More Mileage for CDOT??

a few questions arise since this proposal has been on table for years.
A] will Amtrak allow extra trains on springfield line.
B] Who's pool equipment would be used SLE or MNCR(CDOT).
C] who would operate it.
D]Who is willing to make the muti million dollar investments.
E] Will freight carriers cry foul when their time is limited due to extra
passenger trains.

and yes CDOT equipment is allowed on Amtrak as springfield line now gets SPV cabcars or CDOT SLE engines once in a while.

What will become of Amtrak's current 400-series "Springfield shuttles" when this is approved? Will they by discontinued and replaced with SPG-NHV commuter service or become through trains to/from Boston via Springfield?

since this is only a proposal nobody will know untill an actual plan comes forward.

You can read up about it here:

http://www.nhhsrail.com/

The final report is supposed to be out later this year.

It would be credible if it were on Conndot website or so, but it seems to look like a dream site for commuters and it will go the same way as the Danbury electrification study. and since this has nothing to do with MNCR it should be debated on Amtrak forum, its their line.

This is an Amtrak question, and is already in debate on that Forum.

-otto-

It most defenitly won't be MNCR or CDOT gennies unles they buy single mode P40's for SLE. the MNCR pool is strictly seperate from SLE pool.
and again this plan is by bunch of dreamers and has nothing to do with CDOT or MNCR.

DutchRailnut wrote: since this has nothing to do with MNCR it should be debated on Amtrak forum, its their line.

Other than the obvious equipment shortages on the New Haven. This should be a no brainer for MNRR and CDOT. Currently Amtrak operates 6 round trips on this 62 miles of track. Only 2 of these trains "The Vermonter" are more than 2 coaches long. Amtrak has been hemorrhaging money since the mail trains #13 & #10 have long been canceled. Connecticut should take this burden off of Amtrak and maintain the line, including putting the 2nd track back. MNRR which is the states primary commuter service should maintain and operate the service. MNRR does not charge Connecticut a management fee like Amtrak.

Metro-North certainly does charge CDOT a management fee, and it would certainly not operate the Springfield line for nothing.

As for rolling stock, CDOT is buying those Mafersa coaches from VRE which would become useless if CDOT is able to replace them with electric equipment, as they plan to do in the next ten years. It will take that long to get the work on the line through, what with environmental studies, design, dealing with NIMBY's etc.