Don't the platforms have to be lengthened to accommodate such massively long trains?
So I keep seeing ads from Ed Markey about a "Brain Train" proposal -- does anyone have any insight on this?
So I keep seeing ads from Ed Markey about a "Brain Train" proposal -- does anyone have any insight on this?
I would think that there'd be more demand for Hartford-Boston service than Northampton/Greenfield to Boston service.
Interesting, considering the fact that Maine still requires people to quarantine for 2 weeks coming from Massachusetts, despite letting New Yorkers in without quarantine.Downeaster to run more trains from Maine to Boston soon - The Boston Globe
The Amtrak train that provides service from Maine to Boston will soon add more round trips as part of its service restoration.www.bostonglobe.com
Downeaster going from 1 to 4 round trips on Monday. More progress.
Interesting, considering the fact that Maine still requires people to quarantine for 2 weeks coming from Massachusetts, despite letting New Yorkers in without quarantine.
FWIW, driving in rural south-central RI--almost exactly equidistant between Providence and Westerly (20 miles from each along the AMTRAK corridor)--over the past several months, there has been a fairly large mobilization on the AMTRAK tracks right here, at this access road.
Usually a crew of 12-15 maintenance workers, plus 5-6 very large trucks which look like the type that can "drive onto" the tracks and perform work directly. Very sustained--every workday since the pandemic struck (but perhaps that's merely a coincidence?)
It's so conspicuous a project given how rural the area is--there's very little else that captures the eye there other than the farmland. I assume its signalization work for ACELA?
Or regular programmed work. That's Class 8 track (165 MPH max rating), the fastest allowable by the FRA. Each escalating track class has more intensive maint responsibilities than the previous class, so things like cycled tie replacement happen more regularly. Amtrak has a relatively thick concentration of Maintenance of Way yards on the New Haven-Providence stretch of Shoreline relative to the total service levels (very little freight, little commuter rail except for middling Shore Line East frequencies). Track class is the reason. Inspections are much more frequent, and small cycled track maint jobs are more frequent.
Right--makes sense! I was going to point out, it's such a long straightaway here, I'd assumed it was the highest-rated stretch of track in terms of max speed, between Providence & Westerly. So presumably it does have the most intensive maintenance requirements. It's just so intriguing to see such a beehive of activity in such an otherwise empty quarter of land (save the turf farms).
The next nearest node of activity is the URI flagship campus and even that really isn't close... the road that parallels the tracks there within just a few yards, right at that access path, is used almost as frequently by very large farming tractors (these turf farms do not bleep around, very big operations) as by regular cars.
It's funny to think of a tractor tooling along at 10 mph on that road simultaneously with an ACELA nearly "brushing its sleeve" at 165 mph.
It's surprising that the ROW is not fenced there...
It's surprising that the ROW is not fenced there...