Ron Newman
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- May 30, 2006
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They were. Take a look at this map.
I don't see any "this map" linked from your post.
They were. Take a look at this map.
South Station has 8 commuter rail lines (9 if you count the Stoughton branch as separate), plus Amtrak. That's a lot of trains. Amtrak may someday want to add more, and the state wants to add new service to Fall River and New Bedford.
To some extent the T just wants to reclaim the track capacity that existed there decades ago when private railroads (New Haven, New York Central) operated the service.
The fellow I spoke with might have been referencing this when he mentioned a section that is posted for 10 mph, but no one dares to do more than 2 mph on it. He said the overall plan would include an upgrade there, allowing them to move some Worcester traffic out of the south side, and perhaps facilitating the connection of the Downeast service to South Station. Or something like that. (I can't make my Southern Pacific Daylight HO train run without derailing, so this is all a bit beyond me.)
There are gates at the two pedestrian-only crossings (at Fort Washington Park and at an MIT parking garage), but not at most of the six street crossings. Four of those streets are quite busy: Mass. Ave., Main Street, Broadway, and Cambridge Street.
You'd also have to double-track the branch.
Edit: I looked at Google StreetView and confirmed that there are gates at the Cambridge Street and Gore Street crossings, but not at Binney St, Broadway, Main St, or Mass Ave. All six crossings do at least have flashing lights, though. I've occasionally been stopped by them while biking on Broadway.