Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

DfcukinLite OP t1_jed9jg7 wrote

Reply to comment by kaykabakes in Amtrak shares renderings of rebuilt Baltimore Penn Station by DfcukinLite

It’s Acela. Which we’ve already had, just getting upgraded fleet and It just will now reach full speeds with the completion/expansion of the tunnel. Acela will have its own track now and the bottlenecks will be removed from here and NJ which has been the cause of the service chokepoints historically. They’re also electrifying the tracks and moving away from diesel engines

126

[deleted] t1_jee28s5 wrote

[deleted]

14

ohamza t1_jee570z wrote

The travel time north to NYC is hampered by the tunnel from NJ into NYC, since it's only two tracks in a very old tunnel that lacks maintenance. It's also shared with all the trains coming from NJ. The Hudson Tunnel project is addressing that issue by building a new tunnel with two additional tracks and rehabilitating the existing tunnel.

Southbound there is a new tunnel going in under Reservoir Hill that will replace the B&P tunnel which is also old and lacking maintenance but doesn't allow for higher speeds.

Overall the entire NEC corridor is getting some pretty major upgrades so in the next 10-20 years we should hopefully see decreased travel times between DC and NYC as well as increased frequency of trains.

33

abcpdo t1_jeea25l wrote

> in the next 10-20 years

: (

22

DfcukinLite OP t1_jeebgrk wrote

I don’t think that’s the actual timeline. They’ve been working on the old problematic NJ tunnel for some time now and B&P tunnel expansion here will being replacement soon.

8

wbruce098 t1_jeem9lh wrote

This is how I feel when I see estimates for if they actually decide to build red line after obstructing it for a decade.

3

sacrificebundt t1_jee8gv6 wrote

The goal is that once all the projects are done (gateway in NY, this tunnel, a couple bridge replacements, track improvements, etc) for the DC -> NYC trip to be under 2 hrs

19

Matt3989 t1_jeel4fr wrote

There's also a proposal for HSR for the southeast corridor: from DC to Richmond, Raleigh, Atlanta, and Jacksonville.

While the Northeast Corridor is obviously more important due to the population density, it would be great to have connections through the entire coast.

5

RevRagnarok t1_jee13bo wrote

> electrifying the tracks and moving away from diesel engines

Where? The tracks were electric from Philly to New Haven in the mid '90s. Were they not from Baltimore to Philly?

4

DfcukinLite OP t1_jeeal9p wrote

Either it is here and they just decided not to purchase the electric locomotives and opted for the cheaper diesel engines, or its they didn’t electrify the track at all then and are doing it now. If I remember correctly it’s the former and as I recall the state wasted millions by doing so as they just bought a brand new fleet of diesel engined locomotives several years ago as an “upgrade”.

Someone with more knowledge than me on this matter feel free to jump in…

I know they’re electrifying now as they’re planning to connect MARC commuter rail to SEPTA from the Perryville station.

Additionally, MARC will run into Northern VA to meet VRE to the south past Union station at L’Enfant Plaza. Regionally lots of big rail things are coming and I’m excited for the future of commuter rail/ train service. High time we got some connectivity round here.

4

Fitzwashere t1_jeeb936 wrote

NEC is electrified from DC to Boston and Amtrak runs electric trains along the route. I think you’re thinking of the state run service, MARC, that purchased diesel locomotives to run on the electrified lines in order to save money in the short term.

8

DfcukinLite OP t1_jeebm43 wrote

Correct. I was taking about MARC trains specifically.

5

RevRagnarok t1_jeecx1t wrote

Ah OK yes I was talking Amtrak sorry. The electric ended at New Haven which is why I got off there even tho a later station was closer to my parents' home; there was a long wait while they swapped out for the diesel engine there.

2

Nexis4Jersey t1_jeh140b wrote

Electrification was extended in the 90s from New Haven to Boston. CT , RI ,MA are all proposing to electrify the remaining network by the mid 2030s...

3

DeliMcPickles t1_jeey5ne wrote

Right. I think they're waiting on the completion of the Long Bridge replacement to allow crossrunning for VRE and MARC.

4

sacrificebundt t1_jefiajj wrote

Is there actually a plan for through running MARC to Virginia? I’ve seen lots of proposals from transit advocates, but I haven’t seen anything from the relevant bodies. MTA wasn’t at the table when VA cut a deal with CSX and Amtrak over the Long Bridge replacement, and I’m not sure they’ve don’t more than study the other infrastructure hurdles.

2

Nexis4Jersey t1_jeh1om3 wrote

Under Hogan they decided it was cheaper to buy diesel locomotives than pay Amtrak for Electricity costs.

2