CSX Acquisition of Pan Am Railways

My off the wall, cart before the horse thought — Amtrak can put in place a Boston North Station to NYC train service seamlessly over CSX, for connection/extension of the Downeaster and anyone commuting from the North side. That would be an interesting win for those who don’t like flying or driving to NYC from ME/NH and northern MA

The letter of support from Monadnock Paper Mills in Bennington NH had me scratching my head. They stated that they rely on Springfield Terminal to originate and terminate traffic at their facility (from reading the letters, you can see there was definitely a suggested template from CSX). AFAIK, the Monadnock facility hasn't had rail service since the 80's. Given the previous contention on that branch, I wonder if they're hoping to get back to shipping by rail.

Amtrak can put in place a Boston North Station to NYC train service seamlessly over CSX

I think you misspelled "Portland to NYC via Worcester".

This is one of those historical consignees who was quoted as saying, "never will use rail until Guilford is out of the picture." Still, it seems a stretch doesn't it?

It absolutely does, but with VTR in the picture in NH drumming up business (including aggregates starting this year?), it seems far more possible.

The Downeaster gets PTC with this deal.

CSXT plans to install Positive Train Control (“PTC”) (I-ETMS) on the PAR System line segment north of the Massachusetts/New Hampshire State line to Brunswick, ME, which hosts the Amtrak Downeaster service described above. The PTC installation and funding responsibility will be coordinated with Amtrak. MBTA has installed PTC (ATC-ACSES), which is in service between Boston, MA and the Massachusetts/New Hampshire State line.

Looks like desired consummation date for the CSX acquisition is 7 months out or roughly 10/1/21. NS 22K/23K trackage rights for over CSX/P&W/B&M/PAS is requested for March 27, 2021. I'm guessing 22K/23K will run single stacked until the Worcester main clearances are improved - not sure when that will be...

FatNoah wrote: ↑Fri Feb 26, 2021 4:19 pm

This is one of those historical consignees who was quoted as saying, "never will use rail until Guilford is out of the picture." Still, it seems a stretch doesn't it?

It absolutely does, but with VTR in the picture in NH drumming up business (including aggregates starting this year?), it seems far more possible.

I won't be surprised if Monadnock Paper Mill comes back but they better be ready to pony up the money to rehab the tracks, even though the state owns that end of the line, don't expect them to front the money.

Blast from the past: The Shawmut Line aka Pittsburgh & Shawmut Railroad, LLC, doing business as Berkshire & Eastern Railroad. Remember these? https://www.cmrproducts.com/wp-content/ ... -Proto.jpg

They've already begun clearing the old overgrown B&M yard property next to I 290 in Worcester.

I'm wondering if NS 22K/23K will be able to drop/pick-up Davisville auto racks somewhere in Worcester on the P&W tracks between CP-45 and Barber's over which NS will have trackage rights?

CSX operates around 700 miles of track in Massachusetts and 220 in Connecticut
Springfield Terminal is 1165 miles
That is 2085 miles in total

1165 is a track mile total (or ST plus PAS). They used 808 in the filing today. CSX is still bigger.