Splitting the LSL in Toledo could be the foundation for restructuring the east-midwest service into a more balanced and passenger friendly setup.
1. Eastbound on a slightly earlier schedule (8:00pm) from Chicago would put the NY section into Pittsburgh at roughly 6:30-7:00am. This would replace the current PENNSYLVANIAN schedule whose equipment could then be used for a later morning or early afternoon NY-PITT train. The Boston section would run as it does now Toledo to Buffalo with an earlier arrival into Boston since it would not have the Albany switching to go thru. In addition to this section carrying at least two extra coaches for the upstate NY traffic it should also initiate stops in NE Ohio (Painesville & Ashtabula) and one in western NY (Dunkirk and or Westfield.)
2. Eastbound the CAPITOL then could run on a much earlier schedule (2:00pm) from Chicago with a roughly 9:00am arrival in DC. While this would give some balance to the CHI-TOL-CLE corridor it does break the connections to the EB western trains. Connecting passengers could ride the LSL to Harrisburg (bus connection to Baltimore & DC) or to Philadelphia for an cross platform transfer to these cities. In addition a modified (and daily) CARDINAL could also provide a DC connection.
3. Westbound both the NY & Boston sections of the LSL would leave several hours later for an 11:30am arrival into Chicago. This would provide more ,,than enough cushion for western connections,allow for fairly decent times for Toledo west and the NY section would compliment the wb PENNSYLVANIAN which could possibly be extended to Toledo to offer an all "day" schedule similar to the PALMETTO.
4. The westbound CAPITOL schedule would remain as is.
5. Being that the present LD system is not going to be expanded any time sonn is to optimize what we have now to its fullest potential.
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