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bostontrainguy wrote:EGE:I'd like to see a comparison of the proposed speed limits when they thought they could do New York to Boston in 3 hours, and the actual speed limits that exist today.
Great job here. I have an original NEC improvement plan from Amtrak here somewhere and it will be interesting to compare them.
boblothrope wrote:I will have to dig it up and post the info.bostontrainguy wrote:EGE:I'd like to see a comparison of the proposed speed limits when they thought they could do New York to Boston in 3 hours, and the actual speed limits that exist today.
Great job here. I have an original NEC improvement plan from Amtrak here somewhere and it will be interesting to compare them.
Is any of the slowdown north of New Haven, or is it all on Metro North territory?
bostontrainguy wrote:Here is the proposed AMTRAK NEC HIGH SPEED CONFIGURATIONThanks for posting that. And thanks to The EGE for posting the kml file. Interesting to look at the route and see where the slow sections are.
Dated 11/18/1994
APPROX MILE/LOCATION
...
117.00
90 MPH - NIANTIC RIVER DRAW
afiggatt wrote:I thought that the S curve through the Rocky Neck State Park would be easier to remedy than taking private property. There would be ledge to remove and the parking lot would have to be moved back, but if they can't do this on State property where can they do it?bostontrainguy wrote:Here is the proposed AMTRAK NEC HIGH SPEED CONFIGURATIONThanks for posting that. And thanks to The EGE for posting the kml file. Interesting to look at the route and see where the slow sections are.
Dated 11/18/1994
APPROX MILE/LOCATION
...
117.00
90 MPH - NIANTIC RIVER DRAW
One that has jumped out to me before is the short curve or bump at MP 112.8 that has a 70 mph max speed. It looks like it could be straightened out, but the tracks are going through Rocky Neck State Park, which means that it probably would be very difficult to take a small slice of state park land to straighten the ROW. At least the Niantic River bridge, after all these years, will finally be fixed with the tracks moved to the new bridge very soon.
Worth contemplating how many of the 90 mph or slower sections could be sped up by 10 to 20 mph. It looks like a number of the 90 mph segments could be upgraded to 100 mph ranges. I would like to see Amtrak and the FRA in cooperation with CDOT, possibly as part of the Tier I EIS process that is underway, come up with a specific list of projects and improvements that would achieve a scheduled 3 hour or better NYP-BOS Acela trip time (with the normal Acela stops). If some of the projects are expensive, so be it. Lay them out on the table for discussion.
Would it add anything to the kml overlay to mark where the remaining grade crossings are on the Shore Line East?
bostontrainguy wrote: I thought that the S curve through the Rocky Neck State Park would be easier to remedy than taking private property. There would be ledge to remove and the parking lot would have to be moved back, but if they can't do this on State property where can they do it?Looking it up, Rocky Neck State Park is 710 acres and the land was originally acquired by conservationists in 1931. The transfer of the property to the state may have come with an agreement that the land will remain protected state park land forever. Baring those sort of restrictions, that the land is a State Park means that it is subject to laws restricting the use of and protecting the land. Since it is a public park, there would be multiple interest groups that would be involved in transferring any of the land. Even if it were a land swap with the ROW and tracks moved north 100' or 150' and the land used by the current tracks transferred back to the park after being cleaned up. Acquiring a piece of private property through eminent domain is likely far easier, even if the private property owner has heavy hitter law firms entered into his iPhone.
As far as the grade crossings go, this proposal eliminates every grade crossing. I would question the value of that especially around New London and Mystic where the train runs relatively slowly and the work would be difficult. I had the opportunity to ride an Amfleet train on the corridor with a speed calculating GPS. We hit 127 mph through Mansfield, MA, but otherwise we ran through every existing grade crossing far below the maximum 110 mph allowed. I think beefed-up safety systems could be used instead of expensive eliminations at most of the existing crossings.
Stonington:
Palmer Street (Pawcatuck): Connects the Pawcatuck residential neighborhood to Mechanic Street along the Pawcatuck River.
Elihu Island Road: Access to Elihu Island
Walker's Dock: Access to this small marina
Wamphassuc Crossing: Access to the upscale residences on Wamphassuc Point
Latimer Point Road: Access to the summer cottages on Latimer Point
Broadway (Mystic): Access to the eastbound train platform at the Mystic Depot, and to marinas that line the north shore of Mystic Harbor.
Groton:
School Street: Provides access to marinas and residences on Willow Point in West Mystic. This was the first quad-gate installation in the United States, dating from 1998.
New London:
Ferry Street: Access to ferries to Block Island and Orient Point, Long Island
State Street: Access to the City Pier, Waterfront Park, and the Fisher's Island Ferry
Bank Street Connector: Pedestrian access to the Waterfront Park
Waterford:
Miner Lane: Access to a few residences and industrial businesses.
