gokeefe wrote:Gilbert B Norman wrote:While 98 could make a "next day" turn at BOS for 97 just as it does at SSY presently, you are first confronted with both the Fairfield and the US Navies not allowing any additional trains over the East End. To add/cut cars at say Wash is contrary to Amtrak's operations "protocols". You would also have additional costs with the Boston commissary concessionaire as they presently do not supply any train with full-service dining.
The question of frequency over the draw bridges is duly noted. My response? Substitute it for a Northeast Regional. Point taken regarding commissary but it can't be too small as they have to supply Acela First Class. Yes it's "small potatoes" (haha) compared to a full service dining car but "Amcafe" it is not. "Can't spare" the Regional? Add a handful of Amfleet Is to the consist and seat short or corridor trip segments. The train is going to soak up some ridership going to NYP or WAS to connect to the Silver Service regardless so some of the ridership would cross over directly.
re: 97/98 to Boston...what does this gain? A dozen or so passengers don't have to change trains at NYP or WAS? I recall a discussion on another rail-oriented website of extending one or two of the Florida trains to Boston. The bottom line was it would require a full car set for each train any given the train may arrive NYP 4 hours down and still have to make it to BOS...perhaps losing another hour and make a very short turnaround time. Ain't gonna happen. Look at what happens when Autotrain is 5-6 hours late...it takes DAYS to get back to normal schedules. At best, identical trainsets from 2 or more schedules (add in the Crescent?) could be rotated from one train route/schedule to another each day. Oh...almost forgot...various OBS crews would have to be based in BOS as well.
As for BOS commissary abilities, I don't know as they stock the Acelas there. After the terrible breakfast I had in Acela First Class last May, I don't think I'd want them stocking dining car food!
Lastly, as noted, there's a very strict limit of numbers of trains across the various bridges enroute to/from BOS. Adding another is not an option unless the USCG and crybaby boaters (NIMBYs, essentially) are somehow made happy. Considering the schedule 'intricrasies' to fit Metro North, Shoreline East, Amtrak and an occasional freight trains as well as maintenance trains, adding even 1 more train would require likely schedule adjustments for all of the above and therefore require their approval as well. Running one or more of the trains via the inland route still has to deal with bridge issues from New Rochelle to New Haven. Perhaps if, someday, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is willing to foot the bill for reinstallation of the 2nd main East from Springfield in conjunction with added BOS-SPG trains as is being kicked around, I think CSX would be happy comply, if the price is right.