Lentinula wrote:I mean Worcester-Boston by car is comparable time wise to the train but the train is very very well utilized from Worcester.
There are significant other factors in Boston that tip the scales when time is comparable, have a look at
my post on the previous page. And even then, I would argue the train is faster in the rush hour. Most MBTA trains are 83 minutes inbound to South Station. Departing Worcester at 7am Monday Google shows a huge range of 65-130 minutes to South Station, recommending you allow for the maximum. Again, this is station-to-station and doesn't factor first/last mile or other stations like Yawkey or Back Bay.
Lentinula wrote:Also if it was well scheduled a transfer in Ayer would let me take the train into North Station which would be extremely useful in trying to get to stuff on that side of the great N/S divide, i could see a Worcester to North Station route being very well patronized. A transfer to the Downeaster somehow would be even better.
Worcester to Back Bay to the Orange Line to North Station. Why invest tons of money to have a two-seat ride that takes more time than the current option? Not to mention a transfer at Back Bay is protected from the elements and has amenities (food, restrooms) where Ayer is a typical open-air commuter rail station.
Worcester to Ayer is about 28 rail miles. So again, assuming track upgraded to 60mph with some slowdowns and a stop at Clinton and maybe somewhere else you're likely looking at about 40-45 minutes of travel time realistically over that stretch, plus at least 5 minutes to make a connection. Again, I'm being generous because the MBTA averages roughly 30mph on their schedules.
Assuming a best-case rush-hour scenario, the current connection is 25 minutes faster.
Via Ayer is 40 minutes Worcester-Ayer, 5 to transfer and then 56 Ayer to North Station (train 404). That totals 101 minutes.
The current option with the super-express "Heart-to-Hub" (train 552) is 60 minutes Worcester to Back Bay, 5 to transfer and 11 from Back Bay to North Station on the Orange Line for a total of 76 minutes.
Assuming a typical rush-hour scenario, the current connection is 15 minutes faster.
Via Ayer is 40 minutes Worcester-Ayer, 5 to transfer and then 63 Ayer to North Station (train 406). That totals 108 minutes.
The current option is be 77 minutes Worcester to Back Bay (train 508), 5 to transfer and 11 from Back Bay to North Station on the Orange Line for a total of 93 minutes.
Assuming a typical off-peak scenario, the current connection is 3 minutes faster
Via Ayer is 40 minutes Worcester-Ayer, 5 to transfer and then 62 Ayer to North Station (train 416). That totals 107 minutes.
The current option is be 88 minutes Worcester to Back Bay (train 516), 5 to transfer and 11 from Back Bay to North Station on the Orange Line for a total of 104 minutes.
Notice that even the typical existing rush hour scenario beats the best-case Ayer rush hour scenario by 8 minutes. The only drawback with the current option is that a commuter rail fare doesn't transfer to the subway unless you have a monthly pass. But there is an ongoing project to fix that in the next couple of years with AFC 2.0.