There was a news story last year stating that RI was going to get some of the money Fla rejected for "hi speed" rail and that it was going towards adding a third track on the NE Corridor through RI.
Has anyone seen anything more on this?
The reason is that RI wants to expand RI State supported MBTA commuter service, and the third track is necessary to avoid interference with Amtrak.
daveklepper "...The reason is that RI wants to expand RI State supported MBTA commuter service, and the third track is necessary to avoid interference with Amtrak..."
"...The reason is that RI wants to expand RI State supported MBTA commuter service, and the third track is necessary to avoid interference with Amtrak..."
In this, The General Discussion area of this Forum there is a story
[RE:3rd Track through RI ]
that might dove-tail with this Thread from the TRANSIT Section of this Forum
The premise, I think, is that the Transit Authority in Boston (MTBA) wants to extend service south to a point or city near to Newport, RI. The former connection was via a bridge( which has been removed earlier).
Newport could achieve service with the replacement of the bridge connection, (Newport,RI being on an Island). Apparently, both State Governments/Govenors'(?) want the service to resume. The hang up is the service will require the relaying of a third track for the Corridor ROW to serve MTBA. MTBA has apparently, done some relaying of other rail lines to achieve service to areas previously abandoned.
My guess is that the real hang-up is who pays, and how much each party will have to pony up?
samfp1943 daveklepper: "...The reason is that RI wants to expand RI State supported MBTA commuter service, and the third track is necessary to avoid interference with Amtrak..." In this, The General Discussion area of this Forum there is a story [RE:3rd Track through RI ] that might dove-tail with this Thread from the TRANSIT Section of this Forum RE:Rails to Newport RI The premise, I think, is that the Transit Authority in Boston (MTBA) wants to extend service south to a point or city near to Newport, RI. The former connection was via a bridge( which has been removed earlier). Newport could achieve service with the replacement of the bridge connection, (Newport,RI being on an Island). Apparently, both State Governments/Govenors'(?) want the service to resume. The hang up is the service will require the relaying of a third track for the Corridor ROW to serve MTBA. MTBA has apparently, done some relaying of other rail lines to achieve service to areas previously abandoned. My guess is that the real hang-up is who pays, and how much each party will have to pony up?
daveklepper: "...The reason is that RI wants to expand RI State supported MBTA commuter service, and the third track is necessary to avoid interference with Amtrak..."
Rhode Island is rightly renowned as a very small state -- it could easily fit inside whole counties in California -- but it isn't quite that small. The state is bisected on its North-South axis by Narragansett Bay, and from a map, the outline of the state, hemmed in by state lines, resembles a pair of bowlegs straddling the Bay, the feet in the Atlantic Ocean and with Providence at the crotch. From Boston, the NE Corridor enters Little Rhody from the Northeast, swings through Providence, thence west of Narragansett Bay, south through Kingston thence southwest to Westerly and across the state line into Connecticut. The line, er, former line, to Newport runs south through Massachusetts into Fall River, MA, thence south and west onto Aquidneck Island, which lies in Narragansett Bay. The former Newport Branch ran on the east side of the bay.
The point of the foregoing is to suggest that there is no way the branch line to Fall River and Newport runs over the NE Corridor in Rhode island. For what it's worth, I personally suspect the reason the 'crats want a third track is to 1) promote and protect MBTA service from Boston through Providence (where it now terminates) and on to T.F. Green (Providence) Airport thence ultimately Kingston, RI (home of University of Rhode Island), the extension of which service opens in a year or two; 2) (here's what the 'crats are really wishing and hope, hope, hoping for) to promote stack train/container ship service to/from the former naval base at Quonset Point, RI (a deep draft terminal -- the Navy once home-ported aircraft carriers there -- on the aforementionned Narragansett Bay) over the NE Corridor to a Providence interchange with the Providence and Worcester Railroad to a connection with (one supposes) CSX in Worcester for that long revenue run to Chicago, St. Louis or maybe New Baltimore, OH; 3) while all this not fouling Amtrak intercity schedules at the north end of the NEC.
Number (2) above to me seems a bit dubious and hokey, but then. many dreams of politicians and bureaucrats are just that. And who knows, it could even happen...
billio samfp1943: daveklepper: "...The reason is that RI wants to expand RI State supported MBTA commuter service, and the third track is necessary to avoid interference with Amtrak..." In this, The General Discussion area of this Forum there is a story [RE:3rd Track through RI ] that might dove-tail with this Thread from the TRANSIT Section of this Forum RE:Rails to Newport RI The premise, I think, is that the Transit Authority in Boston (MTBA) wants to extend service south to a point or city near to Newport, RI. The former connection was via a bridge( which has been removed earlier). Newport could achieve service with the replacement of the bridge connection, (Newport,RI being on an Island). Apparently, both State Governments/Govenors'(?) want the service to resume. The hang up is the service will require the relaying of a third track for the Corridor ROW to serve MTBA. MTBA has apparently, done some relaying of other rail lines to achieve service to areas previously abandoned. My guess is that the real hang-up is who pays, and how much each party will have to pony up? Rhode Island is rightly renowned as a very small state -- it could easily fit inside whole counties in California -- but it isn't quite that small. The state is bisected on its North-South axis by Narragansett Bay, and from a map, the outline of the state, hemmed in by state lines, resembles a pair of bowlegs straddling the Bay, the feet in the Atlantic Ocean and with Providence at the crotch. From Boston, the NE Corridor enters Little Rhody from the Northeast, swings through Providence, thence west of Narragansett Bay, south through Kingston thence southwest to Westerly and across the state line into Connecticut. The line, er, former line, to Newport runs south through Massachusetts into Fall River, MA, thence south and west onto Aquidneck Island, which lies in Narragansett Bay. The former Newport Branch ran on the east side of the bay. The point of the foregoing is to suggest that there is no way the branch line to Fall River and Newport runs over the NE Corridor in Rhode island. For what it's worth, I personally suspect the reason the 'crats want a third track is to 1) promote and protect MBTA service from Boston through Providence (where it now terminates) and on to T.F. Green (Providence) Airport thence ultimately Kingston, RI (home of University of Rhode Island), the extension of which service opens in a year or two; 2) (here's what the 'crats are really wishing and hope, hope, hoping for) to promote stack train/container ship service to/from the former naval base at Quonset Point, RI (a deep draft terminal -- the Navy once home-ported aircraft carriers there -- on the aforementionned Narragansett Bay) over the NE Corridor to a Providence interchange with the Providence and Worcester Railroad to a connection with (one supposes) CSX in Worcester for that long revenue run to Chicago, St. Louis or maybe New Baltimore, OH; 3) while all this not fouling Amtrak intercity schedules at the north end of the NEC. Number (2) above to me seems a bit dubious and hokey, but then. many dreams of politicians and bureaucrats are just that. And who knows, it could even happen...
samfp1943: daveklepper: "...The reason is that RI wants to expand RI State supported MBTA commuter service, and the third track is necessary to avoid interference with Amtrak..." In this, The General Discussion area of this Forum there is a story [RE:3rd Track through RI ] that might dove-tail with this Thread from the TRANSIT Section of this Forum RE:Rails to Newport RI The premise, I think, is that the Transit Authority in Boston (MTBA) wants to extend service south to a point or city near to Newport, RI. The former connection was via a bridge( which has been removed earlier). Newport could achieve service with the replacement of the bridge connection, (Newport,RI being on an Island). Apparently, both State Governments/Govenors'(?) want the service to resume. The hang up is the service will require the relaying of a third track for the Corridor ROW to serve MTBA. MTBA has apparently, done some relaying of other rail lines to achieve service to areas previously abandoned. My guess is that the real hang-up is who pays, and how much each party will have to pony up?
The MBTA currently runs service to T.F. Green Airport. http://mbta.com/schedules_and_maps/rail/lines/?route=PROVSTOU
dmoore74 billio: samfp1943: daveklepper: "...The reason is that RI wants to expand RI State supported MBTA commuter service, and the third track is necessary to avoid interference with Amtrak..." In this, The General Discussion area of this Forum there is a story [RE:3rd Track through RI ] that might dove-tail with this Thread from the TRANSIT Section of this Forum RE:Rails to Newport RI The premise, I think, is that the Transit Authority in Boston (MTBA) wants to extend service south to a point or city near to Newport, RI. The former connection was via a bridge( which has been removed earlier). Newport could achieve service with the replacement of the bridge connection, (Newport,RI being on an Island). Apparently, both State Governments/Govenors'(?) want the service to resume. The hang up is the service will require the relaying of a third track for the Corridor ROW to serve MTBA. MTBA has apparently, done some relaying of other rail lines to achieve service to areas previously abandoned. My guess is that the real hang-up is who pays, and how much each party will have to pony up? Rhode Island is rightly renowned as a very small state -- it could easily fit inside whole counties in California -- but it isn't quite that small. The state is bisected on its North-South axis by Narragansett Bay, and from a map, the outline of the state, hemmed in by state lines, resembles a pair of bowlegs straddling the Bay, the feet in the Atlantic Ocean and with Providence at the crotch. From Boston, the NE Corridor enters Little Rhody from the Northeast, swings through Providence, thence west of Narragansett Bay, south through Kingston thence southwest to Westerly and across the state line into Connecticut. The line, er, former line, to Newport runs south through Massachusetts into Fall River, MA, thence south and west onto Aquidneck Island, which lies in Narragansett Bay. The former Newport Branch ran on the east side of the bay. The point of the foregoing is to suggest that there is no way the branch line to Fall River and Newport runs over the NE Corridor in Rhode island. For what it's worth, I personally suspect the reason the 'crats want a third track is to 1) promote and protect MBTA service from Boston through Providence (where it now terminates) and on to T.F. Green (Providence) Airport thence ultimately Kingston, RI (home of University of Rhode Island), the extension of which service opens in a year or two; 2) (here's what the 'crats are really wishing and hope, hope, hoping for) to promote stack train/container ship service to/from the former naval base at Quonset Point, RI (a deep draft terminal -- the Navy once home-ported aircraft carriers there -- on the aforementionned Narragansett Bay) over the NE Corridor to a Providence interchange with the Providence and Worcester Railroad to a connection with (one supposes) CSX in Worcester for that long revenue run to Chicago, St. Louis or maybe New Baltimore, OH; 3) while all this not fouling Amtrak intercity schedules at the north end of the NEC. Number (2) above to me seems a bit dubious and hokey, but then. many dreams of politicians and bureaucrats are just that. And who knows, it could even happen... The MBTA currently runs service to T.F. Green Airport. http://mbta.com/schedules_and_maps/rail/lines/?route=PROVSTOU
billio: samfp1943: daveklepper: "...The reason is that RI wants to expand RI State supported MBTA commuter service, and the third track is necessary to avoid interference with Amtrak..." In this, The General Discussion area of this Forum there is a story [RE:3rd Track through RI ] that might dove-tail with this Thread from the TRANSIT Section of this Forum RE:Rails to Newport RI The premise, I think, is that the Transit Authority in Boston (MTBA) wants to extend service south to a point or city near to Newport, RI. The former connection was via a bridge( which has been removed earlier). Newport could achieve service with the replacement of the bridge connection, (Newport,RI being on an Island). Apparently, both State Governments/Govenors'(?) want the service to resume. The hang up is the service will require the relaying of a third track for the Corridor ROW to serve MTBA. MTBA has apparently, done some relaying of other rail lines to achieve service to areas previously abandoned. My guess is that the real hang-up is who pays, and how much each party will have to pony up? Rhode Island is rightly renowned as a very small state -- it could easily fit inside whole counties in California -- but it isn't quite that small. The state is bisected on its North-South axis by Narragansett Bay, and from a map, the outline of the state, hemmed in by state lines, resembles a pair of bowlegs straddling the Bay, the feet in the Atlantic Ocean and with Providence at the crotch. From Boston, the NE Corridor enters Little Rhody from the Northeast, swings through Providence, thence west of Narragansett Bay, south through Kingston thence southwest to Westerly and across the state line into Connecticut. The line, er, former line, to Newport runs south through Massachusetts into Fall River, MA, thence south and west onto Aquidneck Island, which lies in Narragansett Bay. The former Newport Branch ran on the east side of the bay. The point of the foregoing is to suggest that there is no way the branch line to Fall River and Newport runs over the NE Corridor in Rhode island. For what it's worth, I personally suspect the reason the 'crats want a third track is to 1) promote and protect MBTA service from Boston through Providence (where it now terminates) and on to T.F. Green (Providence) Airport thence ultimately Kingston, RI (home of University of Rhode Island), the extension of which service opens in a year or two; 2) (here's what the 'crats are really wishing and hope, hope, hoping for) to promote stack train/container ship service to/from the former naval base at Quonset Point, RI (a deep draft terminal -- the Navy once home-ported aircraft carriers there -- on the aforementionned Narragansett Bay) over the NE Corridor to a Providence interchange with the Providence and Worcester Railroad to a connection with (one supposes) CSX in Worcester for that long revenue run to Chicago, St. Louis or maybe New Baltimore, OH; 3) while all this not fouling Amtrak intercity schedules at the north end of the NEC. Number (2) above to me seems a bit dubious and hokey, but then. many dreams of politicians and bureaucrats are just that. And who knows, it could even happen...
There already is a third track on the RI portion of the NEC which is used for freight service to Quonset point by the Providence & Worcester Railroad. The track connects P&Ws line to the Valley Falls, RI yard with the Seaview transportation co. (shortline RR operator of the trackage at Quonset Point)yard in Davisville,RI . There was a major effort to develop a container port there during the late 1990's but it fell through for a number of reasons (NIMBY sentiments but also the fact that no shipping line seemed to be interested). However, since then Quonset has had a major increase in Automobile import/export business and P&W has bought it's own autoracks to handle it. The line was built with sufficient clearance for autoracks and doublestacks, although I'm not sure about the latter as P&W has to share NEC track with AMTRAK (i.e under catenary) for a short stretch through East Greenwich, RI.
Any funding for more transit development at this time is iffy. As it is the State is embroiled in a dispute with the MBTA with the latter wanting to reduce or eliminate some service (night and weekends). RI is crying foul because they helped the T develop a commuter train layover area in Pawtucket, RI and the increased service was part of the deal.
As previously mentioned, any potential MBTA service to Newport does not involve NEC trackage and would have to wait until the T inaugurates a new commuter service to Fall River, Ma. There is no rail line from Providence to Newport and there never has been.
"I Often Dream of Trains"-From the Album of the Same Name by Robyn Hitchcock
carnej1 dmoore74: There already is a third track on the RI portion of the NEC which is used for freight service to Quonset point by the Providence & Worcester Railroad. The track connects P&Ws line to the Valley Falls, RI yard with the Seaview transportation co. (shortline RR operator of the trackage at Quonset Point)yard in Davisville,RI . There was a major effort to develop a container port there during the late 1990's but it fell through for a number of reasons (NIMBY sentiments but also the fact that no shipping line seemed to be interested). In addition to local NIMBYs, consider: If I'm CSX, and I enjoy single-line container service out of the docks of Northern New Jersey -- for which I pocket 100 percent of the revenue for every mile travelled over my service area -- then why would I be falling all over myself to participate in competing traffic on which, because I have to share revenue with P&W, I earn less?? If I (billio) were running CSX, I'd quietly do everything in my power to confine my Northeastern port service to North Jersey and out of Rhode Island. However, since then Quonset has had a major increase in Automobile import/export business and P&W has bought it's own autoracks to handle it. The line was built with sufficient clearance for autoracks and doublestacks, although I'm not sure about the latter as P&W has to share NEC track with AMTRAK (i.e under catenary) for a short stretch through East Greenwich, RI. Any funding for more transit development at this time is iffy. As it is the State is embroiled in a dispute with the MBTA with the latter wanting to reduce or eliminate some service (night and weekends). RI is crying foul because they helped the T develop a commuter train layover area in Pawtucket, RI and the increased service was part of the deal. Plus, Rhode Island isn't exactly flush with cash these days. As previously mentioned, any potential MBTA service to Newport does not involve NEC trackage and would have to wait until the T inaugurates a new commuter service to Fall River, Ma. Totally agree! There is no rail line from Providence to Newport and there never has been.
dmoore74:
There already is a third track on the RI portion of the NEC which is used for freight service to Quonset point by the Providence & Worcester Railroad. The track connects P&Ws line to the Valley Falls, RI yard with the Seaview transportation co. (shortline RR operator of the trackage at Quonset Point)yard in Davisville,RI . There was a major effort to develop a container port there during the late 1990's but it fell through for a number of reasons (NIMBY sentiments but also the fact that no shipping line seemed to be interested).
In addition to local NIMBYs, consider: If I'm CSX, and I enjoy single-line container service out of the docks of Northern New Jersey -- for which I pocket 100 percent of the revenue for every mile travelled over my service area -- then why would I be falling all over myself to participate in competing traffic on which, because I have to share revenue with P&W, I earn less?? If I (billio) were running CSX, I'd quietly do everything in my power to confine my Northeastern port service to North Jersey and out of Rhode Island.
However, since then Quonset has had a major increase in Automobile import/export business and P&W has bought it's own autoracks to handle it. The line was built with sufficient clearance for autoracks and doublestacks, although I'm not sure about the latter as P&W has to share NEC track with AMTRAK (i.e under catenary) for a short stretch through East Greenwich, RI.
Plus, Rhode Island isn't exactly flush with cash these days.
As previously mentioned, any potential MBTA service to Newport does not involve NEC trackage and would have to wait until the T inaugurates a new commuter service to Fall River, Ma.
Totally agree!
There is no rail line from Providence to Newport and there never has been.
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