project that will replace the century-old rotating...

uk.news.yahoo.com