How come the commuter trains in Northeast Corridor are usually slow with many stops? There should be alot of express trains between Trenton NJ Phila and NYC but theres not. I dont understand why there are only four tracks in Elizabeth NJ instead of six from Rahway to Newark. The infrastructure is so poor it's not even funny. The NYC subway system has a better structure because at least it has local and express platforms unlike the NEC. The NEC shold have express platforems at Amtrak stations for Amtrak and express commuter but no.
Why not have passengers picked up on the fly, like the old Mail Cranes?
You have to deal with the plant you have and the plant those that are paying for it will allow. Tracks cost money, money to built, money to signal, money operate, money to maintain. Real Estate in the NEC costs money to acquire before you can even think about building additional tracks. Trains stop to pick up passengers at stations because there are paying passengers to be pick up and discharged.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
I see
The answer to this question is the same as the answer to your other question about "One seat Ride"... "economics"! Get enough people taking the route and the schedule will be modified to be the parameters of your question. If not enough people are wanting to use the route in question, there is no economic reason to have a train do it.
Semper Vaporo
Pkgs.
I agree with the previous answers and would add that there are fast trains meeting your description, and they are run by Amtrak, with frequencies comperable to the commuter trains. Different markets, different pricing, but both, if you consider capital as well as operating costs, subsidized.
In Chicago, Metra's BNSF route does have express trains and while not "HI SPEED" once they make the second, third or fourth boarding stop, move to the middle track and accelerate to 70 mph for a quick trip to Chicago. Outbound, its similar and there are trains going to Downers Grove (25 miles) non stop in 25 minute. Beats the "express"way. I think Metro North and the Long Island have express trains. Maybe NJ transit does't have the ridership to justify zoned trains. They do have a limited number of slots into NYP.
The Long Island Rail Road is the only train service that I know that has express trains from Montauk to NYP with no stops including bypassing Jamaica Ave. Though I don't know how fast they go.
Electroliner 1935trains going [Chicago] to Downers Grove (25 miles) non stop in 25 minute.
On Metra's UP-West line there has been a non-stop from Madison Terminal (Ogilvie) to Wheaton for 60+ years: 25 miles in 34 minutes.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
timz21.1 miles in 25 min-- start-to-start, tho. Does any commuter train in the US average 60 mph from its origin terminal to its first stop?
Remember, leaving CUT, Metra (BNSF) takes 5 minutes to cover the first mile to Halsted street and has to make the 18th street curve at about 20 mph. I don't know what speed they alow on the CUT (Amtrak) timetable but it might get up to 30 mph.
alloboardHow come the commuter trains in Northeast Corridor are usually slow with many stops?
I find this questioner wrong in stating there are no express trains. Looking at the NJT schedule, there are three diferent groups of stations that are served by trains. Example:
Train 3426 Train 3714 Train 3504
Lv Trenton 7:31 AM ---
Hamilton 7:38 ---
Princeton Jct 7:48 ---
Jersey Ave I 7:55 AM
New Brunswick I 8:01
Edison I 8:06
Metuchen I 8:12
Metro Park i 8:17
Rahway I I 8:00 AM
Linden I I 8:05
Elizabeth I I 8:13
N Elizbeth I I 8:16
Newark Intrnl I I 8:20
Newark Penn 8:22 8:35 8:27
Also I didn't include it but there is a train that leaves Trenton at 7:23 AM making ALL stops and Ar Newark Penn at 8:44 that has to be passed by two of these so multiple tracks of the corridor are being used. This starts at 4:56 AM and continues until 10:00.
Similar service southbound in the PM.
Ref: http://www.njtransit.com/pdf/rail/R0070.pdf
The PRR mainline went from 4 to 6 tracks where the NY&LB line joined, but went back to 4 tracks in the Elizabeth/Waverly area where freight lines leave the main line.
timz 21.1 miles in 25 min-- start-to-start, tho. Does any commuter train in the US average 60 mph from its origin terminal to its first stop?
Check out MARC non stops from WASH - Baltimore. MAS 125 mph in spots. And that incldes the slow present B&P tunnel
blue streak 1 timz Check out MARC non stops from WASH - Baltimore. MAS 125 mph in spots. And that incldes the slow present B&P tunnel
timz
http://mta.maryland.gov/sites/default/files/Penn_Full_083115flat_4.pdf
Timz, probably not to or from the terminal, because of slow running on terminal trackage. But check the 34 minute run Princeton Jc. - Newark shown on a posting above . I think the mileage is more than 34, possibly about 37 or 38. I believe NJT has several trains in both directions with this top-commuter-speed feature. Checking Metro North's Harlem Division timetable, you may find some 125th Street - White Plains runs over 60 mph. Possibly also, LIRR Woodside - Jamaica, and Babylon - Jamaica..
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