CTRail Hartford Line Double-Track Progress

We've been talking about this primarily here: ctdot-hartford-line-t170244-660.html
but I thought I'd start a separate topic, and it would be too much work to split the topic.

Here's a status report from Trains in the Valley: https://trainsinthevalley.org/infrastru ... uble-track

Hartford Line Double Track (Phase 3B)


Final Design | Jun 2022 – Jul 2024 | Complete
Construction | Mar 2025 – Aug 2027 | Not Started

This project will complete the double-tracking of the Hartford Line rail corridor between West Hartford and Enfield.

The project will be divided into three contracts —

Contract 1 | West Hartford to Hartford (MP 33.4 to MP 35.1)
Installation of 1.7 miles of second track between West Hartford and Hartford. Removal of an existing freight siding.

Contract 2 | Windsor to Windsor Locks (MP 46.2 to MP 48.6)
Installation of 2.4 miles of second track between Windsor and Windsor Locks.

Contract 3 | Enfield (MP 51.5 to MP53.1)
Installation of 1.5 miles of second track in Enfield.

Each contract also includes signal improvements. track drainage swales, underdrains, existing culvert extensions and rehabilitations, grade crossing improvements including wayside horns, and retaining walls, and reconnection of existing commercial/industrial sidings, as required.

Milestones

December 8, 2023 | Amtrak issued a Request for Letters of Interest and Qualifications for civil and site construction improvements to support double tracking of the Amtrak-owned Hartford Line rail corridor. The planned work is to take place between milepost (MP) 47.1 (a point just south of the existing Windsor Locks station) and MP 49.3 (a point just west of the Connecticut River Bridge.)

The project consists of construction of railbed and drainage improvements to support installation of a second track and replacement of the existing single track (future Track 1), improvements to existing culverts, site grading improvements at future interlockings, and construction of retaining walls.

Are they repairing the viaduct at Hartford Union Station and double tracking through there, or will there still be a short section of single track?

Don't expect the Hartford viaduct to be improved anytime soon. They're throwing around a bunch of ideas to improve mobility through Hartford, not just I-84, but the whole city. One plan would move the I-84/I-91 interchange to the area around Hartford yard (North Meadows) and a new bridge over the CT River.

Checking a track map, it looks like, after these 3 sections are double-tracked, there will still be 3 sections of single track: for about 3/4 mile or so on either side of Hartford-Union, the section in Windsor Locks from south of Bridge st/Rt 140 to north of the CT River Bridge in East Windsor/Enfield, and the section in Enfield from north of MP 53.1 to just south of MP 55.

I don't understand why the Enfield section won't connect directly to the existing double track from FIELD interlocking, north. I'm guessing they're "cheaping out" on the stations for as long as they can. If the new Windsor Locks and Enfield stations are single tracked, they need only have one platform and don't need an "up and over".

At least the Windsor-Windsor Locks portion connects with the existing double track at HAYDEN interlocking.

shadyjay wrote: ↑Wed Nov 27, 2024 9:45 pmDon't expect the Hartford viaduct to be improved anytime soon. They're throwing around a bunch of ideas to improve mobility through Hartford, not just I-84, but the whole city. One plan would move the I-84/I-91 interchange to the area around Hartford yard (North Meadows) and a new bridge over the CT River.

That would make a lot of sense. And then the Bulkeley bridge could revert to being a regular surface street, providing more capacity across the river and an alternate route to tie into the spaghetti in East Hartford. I think the plan all along has been to relocate the Hartford train station west of I-84 and untangle I-84 and the Hartford Line, with the existing Hartford Union Station being converted into some sort of public space like a park or market.

Checking a track map, it looks like, after these 3 sections are double-tracked, there will still be 3 sections of single track: for about 3/4 mile or so on either side of Hartford-Union, the section in Windsor Locks from south of Bridge st/Rt 140 to north of the CT River Bridge in East Windsor/Enfield, and the section in Enfield from north of MP 53.1 to just south of MP 55.

I don't understand why the Enfield section won't connect directly to the existing double track from FIELD interlocking, north. I'm guessing they're "cheaping out" on the stations for as long as they can. If the new Windsor Locks and Enfield stations are single tracked, they need only have one platform and don't need an "up and over".

Wow. The Hartford Union Station situation makes sense, since they're going to move the station (eventually) anyway, it's unfortunate that they're cheaping out on the rest.

I 84 between East Hartford and near Union station is not changing. The cost to make it go north - they would have to purchase Billions of dollars of property in East Hartford and Hartford and tear down all the new construction in "Downtown North". If you review the I 84 project website, it involves the Aetna viaduct. I am not totally understanding why they are going to have the railroad (station) move west to near to Garden Street and why but the area east of that will not change.
If the link doesn't work, just type it in.

http://www.i84hartford.com/alternatives

The I-84 Hartford project was scrapped, in favor of improving not just the Aetna viaduct, but the whole region. It became the "Greater Hartford Mobility Study". That's where the I-84 relocation is listed...

https://hartfordmobility.com/ghms/#/
Lots of information here, and in the first link (Final PEL report). Starting in the page 30s, you'll see various alternatives for the area, including conversion of the Bulkley Bridge to a surface road, capping I-91 through downtown, another bridge over the river south of the Founders, and the relocation of I-84 to meet I-91 in the "North Meadows" then a new bridge over the CT River. You're looking at a good amount of industrial and vacant land in that area. And the project would cap the new I-84 and relocate the Hartford Line parallel with it until the I-91 interchange, then meeting its existing alignment. Its an ambitious project for sure. A recent rehab of the viaduct bought it probably another 10-20 years, and by that time, we may see the first shovel of dirt turned over for some portion of this project.

I think long term they anticipate a second platform for Windsor Locks station. The station project is including the second track within the station site but not a platform for it so I’m not sure how they’re going to use the second track there initially. As for MP 55 to 53.1 I believe that is being kept single tracked for a future Enfield station as suggested. Based on what I’ve seen of the plans for Enfield it’s likely a space constraint at the station site. One of the remaining gaps in the double track would eventually get filled when they replace the bridge - which Amtrak got early design funding for.