GLX Land Exchange Commitment & Impacts on PAR

[BostonUrbEx]

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Based on Pg 35, PAR is set to lose rights to all tracks in Lowell except for mainline tracks, Turnout 1, and Turnout 2. Is this correct? Most of the tracks are disused and disconnected anyway. But what is the reasoning for this? Almost seems like the MBTA is seeking property for a layover (Bleachery Yard) and possibly other staging grounds (RIP tracks and yard office)?

[newpylong]

A few more years and the only B&M property still owned by the B&M will be a single track from east to west, and even that will have gaps.

These people are plundering this railroad with these divestitures of rights and property.

[jaymac]

The Fink 1.0 administration dragged its feet about Downeaster service until the realization occurred that Guilford got better running for no direct investment. PAS was an offer that PAR couldn't refuse. Wisdom plus Pony sense kicked in, and The Knowledge Corridor was welcomed, not fought.
Posting as an outsider, I hope more such changes happen and more quickly so northern-tier service is something more than shippers conceding to an assertive NS.

[F-line to Dudley via Park]

Document: http://greenlineextension.eot.state.ma. ... 020711.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Based on Pg 35, PAR is set to lose rights to all tracks in Lowell except for mainline tracks, Turnout 1, and Turnout 2. Is this correct? Most of the tracks are disused and disconnected anyway. But what is the reasoning for this? Almost seems like the MBTA is seeking property for a layover (Bleachery Yard) and possibly other staging grounds (RIP tracks and yard office)?

Nope. Simply a land-swappy so the state can cash those yard parcels in for redevelopment after they clean them up. The southerly yard next to the river is adjacent to a residential neighborhood, the wedge-shaped yard in between the NH Main and Lowell Branch convergence faces Meadowcroft St. and can attract some light industry, and what pittance is left of the active yard abuts Moore Ave. It was always the plan to reconfigure Bleachery Jct. to eliminate freight-vs.-CR interference and for PAR to relocate all onsite Bleachery ops to Lawrence save for the parking spots on their 3 thru tracks by the station.

T doesn't have a major need for a layover until/unless the Nashua extension happens, in which case they take some unused space in Nashua Yard. If it becomes an acute need for vanilla Lowell service they can probably build on the abandoned F&L wye, which is set well back from the street grid and isn't much of an accessible redevelopment parcel. Or just deadhead to Billerica Shops. Fully adequate options that don't require them to hang onto the more developer-attractive holdings at/around Bleachery.

[newpylong]

Slightly off topic but current plan is for NH Commuter Rail layover in Manchester not Nashua.

[BostonUrbEx]

The South Yard is useless. And the RIP facility should be fine to shed as well, even though it is presently one of the only places used in Lowell. But the Bleachery Yard has a lot potential. It could be used without fouling the Lowell Line, or it could be used without fouling the freight main. Trips to Billerica Shop are orchestrated in Lowell, usually right on the main, but wouldn't have to be with this yard. Lowell is also used set off and pick cars to/from Nashua Yard. I don't know whether it could fully replace Lawrence in capacity or not, but if it can, it seems more ideal. If Lawrence Yard was eliminated, the Western Route's #1 track could primarily serve commuter traffic and the #2 track could primarily serve freight. However, as it currently stands, freights must utilize the #2 track to get to the #1 track to get to Lawrence. Just seems messy.

[GP40MC1118]

Just for the record, the South Yard you are referring to was actually called the New Yard.
It had connections to the mainline at both ends: South end at the Concord River via an
electric unlock, the north end via a track called the Fairgrounds that paralleled the mainline
to Bleachery Interlocking.

D

[newpylong]

The South Yard is useless. And the RIP facility should be fine to shed as well, even though it is presently one of the only places used in Lowell. But the Bleachery Yard has a lot potential. It could be used without fouling the Lowell Line, or it could be used without fouling the freight main. Trips to Billerica Shop are orchestrated in Lowell, usually right on the main, but wouldn't have to be with this yard. Lowell is also used set off and pick cars to/from Nashua Yard. I don't know whether it could fully replace Lawrence in capacity or not, but if it can, it seems more ideal. If Lawrence Yard was eliminated, the Western Route's #1 track could primarily serve commuter traffic and the #2 track could primarily serve freight. However, as it currently stands, freights must utilize the #2 track to get to the #1 track to get to Lawrence. Just seems messy.

Lawrence yard is not going anywhere. There is nowhere else in the area with enough capacity to make up for it without significant investment.