There is no question but what flying from Washington to Boston is faster than the train. The Acela takes about 6 1/2 hours; Northeast Regional trains are about 8 hours. Even allowing time to get though airport security flying is faster. The only way Amtrak will ever compete with flying is to build a high speed rail and that is expensive.
So why shouldn't we just let people fly between Washington and Boston and avoid the expense of a HSR link? A lot of people believe we should. We should focus on upgrading the Northeast Corridor line as it exists. It really could attract a lot more people but it would never really compete with flying for those traveling between Washington and Boston.
But there is another reason. In the northeast air space is crowded. Not flying between New York and Los Angeles is impractical and not flying between New York and London or Bejing is impossible. However, the train between Boston and Washington is possible and would reduce the air space crowding.
To say nothing of the overcrowded roads paralleling the NEC. Adding lanes or entirely new routes also costs many dollars for infrastructure and takes many acres off the already limited local tax rolls.
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
And the aiports are at or near capacity also.
One big issue with the NEC and lack of High Speed implementation is Amtrak STILL does not own or control all the rails from Boston to Washington. That needs to be fixed as well as moving all the Commuter trains off the Amtrak right of way onto their own set of tracks. That alone probably requires a few Billion in new track and signalling.
As for the realignment, I think that has to do with straightening out the speed restricted curves as well as making the line more accessible by a higher population North of New York. Which would make that portion of the line more financially viable.
CMStPnP One big issue with the NEC and lack of High Speed implementation is Amtrak STILL does not own or control all the rails from Boston to Washington. That needs to be fixed as well as moving all the Commuter trains off the Amtrak right of way onto their own set of tracks. That alone probably requires a few Billion in new track and signalling. As for the realignment, I think that has to do with straightening out the speed restricted curves as well as making the line more accessible by a higher population North of New York. Which would make that portion of the line more financially viable.
Sam1 As an aside, Amtrak likes to tout the fact that it has approximately 75 per cent of the air/rail market between New York and Washington, as well as the majority of the air/rail market between New York and Boston. But it does not give us the complete picture, i.e. how much of the overall intercity transport market does it have, i.e. trains, planes, buses, cars, motorcycles, etc.
As an aside, Amtrak likes to tout the fact that it has approximately 75 per cent of the air/rail market between New York and Washington, as well as the majority of the air/rail market between New York and Boston. But it does not give us the complete picture, i.e. how much of the overall intercity transport market does it have, i.e. trains, planes, buses, cars, motorcycles, etc.
I just wanted to address this part: no one flies to NYC from here. Its all trains and the bus. Few drive because you have to figure out what to do with the car once you get to NYC. It was a rather huge surprise to me when I moved here.
I'd also dispute the "no one has put up the capital so no one wants to do it." I'd wager that no one group has the money, which means they'd have to form a coalition of venture capitalists to do it. That's an unattractive prospect, especially when your competitor is the government with its effectively unlimited resources.
CMStPnPOne big issue with the NEC and lack of High Speed implementation is Amtrak STILL does not own or control all the rails from Boston to Washington.
Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority owns the track between Providence and Boston and this is double track territory. Yet Amtrak hits 150 miles an hour there.
There was a day when there were 4 tracks south of New Haven but today, at least in some places, one of those tracks has been taken up. This includes the Hell Gate Bridge which as room for 4 tracks but only has 3. To put down the 4th track all you would need is the money to do it.
There has always been at most two tracks between New Haven and Boston as far as I know. The only exception is that the State of Rhode Island has built a 3rd track between Providence and Wakefield for its diesel powered commuter train. (The train is operated by MBTA).
The part that Amtrak does not own between New Rochelle and New Haven works fine for commuter and regional trains. ATK knows this and that is why they want to move to their own new ROW to be built for HSR.
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