Safetee wrote: ↑Tue Oct 22, 2019 5:33 pm
The planning, which had little or nothing to do with any marketing surveys, was based on the fact that a whole train load of money had been spent on rehabbing the knowledge corridor for one lousy train in each direction. Springfield and its' Pioneer Valley Planning Commission enabler along with Mass Dot desperately want to make Springfield the rail Kansas City of western mass and the Valley Flyer shuttle service is the opening bid. They're throwing mud on the wall and hoping it will stick. But in the meantime, two of the stations that are involved have no bathroom facilities or all weather shelter. And Greenfield station is not open for the earliest train or the weekends. On and on. The support services and related stuff that could help make it work just are not in place and nobody seems to be ashamed.
To be fair, CTrail Shore Line East most stations other than New London/New Haven have no bathroom, no heating to speak of. I checked Northampton/Greenfield stations, the buildings are up just like Shore Line East stations, and maybe better.
Station costs money and probably less priority. But fares, schedules and convenience and affordability of parking are extremely important. Also driving a short distance to Springfield Union Station to get CTrail Hartford Line is not that difficult. Valley Flyers does not look promising.