NEC to Worcester

[Overmod]

The current pravda is initial operations in 2020, but YMMV.

I recommend asking them directly about any of this as they were actively supporting discussion as late as December.  Some of the more sensitive information is available via NDA (but of course then wouldn't be discussed here).

[ben]

runnerdude48

Ben, what evidence do you have that the Boston Surface Railway is opening in the next few months?

 

 

I read an article a few months ago which said that this would be in the next few months, but after further research it appears that it will be the next few years now.

[runnerdude48]

Ben, what evidence do you have that the Boston Surface Railway is opening in the next few months?

[ben]

If the tracks that they followed to Worcester were from the split-off past Providence they would only have to wire from Providence to Worcester. This is a fairly densly populated region, and the wires could be used by the Boston Surface railroad on their route to Providence from Worcester which is being opened in the next years.

[Deggesty]

Such an extension would require either an engine change or stringing overhead wire to Worcester.

[ben]

An extension of the NEC to Worcester, Ma would be very beneficial. Worcester is a city which is beginning to have a comeback, and connecting the NEC to it would be very good as it would connect it to New York City, Philidelphia, and Washington D.C. There are a few possible approaches to extending the NEC to Worcester one of them would be following the current tracks starting in New London. If this was done some upgrades to allow for slightly faster speed trains could be helpful, but otherwise nothing additional would be necessary. This would also allow for more stops in Norwich, CT, and Webster, MA. Another approach to this would be following the current NEC's tracks to Springfield and then transferring to the Lake Shore Limited tracks towards Boston, and having the terminus in Worcester. This would require zero new infrastructure, but would also provide no new stations. Lastly, they could split off after Providence and follow the Boston Surface Railroad's tracks to Worcester.