125MPH on New Haven Line?

I love reading some of the fanciful posts whenever I need an escape from reality. Some people seem to think there's billions of dollars available for things like raising speeds and adding tracks. Both will never happen. MTA/CDOT are having enough trouble just maintaining what they already have. Dreams are free, but reality cost.

DutchRailnut wrote: as for your claim about 14 car trains, there are only 4 tracks in GCT that could handle such trains and they would be nightmares when a breakdown occurs.

My source says upper level has 16 tracks that can do 14*85 feet. http://www.seas.upenn.edu/~morlok/morlo ... pacity.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

runningwithscalpels wrote:Catenary replacement and bridge repairs are a waste of money?

Tell that to people stranded on trains when old wires get ripped down and WALK bridge is stuck open for the umpteenth time. These things cripple the New Haven Line far more than slow orders do!

NJT's constent tension wire has downings too. I was referring to the open deck fixed bridges for auto traffic, as in this document http://www.ct.gov/dot/lib/dot/documents ... ersion.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; .

Clean Cab wrote:I love reading some of the fanciful posts whenever I need an escape from reality. Some people seem to think there's billions of dollars available for things like raising speeds and adding tracks. Both will never happen. MTA/CDOT are having enough trouble just maintaining what they already have. Dreams are free, but reality cost.

Metro North spends $1.1 billion a year on non-capital expenses. Why does it go for replace in kind maintenance instead of progressively upgrading the parts/row/etc? Since Metro North owns a Plasser American, it can move the trackbed apart to allow faster speeds as part of routine maintenance, not a capital budget project that is bidded out. Do not tell me there is no money for maintenance, since if that is the case, all of MNCR would be excepted class track.

Glad you have all answers after riding train occasionally, wtf do I know after 30 years on railroad ??
as usual just ask a railbuff.

as for your capacity document, I got news for you, things chanced since 1963, including loss of tracks for north end access.

as for moving tracks apart, it involves moving catenary structure, bridges, road underpasses etc and not in least it needs property.

You also need to maintain access for the private power company Hi-tension power lines that are part of the "Grid"
that use air rights over a good part of the New Haven Line, UI and CL&P use them to get power to your home.

Mod Note: And we're done here ... The OP's question was answered and Fantasy talk ran its course as well.