Southcoast Rail

I don't understand what location you are referring too?

The two proposed stations in New Bedford are Whale's Tooth downtown and up the north end at Tarklin Hill Road.
Both have plenty of road access...

The South Terminal extension has nothing to do with SOCO Rail...

D

At the March 12 NARP regional annual meeting, held in New London, we were told that South Coast Rail is moribund.

Lee

It certainly appears that way. The state continues to throw money at it here and there, but nothing close to the total $2.5+ billion price tag. They aren't sure if they can fund their portion the Green Line extension, and most of that is federally funded. South Coast Rail seems like a pipe dream in comparison.

On WBSM radio today there was an extensive discussion of the pending commercial electric power crisis that is going to engulf Southeastern Massachusetts when Brayton Point and Pilgrim power plants are shut down in the next two years. This is anticipated to make the area even more toxic to business than it already is, with the expectation that some existing firms may chose to exit the area due to the skyrocketing cost of electricity regionally. The Massachusetts State Environmental Protection Agency edict that Southcoast Rail must use electric locomotives rather than diesel-electrics is expected to cause further problems for the project, since there will be no surplus power at all available in the region.

There was a mention that Jean Fox will be on WBSM tomorrow (Wednesday) to talk about the future of the Southcoast Snail.

MX

Welcome back MX!

D

Thanks D. I seldom participate in internet discussions any more, but I thought the WBSM discussion was quite interesting and worth mentioning.

MX

Thank goodness then for Cape Wind, amirite? :0

The WBSM interview with Jean Fox was interesting but nothing really new. Possible budgeting for more "planning" and more public relations stuff about "clean electric locomotives" for New Bedford and Fall River service, with no explanation of how they are going to justify that in a region now facing a critical power shortage.

MX

And I assume no discussion of how they would pay for the project? Likely between $2.5 and $3 billion, and only a few hundred million $ of planning has been funded thus far.

SCR/Cape Rail in the news today. Still no mention of how this would ever be paid for, particularly when the existing system requires so much capital investment:

http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/201 ... story.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

That chart labeled South Coast Rail Plans looks a little crude and odd. Non-rail people probably don't care anyway.

It will be interesting to see who runs the Cape Flyer in 2017...

MBTA F40PH-2C 1050 wrote:It will be interesting to see who runs the Cape Flyer in 2017...

Operator (Keolis) or management team (specifically the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority)?

http://patch.com/massachusetts/stoughto ... hton-plans" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Both the Middleborough/Lakeville and Stoughton lines will be a part of the MBTA's South Coast Rail, the state's Department of Transportation announced Wednesday.

The plan has the MBTA using the Middleborough/Lakeville Commuter Rail line while they continue preliminary engineering design and permitting on the Stoughton line.

“Our administration is committed to providing the South Coast with commuter rail service as expeditiously and efficiently as possible,” Governor Charlie Baker said in a release. “Pursuing the Middleborough/Lakeville early action service while advancing the Stoughton Electric final phase service will facilitate commuter rail service to the region years earlier.”

Google Maps Aerial view suggests there is a missing wye connector track in the SE quadrant at Cotley Jct?

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Cotle ... 71.0464339