After the purchase of the BOS - WOR line from CSX MBTA is fullfilling one promise to begin its express service to Worcester. It may be the service is able to start with a few of the new double deck cars now delkivered ?
http://www.mbta.com/about_the_mbta/news_events/?id=26686&month=&year=
Ah, yes “Woocester – City of Love!” New England’s answer to the Poconos.
But will they be using married pairs if they electrify, and have kiss 'n ride on an expanded basis?
Does Bertie Wooster get a free pass?
Is there a tunnel suitable for kissing on this route?
I cannot answer that question on a family board.
There is the Hoosac tunnel. It is quite long. If runs from Florida to North Adams, Massachusets. I suggest kissing at the Florida end.
Now that he’s fixed the title:
Isn’t this line a top contender for part of the ‘second spine’ routes we were discussing? Can MBTA benefit from marginal rebuilding to higher speed standards – and would Massachusetts contribute some pro rata share for the improvements?
Boston-Worcester is only about 42 miles, higher speed standards are not going to make a substantial difference in time for a suburban express schedule.
IIRC the ‘second spine’ is a dedicated HSR. I don’t think they would like to mix with a commuter route that still has freight, until they get closer to Boston. Also I would say the alignment thru Providence is politically the top contender, as they have already caused Amtrak’s proposal to veer thru their town.
If the new High Speed Line goes to Worcester it won’t go to Providence and if it goes to Providence it won’t to to Worcester. Even a Providence – Worcester commuter line doesn’t make a lot of sense.
A direct Providence to Hartford line would be nice. But unless there has a recent change now there is only a 2 lane highway between Providence and Hartford.
In the FRA paper, Hartford-Worcester-Boston is one alternative, and Hartford-Providence-Boston is another alternative. In the earlier Amtrak paper, they proposed a direct Hartford-Boston alignment, but revised it to veer thru Providence after that city spoke up. I hope this clears up what I was trying to say.
The FRA offers 15 (count 'em 15) possible alternatives. That’s a lot.
Why would I want to go to Worchester? Whats there?
The downtown mall is being torn down and crime is bad there. The OWL Tobbaco Shop is cool and has vintage pipes…Bt the streets are litters with welfare moms and there baby daddys and homeless bums everywhere. Its a little Detroit…
I have never traveled that route so some basic questions arise.
Both FRS options 14 & 15 have a second spine going thru Worcester. The big question is the condition of the ROW.
Does it have gentle enough curves ?
How wide is the present ROW ?
Can 2 additional HSR rails be built next to the present tracks ?
How many auto and RR grade crossings along the route ? Can they be easily eliminated ?
One of the prettiest and smartest girls I know went to Clark University… she was not the only attractive one there…
Well, Bonas, the MBTA does have a rail line between Boston and Worcester so there must be some reason for it. Of course it could be that there are a lot of bedroom suburbs between the two cities.
John