The extraordinary thing about this project is that much of it was built with modern TLMs, perhaps the closest thing we have to the Chinese machinery used to build their HSR lines. Once you have expensively acquired the machinery its continued 'marginal cost' of use may not be that great, and the cost both to make what is essentially a full functioning ROW on what may be ling-abandoned subgrade and then to keep it well maintained may be dramatically lower. In addition to which this is on the presently 'preferred' route for the 'second spine' HSR route, Hartford becoming the new Wilmington in inclusionary alternate routing...
Note- this is a 2 year old article.
I'll light it up for you!
http://www.railwayage.com/passenger/connecticut-dot-opens-hartford-line/
Interesting article! As far as operating with a subsidy, I'm not aware of any commuter rail line anywhere that doesn't operate with a subsidy. Most state and local governments with commuter rail rationalize this by looking at how many personal autos a good commuter rail system can pull off the highways, relieving congestion in addition to saving wear and tear on the roads. There's something to that.
railwayage.com\passenger\connecticut-dot-opens-hartford-line\
This short rail-line will cease operating at a deficit at the same time the Federal goverment functions with a balanced-budget.
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