RevRagnarok t1_jee13bo wrote on March 31, 2023 at 10:12 AM

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

> 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?

DfcukinLite OP t1_jeeal9p wrote on March 31, 2023 at 11:59 AM

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.

Fitzwashere t1_jeeb936 wrote on March 31, 2023 at 12:05 PM

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.

DfcukinLite OP t1_jeebm43 wrote on March 31, 2023 at 12:08 PM

Correct. I was taking about MARC trains specifically.

RevRagnarok t1_jeecx1t wrote on March 31, 2023 at 12:20 PM

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.

Nexis4Jersey t1_jeh140b wrote on March 31, 2023 at 11:25 PM

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...

DeliMcPickles t1_jeey5ne wrote on March 31, 2023 at 2:58 PM

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

sacrificebundt t1_jefiajj wrote on March 31, 2023 at 5:09 PM

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.

Nexis4Jersey t1_jeh1om3 wrote on March 31, 2023 at 11:29 PM

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