TomNelligan wrote: ↑Wed Nov 20, 2019 7:58 pm
Between Metro North commuter congestion west of New Haven and drawbridge-related movement limits on the Shore Line east of there, isn't Boston-New York basically maxed out on capacity for additional Amtrak runs? If so, it would seem that adding these proposed long distance locals would require cuts to the current frequency of well-patronized Acelas and conventional trains. I don't see how that would improve market share.
You're correct.
gokeefe wrote: ↑Wed Nov 20, 2019 8:08 pm
Amtrak has publicly stated that they intend to run BOS-NYP Acela service on 60 minute headways one the new trainsets enter service. They have never clarified how that would be done give the schedule constraints you mention.
The best analysis I can derive from the intentions for Acela and an "all station stops" service is that the Northeast Regional trains will be cut back in favor of Acela with the remaining trains converted to "all stops".
This isn't a rumor. This is a goal, which is something I've mentioned a few times, even as recently as a few days ago in the
Another try at Acela non-stop service thread:
However, anyone with a timetable could easily see they cut an entire train (151) a few days a week, changed and extended the running time of the regional (111) that arrives WAS right before the new train. It has a snowball effect.
['ve mentioned this before. When all of those new sets are in service on the NEC, you may find the presence of an adjacent regional train...lacking.
A lot of people assume the new trainsets will add service by existing with the current schedule trains. It is extremely likely these sets will not only replace the Acela service, but it will also replace existing regional trains that operate exclusively between BOS-WAS. You will be left with little alternative....except the trains the originate at BOS or NYP and operate past WAS.
In other words, trains in the 150, 160 and 180 (and 170s that operate exclusively between BOS-WAS) series will be replaced with the new sets, making more stops than the super express. Trains like 93, 94, 95, 171, 174,176 will continue to operate and add more stops.
As for the why, NBK has requested additional service for years. PJC lost service years ago and with the raceway project pretty much finished, higher speed will likely appear. These stations are underserved and there is potential for additional riders. Amtrak wants to get away from CWH so I don't think you'll see that stop added to more trains. However, NRK, PJC and NBK have seen service increases. I don't ever remember an Amtrak train that originated at BOS, NYP or WAS servicing NBK on weekends. I'm hard-pressed to remember ANY Amtrak trains servicing NBK on weekends. Now, you have at two on the weekends. PJC has two west and three east on the weekends.
It has been slowly introduced already. The aforementioned 111 that operates prior to 2401 makes the following stops:
* NYP *
* NWK
* MET *
* NBK *
* PJC *
* TRE
* PHL
* WIL
* PVL
* ABE
* EDG
* BAL
* BWI
* NCR
* WAS
It skips EWR, CWH, PHN and NRK but makes PVL and EDG. It wouldn't take much to add NRK since you're typically against the platform. The running time for 111 is 3:38 minutes. That is not horrific.
Let's look at 171:
BOS .
* BBY
* RTE
* PVD
* KIN
* NLC
* NHV
* BRP .
* STM
* NYP
* NWK
* EWR
* MET
* NBK
* PJC
* TRE
* PHL
* WIL
* ABE *
* BAL .
* BWI
* NCR
* WAS
* ALX *
* BCV *
* MSS *
* CLP *
* CVS
* LYH
* RNK
It recently added NBK and PJC but it still skips WLY, MYS, OSB, NRO, PHN, and NRK on the NEC. You're only talking about 6 more stops that don't require any special routing (PHN, notwithstanding.)
Another example is 177:
* BOS
* BBY
* RTE
PVD
* KIN
WLY
* MYS
* NLC
* OSB
* NHV
BRP
STM
NRO
NYP
NWK
MET
NBK
PJC
TRE
PHL
WIL
ABE
BAL
BWI
NCR
WAS
NBK and PJC were recently added to this train. At this point, you're only missing EWR, PHN and NRK.
That isn't much of a gap to close.
If the current regime has its way, once the new sets are fully in service, this will be the reality.