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.
The NEC used to have an "inland route" New Haven-Springfield-Worcester-Boston, but apparently it was not that popular.
MidlandMike The NEC used to have an "inland route" New Haven-Springfield-Worcester-Boston, but apparently it was not that popular.
I have mentioned this before: some Amtrak personnel were somewhat disturbed that the railroads' tariff for Boston-New York was the same no matter which way you rode--since there was a difference in the distances of the two routes. I am sure that such personnel would have really been amazed at the competitive routes between certain city pairs--and Pullman's tariffs between Chicago and the West Coast; you paid the same for a particular accommodation between two cities whether you spent two or three nights on board. I have found the competetive tariff between Chicago-Washington and Chicago-Baltimore interesting: they were all the same, no matter whether you rode PRR or B&O.
Johnny
I believe Springfield City interests are pushing hard to have Massachusetts extend service out of Boston from Worcester to Springfield.
I think that if such a service were re-enacted it would be more popular, but separate from the NEC branch that goes to Springfield. If it branched off after Providence the tracks, are present and would only need to be wired for a few miles. Also, Worcester is beginning to become a different type of city, one that could possible utilize such a service more than say 10 or 20 years ago.
One of Amtrak's alternatives in their HSR upgrade study, was to use a new alternate more direct route thru Hartford and Worcester to Boston. However, Providence must have lots of political pull since the killed any alternate that did not include them.
I would never suggest skipping Providence, but same goes for Worcester since that is the end of the line they could make a more direct HSR route that goes through Worcester, and one that goes through Providence which is a more populated city.
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