Springfield line double tracking

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Posted pictures on railroad.net

Laying of second track has finally started.  Track laying has started going north at Cedar CP ( just north of Cedar Hill yard in New Haven ).  The track laying machine is similar to one posted from Europe.  It lays down concrete ties first then attaches rail to ties.  Note that ties are laid down on ballast surface .  Then all the ballast that is needed is what goes between and outside of ties.  Then surfacing machins can do final work probably destressing rail as work proceeds.  

http://www.suspendedtimephoto.com/springfieldline

 

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Video of the track laying machine

[RME]

No, that isn't a video of the track laying machine.

This is a video of the track laying machine. 

And here is an explanation of the machine's operation. 

 

The Harsco NTC only needs 5 operators ... and some of you may be as interested as I was to read this PDF download of the legal agreement Amtrak signed with their maintenance-of-way brotherhood to use the machine on the Springfield project.

[CMStPnP]

So I am curious.   What is this project?    The oft discussed double tracking from New Haven to Springfield, CT?

[NKP guy]

And could we please have as well an update on the double tracking project on Albany Hill from the Hudson Valley to Schenectady?  

[RME]

CMStPnP

So I am curious.   What is this project?    The oft discussed double tracking from New Haven to Springfield, CT?

Yes.

I believe current planning is to run 17 trains a day each way when the double tracking is substantially complete.

[RME]

NKP guy

And could we please have as well an update on the double tracking project on Albany Hill from the Hudson Valley to Schenectady?

Here's the official New York State page on the double-tracking project.

  Work began June 6th.

And here is a page by the contractor with some details.

[MidlandMike]

I have heard different stories on how far the double tracking will go.  I seems I heard it would be mainly just in CT.  How far is the present project to go?

[MikeF90]

MidlandMike

How far is the present project to go?

Wikipedia is our friend:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Haven%E2%80%93Springfield_Line

http://www.nhhsrail.com/info_center/improvements_map.aspx

Looks like CT, for now.  My tea leaves don't work well east of Chicago.

Found some details in one pop-up:

"Portions of Track 2, which were removed in the 1980's, will be re-installed generally to the east of the existing Track 1 between Mile Posts (MP) 7 and 17 (North Haven, Wallingford and Meriden), 20 and 31 (Berlin and Newington) and 37 and 43 (Hartford and Windsor) to accommodate the planned increase in train traffic. In addition, a controlled siding will be installed between Mile Posts 37 and 39 (Hartford) to provide a location where passenger trains and freight trains can pass each other.

New interlockings will be installed in North Haven (MP 7.2), Meriden (MP 16.5), Berlin (MP 26.5), and Hartford (MP 37 and MP 39). The switches in the interlockings will allow trains to shift from one track to the other (a.k.a. diverging moves) at speeds up to 45 mph."

[Mario_v]

Very interesting ;

But will the speed limite be reaised to 90 Mph again (Presently the speed limit is 80 Mph) ? And in the case of the Schenectady - albany it's interesting to see that the line is getting only we wood ties, but htere are short sections of that segment where the top speed is 90 or 110 Mph. Will that be in efect  in the new track ?

[RME]

My understanding, which may be highly defective, is that the double-tracking per se extends only to Windsor.  Some large percentage of the traffic is expected to be between Hartford and the Corridor, including enough 'northern suburb' and perhaps train layover space coverage; my impression was that only one moving train north of roughly Windsor Locks would be needed to serve Springfield even with 17 spaced trains a day (it would work a bit like a shuttle service, with one train arriving with the previous consist 'still in the station', and the latter then occupying single track down to Windsor before the next train needed to run north of there.

If the anticipated heavy 'suburban' traffic does develop north of Windsor, that would be the time to put in more segments of double main...  I would frankly rather put any "double-tracking" money for that segment at present into other rail-infrastructure projects that can use it better -- for example, additional consists.  I think the second-track ROW is fully reserved against potential encroachment, and leasing an even better TLM in a few years should be easy.

As a note, I am also ASSuming that the purpose of the crossovers is to allow all scheduled trains in both directions to run at reasonable speed around any freight moves that happen to be on the railroad.  That does indicate to me (YMMV) that higher average speed and shorter segment times are involved in the project design.

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Our understanding of the reasons for crossovers on two main trackare::

1. Run arounds of slower traffic either freight or locals that would be passed by the limited stop Amtrak trains Springfield <> New Haven.

2.  Ability of operating trains to by pass stalled trains and pick up stranded passengers

3.  Allow for maintenance windows of one track with the other remaining in service.                             service .service

4.  Allow for track sections to be out of service for planned eventual electrifying the route.

5. Bypass minor derailments

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CT department of Transportation is hoping to start New Haven - Springfield service with 17 trains Jan 8, 2018.  Wonder how reliable this plan will pan out ?

http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/--hc-hartford-line-schedule-0220-20170219-story.html

 

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In reference to previous post CT is allocating another $50.M for another 7.5 miles to close 2 MT gap north of Windsor.  + assist funding Enfield - Windsor 4 miles.  Additionally for the various stations.  That seems to indicated that the intermediate stations listed would not make the Jan 2018  date ? 

 

NHHS Rail Program Team <[e-mail]> CTDOT Announces $50 Million in Additional Funding for NHHS Rail Program Funds will Support CTrail Hartford Line Service Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) Commissioner James P. Redeker t

To

  

Today at 9:52 AM

CTDOT Announces $50 Million in Additional Funding for NHHS Rail Program Funds will Support CTrail Hartford Line Service Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) Commissioner James P. Redeker today announced that the State Bond Commission had approved $50 million in additional funding for the New-Haven-Hartford-Springfield (NHHS) Rail Program during its February 1, 2017 meeting. The funding will support the design and environmental permitting for new CTrail Hartford Line stations in North Haven, Newington, West Hartford, Windsor, Windsor Locks and Enfield as well as 7.5 miles of double track from Windsor to Enfield.  This funding will also support the construction of approximately 4 miles of double track between Hartford and Windsor, which is currently underway. Commissioner Redeker stated, “The funding approved by the State Bond Commission reinforces our State’s continued commitment to providing new regional passenger rail service on the Hartford Line, which will become the newest component of a robust and vibrant multi-modal regional transportation system.” Scheduled to launch in 2018, the CTrail Hartford Line will offer more frequent, convenient and faster passenger rail service between New Haven, Hartford and Springfield by increasing the number of round trip trains from six daily Amtrak intercity and regional trains to a total of 17 round trip trains a day to Hartford, and 12 trains per day to Springfield.  The majority of the existing rail stations will be replaced and several new stations will be built.  The expanded service and new stations are expected to increase ridership, improve the high speed and passenger rail system serving the northeast, expand intermodal transportation options, encourage economic development and create more livable and sustainable communities. Future updates on the status and location of construction activities will be provided on the NHHS Rail Program website at www.nhhsrail.com, Facebook, Twitter and by email. To receive email updates, please register on the NHHS Rail Program website.

[oltmannd]

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Our understanding of the reasons for crossovers on two main trackare::

1. Run arounds of slower traffic either freight or locals that would be passed by the limited stop Amtrak trains Springfield <> New Haven.

2.  Ability of operating trains to by pass stalled trains and pick up stranded passengers

3.  Allow for maintenance windows of one track with the other remaining in service.                             service .service

4.  Allow for track sections to be out of service for planned eventual electrifying the route.

5. Bypass minor derailments

 

blue streak 1

Our understanding of the reasons for crossovers on two main trackare::

1. Run arounds of slower traffic either freight or locals that would be passed by the limited stop Amtrak trains Springfield <> New Haven.

2.  Ability of operating trains to by pass stalled trains and pick up stranded passengers

3.  Allow for maintenance windows of one track with the other remaining in service.                             service .service

4.  Allow for track sections to be out of service for planned eventual electrifying the route.

5. Bypass minor derailments

 

#3 is would be the largest reason, most likely.  Track time is a bigger pain in the neck than most of us railfan types would know.

 

[RME]

oltmannd

#3 is would be the largest reason, most likely. Track time is a bigger pain in the neck than most of us railfan types would know.

Remember that the issue isn't the presence of crossovers, it's the use of relatively high-speed crossovers.  That of course doesn't mean that reason #3 isn't still significant or even primary, of course, but I think it changes some of the context toward operational issues (one of which, potentially, is of course faster "CTC-like" track switching around sections that are down for maintenance).