by trainhq
Salem to Manchester will never happen for three reasons.
1. It's redundant; they can get service to Manchester and the airport from the Nashua side.
2. It's expensive; the track and signals would have to be completely replaced.
3. It's lightly populated; besides Derry, there aren't that many people between Salem and Manchester.
As far as Portsmouth is concerned, several years ago it was looked at, and the people in the Rockingham planning commission concluded that the best bet was to run it from the Downeaster route off Newfields. That's only 7 miles to Portsmouth over a line which is still intact and (lightly) used; the cost to rehab it wouldn't be that high. The route north of Newburyport would require a new bridge over the Merrimack, big $$$, and extensive other expenditures on the Mass side, which could be hard to come by. Look for Newfields to happen first.
1. It's redundant; they can get service to Manchester and the airport from the Nashua side.
2. It's expensive; the track and signals would have to be completely replaced.
3. It's lightly populated; besides Derry, there aren't that many people between Salem and Manchester.
As far as Portsmouth is concerned, several years ago it was looked at, and the people in the Rockingham planning commission concluded that the best bet was to run it from the Downeaster route off Newfields. That's only 7 miles to Portsmouth over a line which is still intact and (lightly) used; the cost to rehab it wouldn't be that high. The route north of Newburyport would require a new bridge over the Merrimack, big $$$, and extensive other expenditures on the Mass side, which could be hard to come by. Look for Newfields to happen first.