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Discussion relating to the operations of MTA MetroNorth Railroad including west of Hudson operations and discussion of CtDOT sponsored rail operations such as Shore Line East and the Springfield to New Haven Hartford Line

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 #1341986  by F-line to Dudley via Park
 
CT pols will never give up their preoccupation with the electrification fairy. Hell, they'll even complain about Waterbury Branch improvements not having it.


Just because they're loud about it and scoping studies game out electrification as *one* build alternative, doesn't mean those alternatives will make the first cut and last to the round of preferred alternatives. Re: the Danbury Improvements Study, the justification for including electrification as a study option is fact that it used to be electrified long ago.

$$$ eventually enforces some sort of rational behavior. Even at CDOT. It's vanishingly unlikely they'd ever choose electrics as a preferred alternative. But that won't stop a lot of superficial yelling about it. Just tune out the superficial noise, because that's all it is.
 #1342089  by Ridgefielder
 
F-line to Dudley via Park wrote:CT pols will never give up their preoccupation with the electrification fairy. Hell, they'll even complain about Waterbury Branch improvements not having it.
The pols won't give up the obsession because the voters won't give up their obsession with it. The voters in Ridgefield, Redding, Wilton and Weston look at New Canaan, look at Westport and Norwalk, look over the state line to Katonah, and see quicker service to New York than what they have on the Danbury Branch. Those lines are all electric, so they make the assumption that electric = quicker service, and pressure the General Assembly accordingly.

Unless and until someone sits down with the Selectmen of these towns, and the editors of the Wilton Bulletin, Ridgefield Press, Redding Pilot, Danbury News-Times, etc. and explains why electrification won't "fix" things, you're going to keep hearing this.
 #1342115  by DutchRailnut
 
cause the voters are stupid, they move to cheaper house on a branch line and then demand mainline service, which is physically impossible.
even when electrified you would only see a few through trains , just like on New Canaan, basically mimicking today's service but with a pantograph on top.
 #1378170  by Jeff Smith
 
http://www.wiltonbulletin.com/70095/the ... will-come/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
“You have seen, over a one-year period of time, near double-digit increases in the number of people who are utilizing this line, and the good news is that the state is finally starting to make some investments in this line.”

The bad news? According to Murphy, these investments aren’t large enough to electrify or extend the Danbury Branch Rail Line.
 #1378175  by DutchRailnut
 
Murphy is another idiot , that figure for electrification would now double in last 7 years since study.
The signal system is not compatible with electrification, (dc based instead of ac based)
the electrification study does not include extra 50 EMU's needed at over 3.5 million per car.

and all for people who bought cheap houses on a branch line, that now expect mainline service on single track ??
people are being taxed out of CT just like corporations are.
 #1378824  by DutchRailnut
 
electrification would shut down service, each and every time a tree branch gets stuck in wire.
and railroad can not control trees not located on railroad right of way, a 50 foot tree dropping on 75 foot right of way will still most likely take out catenary.
 #1389002  by Jeff Smith
 
Folded in an earlier thread; man, we've been talking this crap for over 10 years.

Also, to amuse myself, I visited the website. After two or three years there's actually an update, and it's titled "Final":

http://www.danburybranchstudy.com/#" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Public use quote exception:
5/17/2016: Final Project Update: Over the past few years, and throughout the course of this study, there have been a number of improvements along the Danbury Branch Line. These improvements include the completion of a transportation signal system along the line which resulted in a 9% increase in ridership in 2015. Projects such as Positive Train Control and a parking expansion at Bethel station represent some of the future initiatives planned along the line. These improvements are part of Governor Dannel Malloy’s 30-year transportation program, Let’sGoCT, which outlines investments needed now to make our transportation system safer, more reliable, and more responsive to our 21st century life-styles and tremendous economic opportunities. Check out the Danbury Branch brochure for more information and highlights on completed projects and upcoming plans for the Danbury Branch Line.
Here's the brochure: http://www.danburybranchstudy.com/Danbu ... 3-11-16%20(2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;).pdf

It's attached below.

Interesting tidbit on Merritt 7:
Merritt 7 Station Enhancements
The Merritt 7 station is one of seven commuter rail stations on the Danbury Branch Line. In the summer of 2015, the Department concluded the conceptual planning phase of this project to enhance the safety, accessibility, operational efficiency, and opportunities for Transit Oriented Development (TOD). The enhancements include the replacement of the existing low-level platform with new 510-foot high-level plat-forms on each side of the tracks plus and up-and-over pedestrian bridge. This will allow passengers to access the station from the Merritt 7 office complex on the east side, which was not possible with the single existing low-level platform on the west side. The improvement will also include an extended canopy, real time train capabilities, and ticket vending machines among other amenities. Final Design of the project will begin in early 2016 and should take approximately a year to complete. This project will allow Norwalk to fully realize the TOD potential of the station.
Assuming that area remains one track, just two-side boarding.

And the preoccupation continues with electrification, albeit more subdued:
Electrification
As outlined in Lets Go CT! electrification is a long term goal for CTDOT. This enhancement to the Branch line would include up-grading all of the rail infrastructure, and converting the diesel-powered trains to electric powered trains.
If they want a one-seat ride that might save some time, get some DM overhead equipment, and run it into Penn as part of that service in 2023. Like an ALP-45DP. You'd obviate the transfer at SoNo.

And, quite oddly, there's a blurb on the Maybrook:
The Maybrook Line
CTDOT is also exploring options for improving freight rail service in Connecticut by improving the Maybrook Line and its connection to the Danbury Branch. The Maybrook Line consists of 27 miles in Connecticut and connects the Danbury Branch Line to the Water-bury Branch Line. The Maybrook Line passes through Danbury, Newtown, Monroe and Derby. It is owned by the Housatonic Rail-road and is not currently operational. If the infrastructure was re-stored, it would provide an opportunity for the freight traffic currently running on the Danbury Branch Line to be re-routed and would offer freight providers additional flexibility.
In sum total, the years of study boil down to CTC (PTC) which was going to happen anyway, and this proposal:
Extension
If the Branch line was extended north, it could provide passenger service to the communities of Brookfield and New Milford where there currently is no passenger service.
Electrification
Wow. /s
Attachments:
Brochure
(1.88 MiB) Downloaded 92 times
 #1389026  by DutchRailnut
 
Hmm the department of ConnDot studies or hole in ground to throw money into.
 #1389194  by Jeff Smith
 
I'd be ticked. Actually, I am ticked. All those years, phases, etc., and basically you get a two page brochure and a one paragraph summary. And that cost millions of dollars. And nothing except an upgrade that was going to happen study or not.

Re:

 #1421801  by Jeff Smith
 
(In my best Barbra Streisand voice) memories.... in this case, from 2007. Man, was I wrong.

Yes, I'm necroposting. Just reviewing some threads... :P
Jeff Smith wrote:Seriously, I think this has a shot.
 #1421802  by Jeff Smith
 
From 2008. Funny how some things never change.... still broke!
DutchRailnut wrote:Lets not forget that State of Connecticut is broke and transportation dreams are on back burner for now.
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