Passenger Trains > Amtrak's 2 hr NY to DC: It's gonna cost a lot

The Washington Post interviews Caroline Decker, head of the Northeast Corridor services for Amtrak.  Decker notes that increasing speed is part of improving service, but improving reliability may be the bigger challenge

Decker also confirms the non-stop Acela is off to a good start, with 320 passengers round trip. No word on how the slower Acela trains bracketing this train have done. Are these new riders, or just moving around current riders?


https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/amtrak-aspires-to-a-2-hour-dc-ny-trip-but-its-going-to-take-a-lot-more-than-faster-trains/2019/11/02/b761a61a-e523-11e9-a331-2df12d56a80b_story.html

Raising the speed limit of the train is one thing. It boils down to fixing as many speed restrictions as possible. Of course, that means fixing up the right of way, signalling systems, fixing or replacing bridges, and tunnels. Here is my list of what I want to see along the right of way improved.
1. We need Gateway-not just a new set of tunnels, but four tracks along the Highline Section of the NEC
2. Other stretches of double track on the south end of the NEC(just north of Wilmington) and the short stretch below Wilmington(I think this is being worked on) should be expanded to three tracks or even four. It would be nice is it was a four track railroad from BAL-DC, given the number of both Amtrak and MARC trains.
3. The Susquehanna River bridges needs to be replaced to handle even faster speeds and have more tracks. The same thing goes with the Bush and the Gunpowder River Bridge.
4. Replace the Baltimore tunnels. This would help speed up the trains as well as provide extra track capacity.

Passfanatic Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> 4. Replace the Baltimore tunnels. This would help
> speed up the trains as well as provide extra track
> capacity.

Re: Amtrak and MDOT's vanity project:

Cost: $4 billion-plus.
Time savings: 2.5 minutes.

http://www.bptunnel.com/environmental-studies/record-of-decision.html

Paul Wilson
Arlington, VA

Dcmcrider Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Passfanatic Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> >
> > 4. Replace the Baltimore tunnels. This would help speed up the trains as well as provide extra track  capacity.
>
> Re: Amtrak and MDOT's vanity project:
>
> Cost: $4 billion-plus. Time savings: 2.5 minutes.
>
> http://www.bptunnel.com/environmental-studies/record-of-decision.html



The time savings WILL be infinite when the existing civil war reconstruction era tunnel collapses into the mud and leaking water mains.

Just search for - sinking Pittsburgh bus - to see the future of the Baltimore and Potomac tunnel.

Brian