NHV 669 wrote:IIRC, it hasn't been that long since they undercut the tracks in that tunnel for double-stacks. Are there still other clearance issues keeping them from using this route for that purpose, or is the traffic just not there?
NECR is cleared for 19'6" from Willimantic to the CN interchange. 19'6" lets you do autoracks, stacks of international cubes, or a mixed stack of 1 domestic cube + 1 international cube. 20'6" is what the roads with full domestic DS go with for clearance.
NECR has same clearance as PAS and P&W where they interchange, so they're not going to shoot for the extra foot until both those roads not only can do full domestic stacks but also have reason to send them stuff bigger than autoracks. Right now they seem to be an autorack route more than an IM route, so I'm not exactly sure what the trigger would be for needing the extra foot. Maybe VRS clearing its way east of Rutland across the Green Mountain div. to Bellows Falls for a high-clearance lane from CP?
In the short-term they'd probably have lots more upside to chase raising their Willimantic to New London clearances from 17' to 19'6" consistent with the rest rather than spending for the extra foot in MA and VT years too soon for it to matter.