by east point
RRspatch wrote: ↑Mon Dec 30, 2019 2:03 amYour point of view is very enlightening. Have often proposed that the whole line needs 4 tracks. There have been statements that this section of track carries more passengers than even WW-2. You may not get MARC delay reports but when you do you will find most days there are 2 = 3 delays to MARC every day waiting for an Amtrak train. Most of the delays to Marc are out of WASH but a few south out of Baltimore. Marc trains already need to be longer on the Penn line due to overcrowding. But Marc has not purchased enough passenger cars. Marc often issues notices that such and such train will be short 1 or 2 cars. Also longer Penn line trains will result that those train would be over long for the other 2 routes out of WASH.
I remain convinced, looking back at my CETC1 and CETC2 dispatching days, that Amtrak told MARC to continue using electrics on the Penn line. If MARC went all diesel, which I think was their original plan, Amtrak would have forced them to lengthen schedules (more trainsets/crews) or perhaps even cut service to avoid delays to Amtrak trains. Why else would MARC order new Charger diesels and then turn around and rebuild the HHP's?
The biggest bottle neck right now is between Baltimore and New Carrollton. A fourth track is needed between Winans and Carroll/Hanson with Amtrak on the two center tracks and MARC on the two outer tracks. I've heard of proposals to run ACELA's on half hour frequencies once the new train sets are all in service. Remembering my CETC1 days I can't wait to see how well this works out between Washington and Baltimore.
At one time thought to just add another diesel to Marc trains but that does not seem to be a great enough resolve. Even using electrics Marc locals need to have faster acceleration than Amtrak to prevent delaying a following limited stop train.