Jeff Smith wrote: ↑Thu Apr 16, 2020 11:53 amNYC/GCT has never really been a Waterbury branch priority, at least not in years. The biggest service priority was Stamford service, I believe. Again, intrastate should be the priority here, no one is talking about GCT service for Waterbury branch.
Absolutely true. Stamford and New Haven (via Devon Transfer) make a lot more sense.
I can't recall on the fleet RFP for CTDOT, but were they considering DMU's, i.e. Stadlers? Perhaps that's the reason that they're not ready to go to bonding on those 12.
Let's hope so! 4-car (two pair) DMU or HMU sets could be used for pooled service on Waterbury, Hartford Line, SPG Shuttle, and the Valley Flyer. Even without Amtrak cooperation, CDOT could at least use them for Waterbury and Hartford. The northeast railroads should get together and make a common DMU or HMU design, one that can use high or low platforms and clear third rail for LIRR and MN shuttle services, unlike the previous designs (Nippon Sharyo) that couldn't clear the third rail. Whoops.
CDOT needs to lose the push-pull sets. There are a few cases for diesel push/pull into busy city terminals like the Old Colony Lines or dual-mode service to Port Jervis. Most lines either go towards electrification or towards HMU/DMU, however.
njtmnrrbuff wrote: ↑Thu Apr 16, 2020 3:13 pmWhatever service improvements come to the Waterbury Branch will be beneficial. If people who live along the branch don't like the fact that there are no direct trains to Grand Central, then the solution is to drive to a station on the New Haven Line.
Agreed. A reasonable solution that would benefit all the services would be a cross-platform at Devon Transfer going in, with an up-and-over coming back out.
Backshophoss wrote: ↑Fri Apr 17, 2020 9:37 pm2: ConnDOT will be part of MN's order for BBD MLV III design that will re-equip the Danbury and Waterbury Branch services.
How did CT get wrapped up in multilevel cars? The only potential use CDOT has for them would be Penn Access service from New Haven, even that could likely be handled by 8-12 car single-level sets. They're ill-suited to anything else in the state. As it is, NJT has too many of them. The big need is eventually for Comet VI cars for NJT, Penn Access, MN WOH, maybe SLE.