scoostraw wrote:Just extend existing Danbury service north on the Housy.
Of course this brings into question - who would the operator be? Metro North? Amtrak? Or...??
That’s a big “just”
With the investment CDOT and Amtrak just put into the NHHS project, why aren’t we talking about a NYP-NHV-SPG-Pittsfield-ALB train? You’d need a dedicated P32 or engine change at NHV, and it would involve either fouling the CSX B&A main at SPG or using a cab car SPG-ALB, but none of those are insurmountable (CSX resistance is a given regardless.) It also better serves that western Massachusetts constituency, and deposits a Springfield Regional at the Rensselaer Yard for servicing and connections to Empire Service.
I’m no expert, but it looks like the Housatonic River Valley isn’t particularly heavily settled for the Northeast. Unless the reason is to skirt the inevitable CSX issues, it seems like a lot of work for not a lot of benefit.
EDIT:
J.D. Lang wrote:In my case "run on the Housatonic" means running down from Pittsfield thru Lenox, Lee, Stockbridge to Great Barrington. It seems that with the money that Mass. is spending on their line from the CT state line to Pittsfield that somewhere in the cards could be a connection thru Pittsfield. I like the idea of using Berkshire Scenic's Budd.
As Tom N. said the state of CT. DOT is having a hard time funding what they all ready have going and it would take a fortune to upgrade the line from Danbury thru Canaan. That option is a non starter in my opinion.
J. Lang
That sounds like a beautiful fall train ride, and also a valuable freight connection for southwest Massachusetts to a responsible Class 1 railroad at Pittsfield. It also sounds like much less of a mess (and much cheaper) than trying to run through to New York via Danbury.