by Champlain Division
From the May - June 2004 issue of the ESPA Express newsletter:
Canadian Pacific American Mainline Update
The 173-mile Canadian Pacific - Delaware & Hudson (CP-D&H) mainline between Schenectady and Rouses Point will continue to see infrastructure improvements during the remainder of 2004. The joint CP/NYSDOT project is part of the economic development / passenger rail enhancement program for the I-87 rail corridor. CP has completed their contractual obligation for the line upgrade during the past year.
New power turnouts installed at the new Saratoga Springs Station will be powered up during the 3rd quarter of 2004. This will allow for remote control operation of the switches by the CP dispatch center in Minneapolis, MN. eliminating the hand throw operation of the controlled siding into the station.
During the 4th quarter the real centerpiece of the capital program should become operational. The fiber optic signal system which eliminates all lineside and roadside signal wiring is due to be cut into service. Signal problems have always been a significant problem for the Amtrak Adirondack and Ethan Allen trains which operate on the line.
Also scheduled and ongoing for the 2004 construction season is a joint Federal/State/CP tunnel clearance project unrelated to I-87 initiative. Steve Fisk- senior manager of business development for CP points out that these improvements are for double stack container service to and from the U.S. and Canada.
One tunnel is located at Willsboro and the other at Fort Ticonderoga. Canadian Pacific and Norfolk Southern have been working closely together on marketing efforts to build traffic volume on the Canadian Mainline and thus the need for the freight improvements Mr. Fisk did not indicate that Amtrak service would be delayed as a result of this construction.
Ben Gottfried
Canadian Pacific American Mainline Update
The 173-mile Canadian Pacific - Delaware & Hudson (CP-D&H) mainline between Schenectady and Rouses Point will continue to see infrastructure improvements during the remainder of 2004. The joint CP/NYSDOT project is part of the economic development / passenger rail enhancement program for the I-87 rail corridor. CP has completed their contractual obligation for the line upgrade during the past year.
New power turnouts installed at the new Saratoga Springs Station will be powered up during the 3rd quarter of 2004. This will allow for remote control operation of the switches by the CP dispatch center in Minneapolis, MN. eliminating the hand throw operation of the controlled siding into the station.
During the 4th quarter the real centerpiece of the capital program should become operational. The fiber optic signal system which eliminates all lineside and roadside signal wiring is due to be cut into service. Signal problems have always been a significant problem for the Amtrak Adirondack and Ethan Allen trains which operate on the line.
Also scheduled and ongoing for the 2004 construction season is a joint Federal/State/CP tunnel clearance project unrelated to I-87 initiative. Steve Fisk- senior manager of business development for CP points out that these improvements are for double stack container service to and from the U.S. and Canada.
One tunnel is located at Willsboro and the other at Fort Ticonderoga. Canadian Pacific and Norfolk Southern have been working closely together on marketing efforts to build traffic volume on the Canadian Mainline and thus the need for the freight improvements Mr. Fisk did not indicate that Amtrak service would be delayed as a result of this construction.
Ben Gottfried
Richard E. "Rick" Shivik
HO D&H Champlain Division
Piedmont Division NMRA
Conyers,GA
HO D&H Champlain Division
Piedmont Division NMRA
Conyers,GA