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The agreements may differ with different carriers too. There's definitely a performance incentive program with BNSF and their internal policy lately seems to be to keep Amtrak moving so they can cash in on the performance incentives offered by Amtrak to the extent possible. I'm all for the class 1 c...

The Viewliner 1 refresh is not including removing the toilets. That ship sailed a few years ago. That was the plan back when the Viewliner 2s were ordered and Boardman was still around. That plan has been shelved since at least Anderson’s time.

The long distance equipment is funded (via the direct supplemental capital grants to Amtrak in the national network account). The RFP should be any day now between now and early next year. The Fed state - national network awards is going to be more major capital expenses - things in the running incl...

The first round of the National Network side of the "Federal State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail" grants which, like the NEC announcement, I believe will include the first two fiscal years of the five year program should be announced in the next couple weeks as well as the selec...

There might be a lot of "useless pork" but the arugment that "buses suck so I'd rather die than actually get on a bus that is the option for lifesaving medical care" proves, without a doubt, that Amtrak trains are nothing more than luxury cruise liners for the rich, wealthy, and...

and contrary to what the advocacy community holds, the obligation to provide commercial transportation to these areas simply does not exist. Therefore, if there is an ostensible "need" for commercial transportation to accommodate this segment of the population, an intercity bus would prov...

Additionally Amtrak offered to match $9 million. Which isn’t nothing.

The big relevant one here is how it is funded. This line would have been a hard sell for FTA Capital Investment Grants which fund commuter rail (and other transit) programs like those operated by the MBTA for many of the reasons stated by previous posters. The FTA has far stricter cost benefit and r...

I’m all for the project as currently crafted. The current proposal acknowledges some of the realities of 2023 and presents a more modest realistic approach based in reality to provide service across the state. Commuter rail or HSR out to Pittsfield isn’t really realistic and this project is no longe...

It’s unclear what’s going to happen west of Springfield. I would anticipate the new inland trains to not be impacted by a bustitution but when they do the work west of Worcester who knows. I don’t think they’re planning on doing double track everywhere.

When it comes to capital planning and the work of the Northeast Corridor Commission, the Springfield line, Keystone line, and Empire connection (to Sputyn Duyvil) are considered branch lines of the NEC and the Commission does capital planning for them. However the branch lines are NOT covered as par...

Separately, it's time to look at a Chatham (NY) station. It's much the same catchment as Hudson - anyone heading towards Springfield/Boston would railhead from there in theory. If more Albany-Boston service is coming (I think another 2 per day - so 5 Springfield-Boston in time) - then it'd be worth...

well, it's not like they don't have train service which they do and is rarely used by Springfielders. and then there is all the bus options which are cheaper than the train and just about as fast. and for folks with their own cars there is the Pike and rte 20. Beyond all that is there any real dema...

https://www.masslive.com/news/2023/09/u ... rvice.html

Just announced today - they got the grant this will be moving forward.

https://www.masslive.com/news/2023/09/u ... rvice.html

And there we have it!