AMTRAK NEC: Springfield Shuttle/Regional/Valley Flyer/Inland Routing

According to the 10/24/1972 Amtrak timetable archived at timetables.org, BOS-NHV via SPG was 2:10 to SPG and 3:34 to NHV on the Bay State. Via the Shoreline, the 7:05AM Manhattan Turbo was 2:05 to NHV and the 12:30PM Colonial was 2:55 to NHV.

According to the 10/25/1959 New York Central timetable at https://www.canadasouthern.com/caso/ptt/timetables.htm, BOS-SPG at 98.3 Miles, with stops at Trinity Place, Newtonville, Framingham, WOR, Palmer, SPG was 2:02/2:10/2:18 depending on which Beeliner you took.

According to Amtrak.com, BOS-SPG is 2:28 eastbound and 2:31 westbound on the Lake Shore Ltd. despite making fewer stops than in 1972 or 1959. Hartford Line is between 1:25 - 1:37.

Add the 2:02 Beeliner from 1959 + the 1:25 Hartford Line = 3:27. Compare to the slowest Acela is 2:08 and the Northeast Regional is 2:23 - 2:38 except the late evening one is 3:00

The MBTA has spent lots of money on tracks, but the speed is the same or slower than in 1959. They should be able to get the speeds on BOS-SPG high enough that people are willing to take Inland Regionals. Presumably, the Hartford line portion is as good as it is going to be unless you have express trains

For a successful operation, speeds need to be approximately competitive with with driving, and hopefully much faster than driving at rush hour. Inland route needs to be close to Shore Line, doesn't have to be exactly as fast.