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

[lordsigma12345]

The quick trak machine was still upstairs as of yesterday but given how much got moved yesterday I wouldn’t be surprised if that gets moved today.

[Backshophoss]

The understanding was the "tunnel" offices were to be used by the contractor of the NHHS service for ConnDOT
as their crew base.

[lordsigma12345]

They are leasing space on the second floor of the union station building for the ctrail crews.

[lordsigma12345]

It’s also possible the old Amtrak building could even see the wrecking ball eventually. If they ended up needing to make a high level platform for track 8 that might require the building to be demolished. But I guess that depends on whether a high level is eventually needed there.

[east point]

It’s also possible the old Amtrak building could even see the wrecking ball eventually. If they ended up needing to make a high level platform for track 8 that might require the building to be demolished. But I guess that depends on whether a high level is eventually needed there.

Sounds reasonable as all CT equipment will be high level and all Amtrak equipment is high level capable. Anyone know any single level cars that are low level only ? The only possibility we can see if a Albany <> BOS/BON route has superliner equipment added. Very Highly unlikely ?

[Greg Moore]

Extremely unlikely. Superliner equipment can only get into BOS if the catenary is de-energized.
And Albany in theory can handle low-level boarding... if you walk to the far north end of the platforms. So it would not be practical.
(and I'm not sure Schenectady can handle low-level at this point.)

[Kilo Echo]

The move is complete and the old 1994 station closes for the last time tonight.

You broke the story, Σ. MassLive just reported it today: Amtrak returns to Springfield’s Union Station concourse, new platform expected to open in four weeks.

[lordsigma12345]

It seems that there were zero official announcements whatsoever until today when they had the little ribbon cutting.

[gokeefe]

The amount of city funds requested for the new fiscal year, beginning July 1, is down approximately 23 percent -- from $1,265,000 this fiscal year to $980,000 next fiscal year.

Huge improvement in fiscal condition. Just imagine someone in the 70s saying they could save 23% on operating costs at a major terminal.

[johnpbarlow]

Difficult to understand how a railroad industry friendly on-line publication, Progressive Railroading, puts an ignorant twist on the good news story re: Amtrak's move into Springfiled Union Station concourse. Headline:

Amtrak trains again stop at Springfield Union Station

Intro paragraph:

Amtrak's Northeast Regional, Lake Shore Limited and Vermonter trains returned to Union Station in Springfield, Massachusetts, yesterday after previously using a temporary stop as part of a station upgrade project.

https://www.progressiverailroading.com/ ... ion--57787

[Kilo Echo]

Difficult to understand how a railroad industry friendly on-line publication, Progressive Railroading, puts an ignorant twist on the good news story re: Amtrak's move into Springfiled Union Station concourse. Headline:

Amtrak trains again stop at Springfield Union Station

Intro paragraph:

Amtrak's Northeast Regional, Lake Shore Limited and Vermonter trains returned to Union Station in Springfield, Massachusetts, yesterday after previously using a temporary stop as part of a station upgrade project.

https://www.progressiverailroading.com/ ... ion--57787

It's the sort of nonsensical result one might expect from the telephone game. In this case, Amtrak's original announcement was paraphrased ad absurdum:

Amtrak’s Northeast Regional, Lake Shore Limited, and Vermonter trains will return today to the historic Springfield Union Station, after previously using a temporary facility, providing customers with a better customer experience when traveling in, out, and through Western Massachusetts.

https://media.amtrak.com/2019/06/amtrak ... on-station

[Train60]

The person at Amtrak HQ in Washington who wrote the media release probably has never been to Springfield. Apparently he/she was not aware that Amtrak has been stopping at the same location in Springfield since Day 1 (May 1, 1971).

I would also say that its a stretch to call the former station building a temporary station.

[gokeefe]

"Nothing more permanent in government than 'temporary'."

[Kilo Echo]

I wonder when (or if) Amtrak will update the "station details" on its SPG page: https://www.amtrak.com/stations/spg.

[gregorygrice]

There's nothing really to change, except for the ATM machine availability.