roberttosh wrote: ↑Fri Dec 31, 2021 4:24 pm
With the shift to the Barbers interchange and the general demise of traffic on the Fitchburg, I don't think there's going to be enough density for CSX to run solid PAS trains from Buffalo or points further west any time soon. That was done from time to time in the past when Conrail or PC before them was interchanging multiple trains per day to the B&M at Rotterdam, but those days and that level of business are long gone and Selkirk is really the only practical consolidation point to handle today's PAS traffic levels. The local PAS and Hoosick Jct business could still be interchanged at Rotterdam where a local could handle. They could also shift the VTR business to PAS or NECR routings via Bellows Falls or even have VTR handle the business directly themselves if they happen to get those kind of new trackage rights as a result of the acquisition. Further, a lot of what CSX hands over at Rotterdam is going to points on the Conn River South of Deerfield or to points in CT, where the Springfield interchange would offer a considerable savings in mileage and switching. Traffic moving over Springfield could likely be handled up to Deerfield with the existing or expanded EDPL service and it would also allow them to eliminate the EDRJ/RJED pair. Not saying it's going to happen but it has it's merits.
Too much guess work here when we have stated intentions. Traffic currently being interchanged (PAS local, NECR, BKRR, VTR, etc) at RJ will continue post sale. Furthermore, traffic that is bring interchanged in Ayer between PAR and PAR currently (Ayer is NOT an interchange point and they are really only getting away with it because ST is the carrier for both) will return to Rotterdam. No off the waybill interchanging when ST is gone.
CSX loads or empties for points destined on PAR that are using the RJ gateway (there aren't many left, but some) will move to Worcester route.
There are several reasons that Springfield has never been a big CR/B&M interchange but was for NH to B&M and CP to CR, CP to NH, (both bridge) etc and this have not changed.
So you'll see more PAS local traffic via RJ but less run-through from there.