scratchyX1 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 11, 2022 2:39 pm
The Tunnel replacement needs to drop the freight tunnel , there is maybe one train a night.
Putting in a connection at bayview, and restoring the camden connection to use Howard street tunnel would make more sense. Or, since there isn't that much traffic, have CSX or another company serve customers, south of bayview to DC.
The thing here is that Bayview is two yards, CSX and NS, next to each other separated by Amtrak track. You may have freight along the NEC but you also have freight that's sharing Light Rail track at North Avenue, where there's was a yard "behind" the Light Rail shop there. I don't know how much freight traffic is on it now.
I'm wondering how Baltimore to Frederick MARC service over the OML would work. That's still a fairly active line.
The problem is the MAS at best is 40mph, and stations are away from housing developments.
Even if there wasn't that much traffic, it couldn't be rebuilt to be competitive with highways.
Regular Buses with BRT type stations on the 70MPH rt70 run would make more sense.
Or even (using one of the MTA proposals for central maryland transportation), BRT from baltimore to chatam mall area ellicott city,and then continuing on RT 70 to frederick.
Well, the track would hit city centers, like Ellicot City's Main Street, but for into-Baltimore commuting? Yeah, there's a lot of track and tunnel rebuilding that needs to happen, and you might as well lay down new track along I-70... and rebuild the B&P because you'll be using it, and you'll be missing a lot of cities and TOD opportunities.
MARC to the Eastern Shore, I like it, and I think a lot of people would use it. The Berlin right away I see is problematic, so what I would do is build a large station where the line crosses MD-90 called "Ocean Transfer." The line can still terminate in Berlin though. At Ocean Transfer, you'll board a bus to Ocean City, which is included in the ticket price. There will be two bus routes. One from Inlet-61st Street and one from 62nd-MD Line.
I don't see a direct connection across the Bay, but Expresses on the NEC, which then go south on delmarva trackage upgraded to 79mph, could be popular. Though, It's something Maryland and Delaware could work on jointly, As folks may also want to go the beaches north of Ocean City, too.
I can see where trains across the Bay at the Bay Bridge would be viable. We have numerous commuter buses doing the Annapolis/Kent Island to DC run. I bet they're back to full now. They're overdue for running rail.
With the amount of growth in south central PA, is it time for Maryland to start talking about relaying the NCR and establishing a York to Baltimore route?
The question is, would one run faster commuter type trains, on the same ROW as the light rail?
The light rail maxes out at 50 mph, It would be slower than the Rabbit buses now running on I83 from york.
Now, rebuilding that lightly user former WM to that area, and running DMU at least to west Baltimore MARC station,
That could work.
Right now, there's the Rabbit Express 83s, which is commuter bus that hits two Light Rail stops. It makes four trips daily, and not all stops (mostly rush hours for all stops). I can't see that happening when it looks like it's servicing mostly jobs in the Hunt Valley/Timonium area. York to Baltimore Inner Harbor? That's "how many cars can we get off I-83" question that needs studying.