Railroad Forums
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STrRedWolf wrote: ↑Thu Jul 14, 2022 1:41 pm Okay, trying to reduce this down... Section 3 has the "future plans": (a lot has cleared the EIS/Enviro Assessment)
- Monorail down I-270
- Maglev project
gprimr1 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 10, 2022 10:52 pm Some of these look promising.
The Baltimore Tunnel replacement will do a lot of good, as well as the Bridge Replacements.
The Tunnel replacement needs to drop the freight tunnel , there is maybe one train a night.
Putting in a connection at bayview, and restoring the camden connection to use Howard street tunnel would make more sense. Or, since there isn't that much traffic, have CSX or another company serve customers, south of bayview to DC.
Southern Maryland MARC service in my opinion is the easiest bang for the buck. The track is barely used by CSX and has good wye access to the NEC. I would propose the trains run MAS from the wye to Union Station and use the New Carlton bypass.
This has been studied , a few times.
https://www.charlescountymd.gov/home/sh ... 9546200000
The issues are that bowie interlocking would need to be redone, and The route would require quite a few over passes, and complete rebuild to even reach 79mph.
That said, a mix of fast service to DC, and slower locals running every 20 minutes to bowie station, so there are connections to either DC, or baltimore, could work. The area is fast growing, so a brightline type real estate/rail service operation could be feasible.
I'm wondering how Baltimore to Frederick MARC service over the OML would work. That's still a fairly active line.
The problem is the MAS at best is 40mph, and stations are away from housing developments.
Even if there wasn't that much traffic, it couldn't be rebuilt to be competitive with highways.
Regular Buses with BRT type stations on the 70MPH rt70 run would make more sense.
Or even (using one of the MTA proposals for central maryland transportation), BRT from baltimore to chatam mall area ellicott city,and then continuing on RT 70 to frederick.
MARC to the Eastern Shore, I like it, and I think a lot of people would use it. The Berlin right away I see is problematic, so what I would do is build a large station where the line crosses MD-90 called "Ocean Transfer." The line can still terminate in Berlin though. At Ocean Transfer, you'll board a bus to Ocean City, which is included in the ticket price. There will be two bus routes. One from Inlet-61st Street and one from 62nd-MD Line.
I don't see a direct connection across the Bay, but Expresses on the NEC, which then go south on delmarva trackage upgraded to 79mph, could be popular. Though, It's something Maryland and Delaware could work on jointly, As folks may also want to go the beaches north of Ocean City, too.
I am 100% against the Maglev and Monorail when there are so many other useful projects that will do so much more good.
Lastly, I'll ask the question...
With the amount of growth in south central PA, is it time for Maryland to start talking about relaying the NCR and establishing a York to Baltimore route?
The question is, would one run faster commuter type trains, on the same ROW as the light rail?
The light rail maxes out at 50 mph, It would be slower than the Rabbit buses now running on I83 from york.
Now, rebuilding that lightly user former WM to that area, and running DMU at least to west Baltimore MARC station,
That could work.
scratchyX1 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 11, 2022 2:39 pmgprimr1 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 10, 2022 10:52 pm Some of these look promising.
The Baltimore Tunnel replacement will do a lot of good, as well as the Bridge Replacements.scratchyX1 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 11, 2022 2:39 pm The Tunnel replacement needs to drop the freight tunnel , there is maybe one train a night.
Putting in a connection at bayview, and restoring the camden connection to use Howard street tunnel would make more sense. Or, since there isn't that much traffic, have CSX or another company serve customers, south of bayview to DC.gprimr1 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 10, 2022 10:52 pm Southern Maryland MARC service in my opinion is the easiest bang for the buck. The track is barely used by CSX and has good wye access to the NEC. I would propose the trains run MAS from the wye to Union Station and use the New Carlton bypass.scratchyX1 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 11, 2022 2:39 pm This has been studied , a few times.
https://www.charlescountymd.gov/home/sh ... 9546200000
The issues are that bowie interlocking would need to be redone, and The route would require quite a few over passes, and complete rebuild to even reach 79mph.
That said, a mix of fast service to DC, and slower locals running every 20 minutes to bowie station, so there are connections to either DC, or baltimore, could work. The area is fast growing, so a brightline type real estate/rail service operation could be feasible.gprimr1 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 10, 2022 10:52 pm I'm wondering how Baltimore to Frederick MARC service over the OML would work. That's still a fairly active line.
scratchyX1 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 11, 2022 2:39 pm The problem is the MAS at best is 40mph, and stations are away from housing developments.
Even if there wasn't that much traffic, it couldn't be rebuilt to be competitive with highways.
Regular Buses with BRT type stations on the 70MPH rt70 run would make more sense.
Or even (using one of the MTA proposals for central maryland transportation), BRT from baltimore to chatam mall area ellicott city,and then continuing on RT 70 to frederick.gprimr1 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 10, 2022 10:52 pm MARC to the Eastern Shore, I like it, and I think a lot of people would use it. The Berlin right away I see is problematic, so what I would do is build a large station where the line crosses MD-90 called "Ocean Transfer." The line can still terminate in Berlin though. At Ocean Transfer, you'll board a bus to Ocean City, which is included in the ticket price. There will be two bus routes. One from Inlet-61st Street and one from 62nd-MD Line.scratchyX1 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 11, 2022 2:39 pm I don't see a direct connection across the Bay, but Expresses on the NEC, which then go south on delmarva trackage upgraded to 79mph, could be popular. Though, It's something Maryland and Delaware could work on jointly, As folks may also want to go the beaches north of Ocean City, too.gprimr1 wrote: ↑Wed Aug 10, 2022 10:52 pm I am 100% against the Maglev and Monorail when there are so many other useful projects that will do so much more good.
Lastly, I'll ask the question...
With the amount of growth in south central PA, is it time for Maryland to start talking about relaying the NCR and establishing a York to Baltimore route?scratchyX1 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 11, 2022 2:39 pm The question is, would one run faster commuter type trains, on the same ROW as the light rail?
The light rail maxes out at 50 mph, It would be slower than the Rabbit buses now running on I83 from york.
Now, rebuilding that lightly user former WM to that area, and running DMU at least to west Baltimore MARC station,
That could work.
