@JohnFromJersey I’m not so sure about that. Even if C&D cleans up and opens the line between Farmingdale and Freehold, NJT would still need at least Class 4 track for any sort of operation down here.
If they are gonna go that far then they may as well rip up the current tracks and start over from scratch. Practically everything would need replacement. New rails, new ties, new tie plates, crossing upgrades/replacements, and that’s not even considering anything else they may do. More than likely they will install catenary wires as well.
NJT will most definitely scare off the freight down here, and it’s not just the Coast Line they want freight off of. I kid you not when I say they’ve complained to Amtrak before about letting Conrail run any freight on the NEC in the daytime lol.
Plus, NJT has lots of restrictions across their network on freight. Weight limits, bans on certain freight car types, small operating windows, PTC/Cab signal requirements, etc. Freight railroads also pay a fee to go down NJT lines. (I think they pay a certain amount for each mile they travel)
Stuff like this is part of the reason why NS pulled out of Dover 2 years ago. They just couldn’t be bothered anymore.
If they are gonna go that far then they may as well rip up the current tracks and start over from scratch. Practically everything would need replacement. New rails, new ties, new tie plates, crossing upgrades/replacements, and that’s not even considering anything else they may do. More than likely they will install catenary wires as well.
NJT will most definitely scare off the freight down here, and it’s not just the Coast Line they want freight off of. I kid you not when I say they’ve complained to Amtrak before about letting Conrail run any freight on the NEC in the daytime lol.
Plus, NJT has lots of restrictions across their network on freight. Weight limits, bans on certain freight car types, small operating windows, PTC/Cab signal requirements, etc. Freight railroads also pay a fee to go down NJT lines. (I think they pay a certain amount for each mile they travel)
Stuff like this is part of the reason why NS pulled out of Dover 2 years ago. They just couldn’t be bothered anymore.