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[CNJRoss]

Trainriders Northeast email, 10/17:

Subject: 26th TRN Annual Meeting Features Call for Downeaster NYC Service & Unique View of B'wick Layover Facility Site



A new initiative from Wayne Davis was announced - direct Downeaster service to New York City. Watch the 15 minute video presentation.

In addition, a unique video of the Brunswick Layover Facility site was analyzed by Jeff Reynolds - a member of the Brunswick West Neighborhood Coalition. You've never seen it from this vantage point.

[KevinKorell]

I certainly hope that they are able to bring about direct service to New York City. Note that as is mentioned by Wayne Davis in the video, it would not go anywhere near downtown Boston. It would deviate and go via Ayers and Worcester, and then either by the Providence & Worcester RR, or by the existing (and hopefully soon upgraded) Springfield line to New Haven. The line, if it does go via Springfield, could operate as an extension of some of the New Haven-Springfield Shuttles, or continue to/from New York City. Since the NNERPA wants a trip with no transfers, Amtrak would have to operate them through New Haven like the Vermonter and Regionals 136 & the 140-series with an engine change. Going via Boston would be a shorter route, but with everyone seemingly giving up on a North-South Rail Link uniting tracks north and south of the city core, the Inland Route becomes the best one albeit how indirect it is. I also think that most likely if the Downeaster reaches New York, it would go onward to Washington. It would probably fill a regular New York-Washington hourly slot (just as the Vermonter does). There are no Regionals nowadays that run solely between Boston and New York -- all originate or terminate in Washington or further south in Virginia. Only a couple of weekday Acela Express trains run only between Boston and New York. So if the Downeaster is opened up to the New York market, they will also have good access to Philly, Baltimore, and Washington.

Edited by KevinKorell, 20 October 2014 - 04:23 PM.