by gokeefe
Quite a few. I think after 50 years the real question should not be about former routes but new route design. If we are still thinking about route restorations from Amtrak or pre-1971 then we exclude the possibility of designing new routes. It also introduces the error of treating historic operations as received wisdom which may not hold up under a rigorous market analysis.
I do not think that every sensible route combination of today necessarily has an analogue to a past historic route. Most of Amtrak's previous operations were based on repeats of legacy routes.
In many cases historic routes were constrained by carrier relationships, existing station facilities and in some cases track configuration.
The thing that really makes Amtrak special is their ability to design routes running over their carrier of choice. This of course assumes a willing host but that is in my opinion a secondary concern to route efficiency. There's no point operating routes which are inefficient.
Here are some examples of routes which might make sense now but AFAIK have no historic analogue:
Providence - Worcester - Springfield - Albany
Boston (North Station) - Worcester (via Grand Junction) - Norwich - Groton - New Haven - New York (Penn) ... Same could also work via Springfield. Also could run from as far north as Portland, Maine.
Concord, NH - Boston (North Station) - Route 128 (via Grand Junction) - Providence
Concord, NH - Boston (North Station) - Worcester (via Grand Junction) - Norwich - Groton - New Haven - New York (Penn)
There are just a few examples that come to mind based on my own specific knowledge of New England. I'm sure there are others elsewhere that could be likewise innovative.
I do not think that every sensible route combination of today necessarily has an analogue to a past historic route. Most of Amtrak's previous operations were based on repeats of legacy routes.
In many cases historic routes were constrained by carrier relationships, existing station facilities and in some cases track configuration.
The thing that really makes Amtrak special is their ability to design routes running over their carrier of choice. This of course assumes a willing host but that is in my opinion a secondary concern to route efficiency. There's no point operating routes which are inefficient.
Here are some examples of routes which might make sense now but AFAIK have no historic analogue:
Providence - Worcester - Springfield - Albany
Boston (North Station) - Worcester (via Grand Junction) - Norwich - Groton - New Haven - New York (Penn) ... Same could also work via Springfield. Also could run from as far north as Portland, Maine.
Concord, NH - Boston (North Station) - Route 128 (via Grand Junction) - Providence
Concord, NH - Boston (North Station) - Worcester (via Grand Junction) - Norwich - Groton - New Haven - New York (Penn)
There are just a few examples that come to mind based on my own specific knowledge of New England. I'm sure there are others elsewhere that could be likewise innovative.
gokeefe