jp1822 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 27, 2019 12:52 pm I am sure the answer to my question is buried in the 125 pages of data here, but can someone advise on how many additional trainsets this new service will need - and will it be the standard P42 with just two Amfleet coaches, or will they add a third? This is a corridor that would really benefit from DMUs or something more efficient.According to Amtrak's five year fleet plans they are considering some type of diesel fixed trainset for the Shuttles for the future. They are also looking at some type of dual mode setup to eliminate the engine changes at New Haven for the through trains. Whether they would do some type of new dual mode locomotive or run both a Sprinter and a Charger on the Vermonter and Springfield Regionals for the whole trip is yet to be determined - both a dual mode loco and a two loco approach are being considered. What they decide to do with the Amfleets will also affect the ultimate approach. If the Amfleets end up being replaced by an EMU trainset than it may be that those trainsets that go off the NEC into diesel territory may be paired with a diesel locomotive. Or possibly they could do EMUs for trains limited to the corridor/Keystone corridor, and buy a pool of traditional cars that could be used for the single level Long Distance trains and all all the Regionals/state supported trains which operate in both diesel and electric territory. If they changed all the regionals and keystones confined to the electric territories into EMUs, you wouldn't need as many Sprinters for the corridor and you could probably just have them dead head on the train into diesel territory and eliminate all regular engine changes including the long distance trains.
Also, I get the fact that this is a MA funded pilot program, it’s too bad though that VT couldn’t have kicked in some money to try a round-trip shuttle train leaving White River Junction at 6 am and return either late afternoon or late evening.
The shuttle service north of Springfield should be VERY popular with college students (and parents). This market may also tap the Lake Shore Limited - 448/449 - to get to/from Boston. Currently that’s the only east-west train across central MA. Its reliability is obviously a big challenge being that it is a LD train. It’s too bad there’s not at least ONE Inland shuttle.
OVerall though, this should be an amazing service and hope it’s a huge success!