Number of tracks

Wondering why portions of the Hudson and NH were reduced from four tracks in the past.
How does effect those lines in this day and age?

The Hudson was reduced from four tracks to three between Mott Haven and Marble Hill in the early 1970s to accommodate building of island high-level platforms at Morris Heights, University Heights and Marble Hill. No other 4-track sections were reduced to three tracks. Given the historically 2-track section between FH (Marble Hill) and DV (Spuyten Duyvil), track 3 isn’t missed much.

Track 3 was downgraded to industrial track status between New Haven and Woodmont, and removed entirely between Woodmont and Devon, in the 1980s because there wasn’t enough traffic to justify ConnDOT paying to keep it in service. In 2013 track 3 was restored to passenger service between New Haven and Woodmont (CP 266) to accommodate the new station at West Haven. Traffic had grown considerably and station stops in that block with only 3 tracks would have resulted in bottlenecks.

Jim

So how many tracks run between Bridgeport and New Haven?
With increased SLE service are not four tracks needed in this area?

flexliner wrote: ↑Sun Oct 08, 2023 2:15 pm So how many tracks run between Bridgeport and New Haven?
With increased SLE service are not four tracks needed in this area?

There are 4 tracks, Bridgeport to New Haven EXCEPT between Woodmont (CP 266) and the east end of Devon (CP 261) where there are 3 tracks. A 3 track right of way probably has more capacity than the 4-tracks of the NH did, given that trains can run on any track in either direction based on signal indication.

SLE service doesn't run west of New Haven, hasn't since before 3/2020. And given SLE funding cuts, who knows if it ever will again, or in what capacity.

There were only two weekday SLE peak trains in each direction for Stamford, plus one AM peak eastbound.

The DOT is strongly considering bringing back SLE thru service to Stamford.

I saw a four-car SLE M8 set in Stamford on Sunday; test, perhaps?