Passenger Trains > "Speedy" 448 Today.

On 11/22 I posted info that showed 448 took seven hours to go from Albany-Boston. Tonight the train was much faster. It left Albany (late) at 3:27 pm and arrived Boston(South Station) at 8:04 pm. No time is shown for the train stopping at Back Bay so perhaps there were no passengers for that stop. The train's regular schedule calls for it to leave ALB at 3:05 pm and arrive BOS at 8:01 pm.

Hmm... looking at an old  B&A map and a little math of your stated trip gives us an average speed of 43 mph!  

Perhaps that will improve in the future?  

 

Nothing will improve on this route until the State of MA buys the entire B&A (CSX) in Massachusetts.  CSX, NS etc. have no interest in passenger service.  They cannot even operate their own freight trains on decent schedules.  

The state of MA as owner could put back in the double track and then have some real schedules and control of dispatching.  Then the run from BOS - ALB could be four hours, or 50 mph.  Still not fast, but at least respectable.  

Sat.(7th) the train left ALB 3:05 pm OT and arrived South Station 7:53 pm. No stop time shown for FRA once again. Arrival was 08 mins. early. Not quite as good as yesterday but at least the train was on time two days in a row. Hope tomorrow is just as good.

I use 448 to and from Boston from Springfield sometimes. It's not a bad ride usually. When going to Boston area overnight its a no brainer over driving around in the boston area which can be not fun. 

This compares favorably with the 1964 schedule of NEW ENGLAND STATES #27, which left Boston at 3:15 pm and arrived Albany Union Station at 7:55 pm.
#28 had similar running times, and back in those days the maximum speed between Worcester and Post Road (connection with the Post Road Branch to Albany) was 60 - not 50 MPH.
Andy

mp16 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> On 11/22 I posted info that showed 448 took seven
> hours to go from Albany-Boston. Tonight the train
> was much faster. It left Albany (late) at 3:27 pm
> and arrived Boston(South Station) at 8:04 pm. No
> time is shown for the train stopping at Back Bay
> so perhaps there were no passengers for that stop.
> The train's regular schedule calls for it to leave
> ALB at 3:05 pm and arrive BOS at 8:01 pm.