by johnpbarlow
Took a mid-day round trip Wellesley-Worcester on Weds 3/26/14 and both trains ran OT but the transit times seem like they could be reduced. Station dwell times were short due to the light passenger load of a mid-day train. Two questions wrt the eastbound trip:
1.After departure from Worcester, the train remained on track 1 to CP-39 where it crossed over to track 2. Train speed between WUS and CP-39 seemed leisurely and we accelerated noticeably after clearing CP-39. Is this standard operating procedure? Prior to CSX upgrading the intermodal yard, there used to be a crossover at CP-43 - does that exist anymore? Or does CSX have exclusive use of track 2 to CP-39?
2. Prior to arrival at Framingham, the train slows to 15ish mph at CP-23, the west end of Nevins Yard, and continues at this speed to the station where the CP-21 signal shows a stop indication to enable the Concord St crossing to be used by car traffic until train departs. OTOH, for eb Amtrak Lake Shore Limited, the CP-21 signal is set to clear meaning Concord St crossing gates are activated prior to and for the duration of 448's Framingham stop. Is the CP-21 eb signal aspect controlled by the MBTA dispatcher? Given there are now 20 eb MBTA trains v. 1 eb Amtrak per day, I can understand why the eb signal should remain at stop until an MBTA train departs but why does the ultra slow speed need to start at CP-23 rather than CP-22? Couldn't T trains operate at 30ish mph between CP-23 and CP-22?
Thanks.
1.After departure from Worcester, the train remained on track 1 to CP-39 where it crossed over to track 2. Train speed between WUS and CP-39 seemed leisurely and we accelerated noticeably after clearing CP-39. Is this standard operating procedure? Prior to CSX upgrading the intermodal yard, there used to be a crossover at CP-43 - does that exist anymore? Or does CSX have exclusive use of track 2 to CP-39?
2. Prior to arrival at Framingham, the train slows to 15ish mph at CP-23, the west end of Nevins Yard, and continues at this speed to the station where the CP-21 signal shows a stop indication to enable the Concord St crossing to be used by car traffic until train departs. OTOH, for eb Amtrak Lake Shore Limited, the CP-21 signal is set to clear meaning Concord St crossing gates are activated prior to and for the duration of 448's Framingham stop. Is the CP-21 eb signal aspect controlled by the MBTA dispatcher? Given there are now 20 eb MBTA trains v. 1 eb Amtrak per day, I can understand why the eb signal should remain at stop until an MBTA train departs but why does the ultra slow speed need to start at CP-23 rather than CP-22? Couldn't T trains operate at 30ish mph between CP-23 and CP-22?
Thanks.