Commuter Rail to Rhode Island Discussion

[Ron Newman]

Except it's NOT going to have Amtrak service, at least not initially.

[trainhq]

Yes, but Amtrak's talking like they'll get there eventually, given, say, a more favorable political climate in a few years. I could see this being as big an Amtrak stop as, say, Route 128 station, serving MBTA connections, airport travelers, and locals looking to park and ride Amtrak directly.

[mental757]

AMTRAK is playing hardball for more money since they are so good at not having any...

[Rockingham Racer]

AMTRAK is playing hardball for more money since they are so good at not having any...

The figure I read somewhere was $50-60 million for trackwork; namely, a two-mile long siding so that trains stopping at the station can get out of the way of other trains passing through the area. Much like what was recently completed at Guilford, CT.
This leads me to a question: when an MBTA train terminates at Warwick, does it occupy one of the two present tracks, or will there be in fact, a third track for the reason I mentioned above?
There's also the P&W track that's being put in, but it's on the wrong side of the railroad for the airport stop, I think.

[njt/mnrrbuff]

Before Amtk ever stops at TF Green, it should upgrade more areas if possible or have MN do so on their turf. It will add more time to the schedule. Plus, Kingston isn't terribly far away from the airport. The airport is very close to where the NEC runs.

[MACTRAXX]

Everyone: I am reading this topic with these thoughts in mind: It is good to see that RIDOT is now stepping up to the plate and funding RI extensions to commuter rail. The Providence service starting next week is a good start-I am thinking perhaps a link to SLE at Westerly or an overlap to New London? Westerly would be politically be a good spot for linking the two rail services. Yes-I am all for RI rail service as mentioned herein-RI people would in my mind support a rail service. Warwick,TF Green,Kingston would be well-used stops. Will there be a restored stop at Pawtucket-Central Falls? I am also picturing in my mind bilevel cars with an electric locomotive - I like NJTs ALP44s or 46s - instead of an HHP8 ARMADILLO (my term for them) maybe even some striped in blue and purple for the joint service. In the other direction SLE may be able to use the MNCR/CDOT M8 cars when they are built-MU trains on off-hours trains may just fit the bill for example. I am all for creating good rail travel options for everyone's benefit. MACTRAXX

[shadyjay]

There's also loud chatter, but nothing official yet, of Connecticut's Shore Line East service being extended from New London all the way through to Providence.

Hah, that'll be the day! Don't let the LI Sound boaters get word of it, or they'll shoot it down. SLE used to run 2 roundtrips a day to/from New London, but that got shut down and replaced with Amtrak runs. Now there's just one PM trip to NLD... that's it. And of course, SLE monthly holders can ride some Amtrakkers. I really don't see SLE service making it to Rhode Island.... but you never know!

To PAULRAIL:
Originally, SLE had 2 GP38s (ex-Guilford/MEC), 1 GP7w (ex-Guilford/MEC) and 2 F-7s, all in the McGinnis colors. The GP38s last time I knew were out on the UP and the GP7 may have gone that way too. The F7s are up on the Naugatuck RR in storage.

-Jay H.

[Robert Paniagua]

I am also picturing in my mind bilevel cars with an electric locomotive - I like NJTs ALP44s or 46s - instead of an HHP8 ARMADILLO (my term for them) maybe even some striped in blue and purple for the joint service.

Well, just for reference the Kawasaki's Bilevel units are forbidden west of PVD citing lower bridges and the overhead catenary that Amtrak uses, so the K's are out. Trains past PVD on south would have to be all flat single's.

[mental757]

AMTRAK is playing hardball for more money since they are so good at not having any...

The figure I read somewhere was $50-60 million for trackwork; namely, a two-mile long siding so that trains stopping at the station can get out of the way of other trains passing through the area. Much like what was recently completed at Guilford, CT.
This leads me to a question: when an MBTA train terminates at Warwick, does it occupy one of the two present tracks, or will there be in fact, a third track for the reason I mentioned above?
There's also the P&W track that's being put in, but it's on the wrong side of the railroad for the airport stop, I think.

The P&W line will be used for the Airport/Warwick stop where the 2 AMTRAK lines will be used for through traffic. The Station will be built over all the tracks, so it doesn't matter what track is used for the platform. AMTRAK wanted yet another track I believe that ran at least a mile on either end of the station which would have cost another 90 milllion - they agreed in concept to used the P&W line and a shorter siding with high-tech high speed switches which would cost 50-60 million more, but since AMTRAK isn't stopping there (yet) they won't do that now. The station is being design & built to handle the AMTRAK sideing & platform for the future.

From what I understand, SLE and RIDOT are mutually interested in running up to Providence with potential stops in Westerly and Kingston and the Airport/Warwick intermodal station. If the numbers look good for both sides - don't count it out.

BTW, Kingtson is NOT near the airport in any stretch of the imagination - thats like saying the Route 128 station is near Logan...

[Cotuit]

Will there be a restored stop at Pawtucket-Central Falls?

Studies are being done now to either re-open the existing Pawtucket-Central Falls Station, or build a new station just to the south. The federally funded study calls for looking into multiple options, but the city wants to restore the old station.

Studies are also underway on the feasibility of bringing rail back to Woonsocket. This could be an extension of the Franklin line to Woonsocket, or re-opening of the P&W frieght line from Pawtucket (perhaps all the way through to Worcester) or both. But this is just being studied right now. No plans and no funding are in place to actually restore service, yet.

[Cotuit]

There's also loud chatter, but nothing official yet, of Connecticut's Shore Line East service being extended from New London all the way through to Providence.

Hah, that'll be the day! Don't let the LI Sound boaters get word of it, or they'll shoot it down.

With the casinos already in Southeastern Connecticut, and the prospect of the Utopia Project happening, CT is going to have to do something to improve rail connections to New London. I'm sure the LI Sound boaters would rather have more trains than more expressways running through their yards.

Connecticut is also looking into running service between New London and Worcester.

[Ron Newman]

What is the Utopia project?

Why would adding more trains have any effect on the Sound?

[shadyjay]

With the casinos already in Southeastern Connecticut, and the prospect of the Utopia Project happening, CT is going to have to do something to improve rail connections to New London. I'm sure the LI Sound boaters would rather have more trains than more expressways running through their yards.

While I would be all for more trains, they cannot as it stands right now add any more train traffic. The sticking points are primarily the Niantic (NAN) and Shaw's Cove bridges which provide access to "inland marinas". This was a big battle during the electrification process and the boaters fought it and won (partially). They made Amtrak put up clocks to let those know when the bridge will open next, and I read that Amtrak has to meet some performance record for the bridges, which hadn't been met yet, before increasing trains.

I do "kind of" agree with the boaters --- the water was there before the railroad --- I don't see why the boaters can wait an extra couple of minutes for a train to go by.

-Jay H.

[paulrail]

Is the MBTA going to use ONLY the P&W's third track to any stops (Providence, Greenwich, Warwick (TF Green), Wickford, Kingston) and not run on the NEC from Boston Swith south to (eventually, Kingston)?

How far south does the third track currently go;......Wickford?

Confused!

Paul

[Cotuit]

What is the Utopia project?

Massive movie studio, amusement park, art school... Said to turn Norwich into Orlando.