BosMaineiac
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- Joined
- Nov 25, 2020
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The Northeast Regional will eventually use the new Siemens Airo trainset, which will have a diesel locomotive with a car capable of picking up overheard wires when under them. The trainset will be identical to the one the Downeaster and many other Amtrak trains will use. This will make the transfer from electrified to non-electrified (which also happens south of DC) way easier.Yeah, I'd love to be able to get to Portland faster. Some scattered thoughts:
- Yeah, bringing the trip time down to be competitive with driving would be be great. A pretty clear goal. North Station to Portland currently takes 2:30 on the Downeaster. Driving is 1:45 right now (says google), so somehow cut 45 minutes off the trip.
- The Northeast Regional is all electric, right? You'd have to electrify the line all the way to Maine. In the NSLR world we're assuming, the line would be electrified by MBTA at least as far as Haverhill anyways which is a quarter of the way to Portland.
Since CSX owns the tracks from Lowell Junction north, it will be incredibly difficult to string wires up over the entire length. The Class 1's would need a coming to jesus moment before that happens