Is Amtrak NEC $745M award enough?

[blue streak 1]

Amtrak may 9,2011 NEC award not enough?

I have been unable to copy and post the Amtrak announcement but would like to note each of the items. The dollar amount for each item of the award has never been revealed? The full amount of the award is $450M and several states (?) received an additional $345M for NEC improvements. (locations not specified). This will support more commuter operations, NEC Regional, 6 more Acela RTs by 2018, and 15 Acela RTs by 2022.

1. Metuchen freq converter station--- This will increase its capacity by 25%. However no mention of the date of the base line capacity amount. Amtrak has invested many dollars into increasing its reliability and capacity the past 2 FYs out of regular budget and ARRA funds. Amtrak still has had several low voltage incidents this year. This award work is supposed to provide enough capacity for 2022 operations.

2.  New substations Newark and Trenton. Support higher speeds and level of service on route.

3. Catenary upgrades Newark - Philadelphia. Work will speed up both Amtrak and Commuter rail.  Intermediate support structures will be installed 24mile New Brunswick – Trenton to cut in half the span between supporting poles. Shorter spans will allow speeds up to 160 MPH. Appears support poles are already close enough Trenton – Morrisville?  Note: this part of award is a big concern.

a. There is no mention of Constant Tension CAT replacing the present Variable tension (PRR) CAT.

b. There are replacements of present vertical poles and some horizontal poles listed in every monthly performance report. I feel that intermediate poles being installed need the capability to have vertical poles attached on top of the new intermediate verticals to support the high voltage supply lines above. This will facilitate in the future the repair of any failed vertical pole and allow easy replacement of a failed pole.

c. No mention if the contact wire is going to be replaced.

d. No mention if new type insulators will be installed or if old style (PRR) insulators will be installed. New type will enable later conversion to constant tension easier.

4. Upgrade signal power supply and other signal upgrades to support 160 MPH Acela speeds & 125 MPH Regional and NJ Transit.

5. NY Penn Station “A” west end interlocking upgrade from 15 MPH to 30 MPH. This will allow a conflicting 14 car train to clear “A” in 30 seconds instead of 1 minute. This may be most important item to increase capacity NYP – Newark. Most conflicts are outbound NJ Transit from tracks 1-6 and inbound Amtrak to Tracks 7 – 14.

6. Rebuilt Midway interlocking (between New Brunswick – Princeton Junction) to high speed universal cross overs.

7. Track and curve improvements New Brunswick, NJ – Morrisville, PA to support 160 MPH service & reduce future track maintenance.

All in all the amount of the reward appears to be too low to accomplish all the above?  

[blue streak 1]

Have edited the title to reflect actuall award that has been finalized.

LaHood announced final awards and it is 450M for just the NEC upgrade. An additional 295M for NYP west end track upgrades and for Harold interlocking separation with a 2 track tunnel.

The most important part of this award will be IMHO the Harold interlocking separation. At present there are many delays there due to trains slightly off schedule.

1. LIRR is building a 4 track tunnel under Harold and Sunnyside yard to allow access to Grand Central Terminal. That will reduce the number of LIRR trains going thru Harold to NYP.

2. With fewer LIRR to NYP MNRR IS PLANNING TO RUN SOME . Conn trains to NYP. By building a Harold separation tunnel all trains from Hell Gate line will not have to slow or go thru Harold. I believe that this will speed NEC Bos - NYP TIMEKEEPING MORE than the CAT and track work south of NYP will speed up the south end timekeeping?.  The 19 miles from NYP - New Rochell should drop from ~35 minutes to 18 minutes [ all trackage will be 60 - 90 MPH ] a saving of 17 minutes

[timz]

blue streak 1

19 miles from NYP - New Rochell should drop from ~35 minutes to 18 minutes

Sounds unlikely, of course. What speed are you assuming at each point?

[blue streak 1]

timz

blue streak 1:

19 miles from NYP - New Rochell should drop from ~35 minutes to 18 minutes

Sounds unlikely, of course. What speed are you assuming at each point?

Good question:

1. On the Amtrak web site under reports and then under PRIIA SUBMISSIONS. Look at report of intermim assements to improve trip times on NEC.

2. Table A-2 shows estimated time savings. Listed for New Rochelle - NYP is a total of 7 minutes.

3. That report did not anticipate separating Hell Gate line from Harold interlocking. I saw the tunneling figures as a 5 minute savings since Harold at present has a 25 mph speed limit and almost all Amtrak trains slow anticipating a stop since LIRR controls that intersection.  So that totals to 12 minutes.

4. Other documents [ cannot find ] stated minimum speeds 60 MPH with max of 100 NRO - NYP for much of the Hell gate line.

5. As an aside table A-2 shows 12 minutes savings NYP - PHL.   some which is part of this award. 

[henry6]

But dropping from 35 minutes to 18 could mean more trains per hour, too, which would mean better service, too.  It's not just the timing, it's also what the time can do.