Pan Am Southern / Patriot Corridor Discussion

I got word, the rail rolled.

So who's supposed to inspect/maintain that track? Is that one an MBTA responsibility or a PAS responsibility?

PAS

CSX, NS, ST

CSX W003 geometry train just passed through Ayer in both directions in the past week or so. I’m guessing it didn’t examine the Camp track?

They typically don't waste time on other than main track. It doesn't take a multi-million dollar computer assisted geometry train to tell you that non-controlled track more times than not is junk. I'd say the ground either gave away or they are one less track inspector now.

Agreed but the secondary Camp track / west wye aren’t just infrequently used side tracks as they facilitate the daily 265 doubling (if needed) and departure plus numerous switching moves each day. Not as important as the east wye, at least to CSX, though. And X months from now, 265 will be but a memory on the Camp track and it will be G&W’s challenge to maintain.

It's no different than Tracks 1-3 in the Hill yard which are used daily for 264/265 or Track 11 as a runner. Same FRA Class and inspection criteria. Same crap track.

Every one of the yards really needs to be turn out and replaced like Rigby.

which is why, with construction season just around the corner, hopefully CSX follows up this summer with the work to Hill Yard promised in the STB filing (and while they are at it, hopefully the rail from X25 to Clinton gets replaced to get the speed up to 25 on that crap track section).

As of 3/23/23, G&W has posted 8 Pittsburgh & Shawmut dba Berkshire & Eastern (BERX) job openings for Billerica, Devens, and East Deerfield. These postings do not include any conductor or engineer positions (CSX job web site still lists Springfield Terminal agreement conductor openings for PAS at Mohawk, E Deerfield and Ayer plus conductors for Lawrence and Portland for CSX).

And here are the 2 BERX positions at Billerica...

I’m told May 1 for B&E

I've heard the same and the bids are a mess.

Takeover date I'm hearing now is July.

So what seems to be holding things up? Just employee/union negotiations, or something else?