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Very amusing. The broke federal government expecting broke states to be able to create Class 6 track with the appended necessary signals and crossing protection out of thin air.
Posts: 566 | Registered: Mar 2002
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Just read it. Some of the statements in the article are so dumb, it is hard to know how to address them.
The guy is right about the curves. Because of that, there is little to be gained from even having signals. If the maximum is 79 mph instead of 59 mph, will it make any real difference if most of the curves will only support 45 to 60 mph? probably not.
But this statement, "In rural New England, cattle crossings halt high-speed trains, said John Zicconi, spokesman for the Vermont Agency of Transportation." sounds like complete nonsense.
Posts: 2808 | From: Olive Branch MS | Registered: Nov 2002
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What ever the build it will cost more then the the dollar amouts mentioned and end up not what the plans show. Still waiting for the new cars on the Metro-North New Haven Line.
Posts: 516 | From: New Haven, CT USA | Registered: Feb 2005
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Mr. Tanner, since you appear to espouse conservative news outlets (not sure what connection if any you have with any educational institution located in New Haven) you'll love this latest proposal to relieve you of your $$$. It's enough to make one go out and join the Tea Party:
Be nice to know what kind of 'wacky tabakky' they are smoking up in Litchfield County nowadays (if there is any kind of Tea Party faction in CT, that is where I think they'd be from). Doesn't everyone just love the railroad industry knowledge shown by the reporter - let alone that of whoever was feeding her this stuff?
Sure, I'm really expecting to hop off The Berkshire at Woodrow and trek "up The Hill' for my 50th Reunion at South Kent School next June.
Finally, I'm really not sure if this "piece' is news reporting or is it opinion. I have to wonder what this reporter learned when (presumably) she took Journalism courses in college.
Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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Not sure where this "story" came from.I live in CT (though in Central Ct not the Northwest corner - but it is not that big a state) and this is the first I have heard of this. Sure is a nice "dream" but......
Litchfield County is not that densely populated and those that live there probably do not fit the profile of those that would use/ support such a train.
Looks like someone's imagination has only a sliver of touch with reality.
Dee
Posts: 460 | From: North Central CT | Registered: May 2004
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quote:Originally posted by DeeCT: Litchfield County is not that densely populated and those that live there probably do not fit the profile of those that would use/ support such a train.
Looks like someone's imagination has only a sliver of touch with reality.
Sadly I agree - having worked in New Milford. I can see some people taking the train, but not enough to justify a regular service. It takes long enough to get to NYC from Danbury and I doubt electrification would improve that by much. In terms of cost, perhaps in the long run eliminating diesels would improve a little though. Speeds... call it a scenic route, though a paint factory specializing in green kind of route.
-------------------- Geoff M. Posts: 2426 | From: Apple Valley, CA | Registered: Sep 2000
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Dee; I resided in Greenwich 1946-70 and during that time first attended Indian Mountain School in Lakeville '54-'56, then South Kent School '56-'61. I think I can share some of the "Litchfield County mindset" here at the Forum - and for that matter, since you are not disagreeing with anything I noted, so can you.
Litchfield County, quite simply, is a transportation wasteland. Interstate highways are limited to CT8 to Winsted and what piece of I-84 near Danbury traverses the County. But where is the Litchfield County International Airport (not advocating such by any means)? Where is I-89 replacing US7?
It is really a wonder The Berkshire made it to A-Day.
Next June for my "fiftieth", I'll be driving up US7, where every twist and turn will be the same as when "Mom and Dad" ferried me up to School (Sept and June; otherwise train). While maybe the "camaraderie' will be nice, but since I had best no longer drive at night, I'll have to forgo the Marriott Courtyard in Danbury and stay in the barracks. That ought to be "sport" for a 70 year old guy sleeping on a top bunk and using a communal latrine - but it's my "fiftieth" and there will never be another.
Finally, regarding Mr. Mayo's immediate, service to New Milford would indeed represent a "baby steps first" scenario. "Run it up the flagpole and see how it flies"; Kent would be next, but somehow I think we are talking a timeline that I for one will never see.
Posts: 9975 | From: Clarendon Hills, IL USA (BNSF Chicago Sub MP 18.71) | Registered: Apr 2002
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GBN, Thanks for posting that newspaper article. The reporter is just taking Colin Pease's vision and putting in the paper. Colin is a good friend of mine (old golfing buddy & our sons went to school together); lives next door in Concord; used to be the #2 behind Dave Fink at Guilford Transportation (now Pan Am). I'll send this article over to him and ask him what's HE smoking and can we get some!
Do agree the 50th is a special one that should not be missed (mine was last year).
Both the Northwest section of the state and the "quiet corner" (Putnam, Danielson Northeast corner of state) are woefully underserved in the area of transportation. No Interstates - No bus routes - Miles from Amtrak. But as you know many of those who live there enjoy it that way.
As for this "dream scenario" it will not happen in my lifetime.
I am holding out some hope for the Downeaster in ME. Since I will be moving up there in the future, the closer it gets to Bangor the happier I will be.
Dee
Posts: 460 | From: North Central CT | Registered: May 2004
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I've been reading the NY Post since it was the NY Evening Post, my dad would read it on the commute home to Westchester on the NHRR. At the time it was an afternoon paper, it had early scores, closing stock numbers and updates on the days news. The Post is still very popular with Suburban commuters.
Yeah that article was more of a press release. Though I am not associated with the Local Univ. but know many peope and though they speak of Train travel and chant the mass transit mantra it is rare that they use the trains at there disposal. Going to Boston? To expensive, currently the Yalies are hopping to get Bolt Bus to stop in NH. Getting to RI or Cape Cod its to inconvienient. It took $4 gas to get commuters to actually look at the Shore Line East Rail. Somehow I don't see to many commuters traveling from Canaan to Bridgeport, This train looks more like a tourist train for leaf peeping season. Upper and Westen Litchfield is built to limit cars and development, when I first moved to Connecticut I was confused which corner of CT is the "Quiet Corner" exactly.
Posts: 516 | From: New Haven, CT USA | Registered: Feb 2005
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Connecticut DOT seems to put a higher priority on painting all of the locomotives they own in that loathsome McGinnis scheme than on actually doing real improvements. Great for railfans to shoot pictures of, but where is it taking you to?
Posts: 566 | Registered: Mar 2002
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This is an editorial from the NY Daily News "The Subway Riders Paper" They are supporting the tunnel project of course and although they prefece that its about inovative infostructure and future economic gains, but really it is about immediate "long term" job projects. The article mentions the first monies where allocated during the George H (that's the father) Bush administration (is it shovel ready now?) shows how slowley how things work in the Northeast. Next the reporter mentions the antiquated equiptment that disrupted his commute particularly a switch. Christy stopped the project because the cost overruns the state would have to pick up and the current debt situation. At this time would not it be less expensive to upgrade and put in a back-up system? The government claims they can force "Big Pharma" to lower drug prices and can lower costs to the public, why can't it control labor costs and meeting deadlines on "their" projects? The tunnels began work in 1904 I would bet that even with todays technology the project will take longer to complete then the origional projects. It's not that it would not be a great add to the regions transit system but we just don't have the money at this time.
Posts: 516 | From: New Haven, CT USA | Registered: Feb 2005
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Eh? ARC has nothing to do with New England. (But on that subject, funny how not a word was mentioned vis-à-vis the through-route options that were cast aside, which could have been a boon to New England.)
Posts: 566 | Registered: Mar 2002
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