33 replies to this topic

[CNJRoss]

MassLive.com, 1/20/15:
 

Western Mass. lawmakers want to study Boston to Springfield high-speed rail

 

A coalition of lawmakers from Western Massachusetts is pushing for a study of the feasibility of expanded Boston to Springfield high-speed rail.

 

A bill sponsored by newly elected state Sen. Eric Lesser, a Longmeadow Democrat, would require the Department of Transportation to submit a report by Aug. 1, 2015, that includes "an examination and evaluation of the costs and economic, social and cultural benefits" to the Greater Springfield region and the state, according to a bill summary.

 

Lesser said Western Massachusetts has not experienced the same economic growth as the rest of the state over the last several years. A rail link, he said, could be a catalyst for growth.  .  .  .

 

Continue here.

[KevinKorell]

Another very poorly researched and written article that will only serve to mislead the public and give them expectations that won't be met.  

 

I believe that what will ultimately happen could be extension of MBTA commuter rail service from Worcester to Springfield.  But more express service is needed as well even during non rush period to make rail service more attractive to those further out from Boston.  Inland Route Amtrak trains need to be reinstated as well, to serve market such as New York-Worcester or Hartford-Boston. 

 

And I feel that a second Boston-Albany train (in addition to the Lake Shore Limited) via Springfield and Pittsfield would be highly successful if CSX would allow it. 

 

The article also talks of a Boston-Montreal train. This could be accomplished by running a cross-Massachusetts section of the Adirondack connecting in Albany.  But perhaps a more direct route would be running between Boston and Palmer, and then over the New England Central via the Vermonter route.  The segment between there and the Vermont border through Amherst was recently vacated by the reroute to the original line through Northampton. This would allow some resumption of service to Amherst, though oriented to a Boston train rather than a New York & Washington, DC train.

[Springfield Pete]

Those of us who live in Springfield would love to have high-speed rail access to Boston, but I have to agree with Kevin -- it just isn't realistic.  The line follows a long, winding, circuitous route between Palmer and Worcester to avoid some large ridges and valleys, and the long mileage and speed restrictions on the curves preclude operation of fast service.  The ridges and valleys could be avoided by taking a more southerly route, similar to the route followed by US Route 20, but this would involve construction of an entire new line, and like Route 20, the southerly route would bypass Worcester.

 

It's more realistic to push for more frequent "moderate-speed" runs along this route, adding to the one train per day now scheduled.  I think New York to Boston service over the Inland Route would be popular, if Amtrak marketed the service as a way to reach Boston.  I am thinking of a 6:30 AM departure from New York with Noon arrival in Boston, and a 6 or 7 PM departure from Boston for the return trip.  This kind of service, with Boston as a destination, would attract new riders from Springfield as well as all the stations between Springfield and New Haven.  The problem with low ridership on Amtrak's Inland Route service back in the 80's was that Amtrak marketed New York/Philadelphia as the destination, with an early morning departure from Boston.  There was only 1 station (Worcester) along this entire route that did not already have frequent service available to New York/Philadelphia, so it's no surprice that there were few riders.

[KevinKorell]

The difference is that in the older days, pre-electrification east of New Haven, they ran the Springfield trains (and the Inland Boston trains by extension) as a section of the original trains from Washington. So instead of shuttles there were one-seat rides from Corridor points -- one just had to board the correct section of the train. Now there are the 140-series Regionals that still run between Washington and Springield (with some extending to or from Virginia on the south end), and 136 Fridays..... plus the shuttles that connect across the platform with Boston Shore Line trains. The Boston Inland trains would probably need to have more through service without the need to change in New Haven in order to properly market them.

[KevinKorell]

WWLP-TV, Channel 22, Springfield, MA, 3/24/15:

 

 

Plan to expand high-speed rail from Springfield to Boston, and beyond

 

 

A decade from now, you might be able to get from Springfield, to Boston and to Canada through high-speed rail service. That was one of the subjects discussed during a meeting Tuesday morning in Springfield, promoting the benefits of rail service to western Massachusetts.

 

Find this story here.

 

I don't think the writer of this story understands true high speed rail; I believe that usage of the term here is misleading.  It would be a great improvement if:

• The Boston-Worcester "T" commuter rail is extended to Springfield
• Amtrak resumes Inland Route service between New Haven and Boston
• A second and perhaps third frequency between Boston and Albany is added in addition to the Lake Shore Limited Boston section. 

And that all would mesh well with the impending Hartford Line (New Haven-Springfield) and whatever develops north of Springfield up to Greenfield.

 

Montreal can be achieved in a number of ways.   I assume the intent of this writer was to extend the Vermonter to Montreal over the former Montrealer route. Other possibilities include a Boston section of the Adirondack, or a totally different route using parts of the existing Downeaster route via Maine.

[KevinKorell]

Springfield, MA Republican, 4/13/16:

90-minute train rides from Springfield to Boston? Sen. Eric Lesser pushing high-speed rail

Sen. Eric Lesser has a vision for a new type of travel across Massachusetts: 90 minutes from Springfield to Boston, on an improved rail line that could make train travel a viable alternative to the Massachusetts Turnpike.

More

[CNJRoss]

U.S Department of Transportation
Office of Public Affairs
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC  20590
www.transportation.gov/briefingroom

 

News

 

FRA 19-16
WEDNESDAY, July 20, 2016
Contact: FRA Public Affairs
 

FRA Approves Passenger Rail Blueprint to Connect Boston and New Haven to Montreal, Add Service for Central Massachusetts

 

One new route would run from Boston through Springfield, Mass. to New Haven; two additional routes would connect Montreal to Boston, New Haven

 

 

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) today announced a Finding of No Significant Impact on the Northern New England Intercity Rail Initiative (Initiative).  The finding clears the way for states and the federal government to invest in future passenger rail service in New England.  The Initiative proposes to restore service between Boston and New Haven through Springfield and Hartford and add new service between Boston and Montreal.

 

“Existing passenger rail service through New England is limited and already at capacity for a region that is growing,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.  “With an approved blueprint in hand, New England can now move forward to connect people to key job centers and allow students to easily travel to and from New England’s numerous colleges.”

 

FRA awarded $942,775 to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) and the Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) through FRA’s Next Generation High-Speed Rail Program to study potential service options and complete the Tier 1 Environmental Assessment, in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act.

 

FRA found that no significant environmental impacts would result from adding more frequent and higher speed intercity passenger rail service, in large part due to the use of existing operating rail lines within existing rights-of-way.  The proposed infrastructure improvements also would be located within existing right-of-way along areas that were in the past double or triple tracked.

 

“More than two million people live within three miles of a station along this corridor,” said FRA Administrator Sarah E. Feinberg.  “For everyone to move safely and efficiently, the region needs a robust rail system, and this blueprint will help achieve that goal.”

 

MassDOT and VTrans will coordinate the Initiative with other projects, including NEC FUTURE, FRA’s ongoing comprehensive planning effort to define, evaluate, and prioritize future investments in the Northeast Corridor (NEC).  The NEC runs from Washington, DC to Boston.  Together, this Initiative and NEC FUTURE would provide greater connectivity to central Connecticut, Massachusetts, northern New England, and Montreal.  

 

[CNJRoss]

Progressive Railroading, 7/21:

 

FRA OKs environmental report for New England passenger-rail plan

The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) yesterday announced a finding of "no significant impact" for the Northern New England Intercity Rail Initiative, which calls for more frequent and higher speed passenger-rail service in the region.

In particular, the initiative proposes restoring service between Boston and New Haven, Conn., through Springfield, Mass., along with adding new service between Boston and Montreal.

The FRA attributed its finding primarily to the proposed rail service's use of existing operating rail lines within current rights-of-way, agency officials said in a press release. Proposed infrastructure improvements also would be located within existing right-of-way along areas that had been double- or triple-tracked.

 

Continue here.

[Sloan]

 

 

Massachusetts Sen. Eric Lesser launches 'whistle stop' tour, by car, to push for east-west high-speed rail proposal

 

Continuing his push for a high-speed train connecting Springfield and Boston, Massachusetts state Sen. Eric Lesser is spending a day on the MBTA's commuter rail and inside his car commuting between the two cities.

http://www.masslive....ric_lesser.html

 

I'm glad there's a push for high speed rail in the Bay State.  Hopefully this is a starting point so that when reality sets in, a service of moderate speed and greater frequency would result as Kevin and Springfield Pete opined in previous posts.  Sloan

[KevinKorell]

masslive.com     10/25/17:

 

 

 

Berkshire lawmakers want Boston-Springfield rail study extended to Pittsfield

 

 

 

As lawmakers discuss whether to study expanded high-speed rail between Springfield and Boston, officials from the Berkshires are trying to get in on the action.

 

A bill pending before the Transportation Committee would instruct the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to conduct a feasibility study of establishing high-speed passenger rail between Springfield and Boston.

 

More

 

This article implies that Berkshire communities are looking east only.  They are closer in miles to Albany, so they really need to simply improve the Boston-Albany corridor and take advantage of the many connection possibilities in Albany. If connections through Albany were improved with more frequencies than the Lake Shore Limited Boston section, then it makes a Berkshires-New York direct route (via one of the Metro North/CT Rail branches in Connecticut) less necessary.