12 replies to this topic

[Skip Howard]

From Boston Globe 4/12/07

Governor Deval Patrick last week promised to extend commuter rail to Fall River and New Bedford by 2016 and declared it a top priority of his administration. Now, Wareham and some of its neighbors want to know: What about us? What about extending the Middleborough-Lakeville line of the Old Colony Railroad to Bourne and Wareham?

"A Wareham extension is economically feasible," said state Representative Susan Williams Gifford, a Wareham Republican. "We have a good line with tracks that are currently functioning. There will be very little environmental impact."

Story here: http://www.boston.co...e_raises_hopes/

Letter to Globe in support 4/19/07

The recent Boston Metropolitan Planning Organization study of a Buzzards Bay commuter rail extension ("Rail line promise raises hopes," Globe South, April 12) clearly demonstrates the benefits of this project.

Just the fact that this project can be done at a fraction of the cost per rider required for the New Bedford/Fall River commuter rail extension alone justifies putting the Buzzards Bay project at the head of the line for funding. Aside from serving thousands of commuters, extending commuter rail to Buzzards Bay would open the possibility of seasonal rail service between South Station and the Cape.

Story here: http://www.boston.co...f_funding_line/

[KevinKorell]

The article and the follow-up letter make mention of Boston-Cape Cod service, but nothing about the Washington-New York-Hyannis Amtrak service that ran for a few years. It ran towards Cape Cod on Fridays only, effectively the extension of a Metroliner run beyond New York that was given a diesel engine in New Haven, and then it ran to Providence and Attleboro. At the latter it branched off to the east towards Middleborough/Lakeville, and then ran south to the Cape. The reverse happened on Sundays, only the train terminated in New York rather than Washington. On Saturdays, the equipment ran as a shuttle between Cape Cod and Providence, connecting with NortheastDirect (the "Regionals" of the day) to/from Boston and New York/Washington. Of course nowadays we have Acela, and electric service beyond New Haven to Boston. But they are not going to slap a diesel onto the Acelas and divert them to Cape Cod. But perhaps one of the Regionals that terminates in New York could be extended to Hyannis, changing power in New Haven like they used to.

[Lyle McBride]

If I were running the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (lucky thing I'm not!), I would run commuter trains on the rails that are still in place, and save money and twenty years of quarreling with the NIMBYs and BANANAs (Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anyone). There is no reason why Fall River, New Bedford, and even Hyannis trains could not run to Boston through Taunton and over the Attleboro branch. True, they would have to reverse direction at the Attleboro station (either exchange engineers, or allow two minutes for the engineer to walk to the other end of the train), but then they could come into Boston on the double/triple track of the B & P, rather than the already stressed single-track Old Colony through Quincy (and the Old Colony doesn't serve Back Bay, where half the commuters are bound). With proper timing there could be a connection in Attleboro for Providence and New York. Taunton and Fall River have historically been more closely connected to Providence than to Boston; there might be an appreciable demand (although Boston politicians are not at all interested in making it easier for anyone to commute to Providence). Back in the nineteen-sixties Attleboro station had a stub track in addition to the present four through tracks (the fourth recently reinstalled) precisely for trains from Taunton. Space is tight, but the stub could be restored. Super-elevation on the curves, for passenger train speeds, was also removed in the sixties, but it could also be restored. In a few years, once the restored service acquired a large number of (voting) passengers, the political practicality of rebuilding the line through Easton for additional trains would be greatly improved.

[Skip Howard]

One major obstacle with using the Attleborough line is that the track is in the center Taunton. This part of the city between Rt. 140 and the Weir is densely built up around the tracks with some very close clearances and numerous closely spaced grade crossings. When this route was first proposed the City of Taunton was opposed to this route and favored the Stoughon line extension as it would pass on the east side of downtown through less densely populated areas and have fewer grade crossings. I see no reason that a wye could not be built at Attleborough for Boston-Fall River/New Bedford trains, eliminating the reverse move. Service to Providence and T.F. Green (future) should be instituted.

[Lyle McBride]

There was a proposal several years ago (hotly resisted by local communities) to build a wye near Attleboro (the spelling was officially modernized half a century ago) that would bring Taunton trains into Mansfield. (A more direct route from Taunton to Mansfield through East Norton was the usual Fall River route until it was cut by a grade separation; it could be rebuilt probably more cheaply than the Easton-Stoughton route.) Unfortunately, it would be extremely difficult to build a wye that would include the Attleboro station, and it seems daft not to provide local service between Attleboro and Taunton, two historically linked nearby cities. I don't see why reversing should be so difficult, especially since the trains are push-pull. Yes, there are grade crossings on the Taunton-Attleboro branch, but so are there on all the MBTA commuter lines except Boston-Providence. If the train doesn't serve historic town centers, the centers will not benefit (and they need all the help they can get!!) Actually, the NH built a line connecting the Attleboro branch to the line to Stoughton just so passenger trains could serve the station in Taunton center rather than use the older station (still standing) on the east side. That grade is still in existence (used by earth-moving trucks).

[Sloan]

The next major topic the Bourne Transportation Advisory Committee will explore is the possible restoration of commuter rail service between Main Street, Buzzards Bay, and Boston.

http://www.wickedloc...portation-panel

[Sloan]

Commuter rail return to Bourne: Good idea? Romantic notion?
Bourne residents will be able to weigh in during Jan. 16 forum

BUZZARDS BAY —
State Rep. David Vieira, R-Falmouth, will host a Buzzards Bay Commuter Rail Forum Jan. 16 from 6-7:30 p.m. in the Main Street Community Center.

http://www.wickedloc...Romantic-notion

[Sloan]

 

 

Guest Commentary Commuter Rail Q & A

 

Answers to some of Bourne’s questions about the impact of commuter rail service on Buzzards Bay are beginning to emerge. The selectmen’s Transportation Advisory Committee recently received a draft report from the Cape Cod Commission staff that addresses many of the 12 questions the committee asked a year ago.

http://www.capenews....89ebf946f4.html

[Sloan]

 

 

Bourne Voters On Board With Commuter Rail

Bourne voters this week took a first, solid step toward bringing commuter rail to Buzzards Bay.

Voters on Tuesday, May 19, approved the ballot question asking if the town should join the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA). The Bourne town clerk’s office reported that the final tally was 914 yes votes to 719 no votes.

http://www.capenews....f4a0be0c0f.html

[Sloan]

 

 

Details Expected Soon About Buzzards Bay Commuter Trains

State transportation officials are expected to unveil their plans for bringing commuter trains to Buzzards Bay during a meeting with state legislators and town officials next month.

State representative David T. Vieira (R-Falmouth), whose district includes Bourne, told selectmen of the upcoming meeting during the board’s meeting Tuesday night, February 23.

http://www.capenews....c03b99ae4a.html