Extra Tracks at North Station?

When Tower A draw bridges are replaced, there will be 6 tracks crossing the Charles. That is when tracks 11 and 12 are expected to be tied in. The Spaulding Rehab building, which is very much active as administrative offices for MGH, is not in the way of the planned expansion.

It's the parking lot that's the problem, but it looks like 11-12 would have to merge into 10 before the end of the 9-10 platform to clear the building and the loop driveway. Depending on the plans for the new draw/tracks, they could probably shorten 9-10 and extend on the other end.

The land needed to connect the tracks is MBTA property.

caduceus wrote: ↑Wed Nov 15, 2023 3:44 pm It's the parking lot that's the problem, but it looks like 11-12 would have to merge into 10 before the end of the 9-10 platform to clear the building and the loop driveway. Depending on the plans for the new draw/tracks, they could probably shorten 9-10 and extend on the other end.

Then why do they need two more bridge spans?

Adding an additional span eliminates the 4-track bottleneck across the Charles River, allowing them to increase service by giving each line (Fitchburg, Lowell, and the combined Haverhill/Newburyport lines) a dedicated pair of tracks into the station.

The current configuration only allows 3 trains to depart the station simultaneously. Way back when there were 4 12:10AM trains, only 3 could actually leave at 12:10, 1 was always odd man out. With the new bridges which will carry 6 tracks over the river, the approach tracks will be reconfigured to serve 12 station tracks as opposed to 10 and allow for more simultaneous moves in and out of the station.

CRail wrote: ↑Wed Jan 10, 2024 1:56 am The current configuration only allows 3 trains to depart the station simultaneously.

How is this? From space it looks like four trains could easily leave at the same time as long as they were starting at the right tracks, spread out ?

Arrangement of switches just north of the bridge probably reduce capacity from 4 -> 3. It's really stupid how the switches are set up there, especially getting to/from the Fitchburg & Lowell tracks & going to/from lower numbered tracks & haverhill & new/rock lines. Really should be reconfigured.

Probably designed for the needs of the 1970s. North Station had some station tracks added in the 90s, right? Should have been partially addressed then but probably wasn't.

l008com wrote: ↑Wed Jan 10, 2024 1:59 amHow is this? From space it looks like four trains could easily leave at the same time as long as they were starting at the right tracks, spread out ?

Follow track 1 over the draw (nearest the tower), it becomes the Tuttle track which dead ends. The last time I saw the Tuttle used was for mid day storage of Downeaster equipment during Western Route work. There were a string of MBB cars stored on it at one point, too. The 4 tracks over the spans bottleneck to 3 at the front ladder before fanning out to 7.

So that bottleneck seems like something that would be super easy to fix and not require any new drawbridge upgrades at all. Just some fairly minor track rearranging and then you have a full four tracks heading out?

Pretty much. 6 tracks may be good for future proofing but I don't see a need for it now.

Then why do they need two more bridge spans?

I have to imagine another goal of having an additional span is the ability to maintain the bridge with less disruption to service. Right now, one bridge being out means 50% of the capacity is gone. With three bridges, one can be out with minimal disruption in service.

How often do they even raise the bridge? I've seen what looks like preparation to do so, but never actually saw it raise.

They go up and down all the time during the boating season. If you hang out at Paul Revere Park you will hear the bridge sirens constantly. Also anyone ever consider the age of the bridges. If they need replacement now might as well futureproof at a cheaper cost now then a more expensive later.