32 replies to this topic

[Ryan]

That much power and you're only going to run 78?

Stop posting.

[Tracktwentynine]

Does a commuter rail in Rhode Island sound like a good idea? To me, yes. The line will go from Providence to Westerly on Amtrak's Northeast Corridor. Stations are Providence, Providence Airport, Wickford Junction, Kingston, Kenyon, Wood River Junction, Bradford, then Westerly. Trains will use an AEM-7 locomotive and will have 6 cars with a locomotive at each end. Maximum speed is 78 MPH. End to end will take around an hour and twenty minutes.

Actually, I think you should use a GG1. I've always wanted to see those running again. And since they're just as likely to make new GG1s as they are to make new AEM-7s, we might as well go with the more antiquated technology.

Also, I think the trains should stop at Boston Back Bay, but not Boston South, because it's only 1-mile from Back Bay, and people won't mind walking.

[Ryan]

Boston isn't in Rhode Island, dummy.

And my vote is for E60's, they looked sweet.

[MattW]

MBTA's Providence/Stoughton line already provides quite a bit of service to the Providence airport, and improvements are underway to extend the line to Wickford Junction which should be open in 2012. Rhode Island is also funding an extension to this (which would probably be its own service called South County Commuter Rail) as far as Westerly which could connect to an extension of Connecticut's Shore line East commuter rail from New London which would provide continuous public transit from northern Massachusetts as far as Newark, Delaware, and if Maryland extends MARC up to Newark, you'll have non-Amtrak transit as far as Fredericksburg, VA.
Also, the existing MBTA equipment can already do 100mph I think with single diesels. This is also the segment of the Northeast Corridor that lets the Acela reach 150mph so excessively slower commuter trains would just slow it and the 125mph Regionals down more than they already do. Also, AEM-7s are no longer produced, you'd need with something based off of NJT's ALP-46a, or the new Amtrak locomotive, ACS-64 unless you want to buy used ALP-44s from NJT or used AEM-7s from Amtrak once they start retiring them.

[AlanB]

Stop posting.

What, and see Amtrak just keep on doing the same old? Don't you want to see more trains? What kind of rail fan are you?

And yet you yourself want to keep using old technology in the form of an AEM-7.

[stntylr]

Let's look to the future and have RI invest in a RI only HSR line. It certainly would be less expensive than California's.

[George Harris]

Let's look to the future and have RI invest in a RI only HSR line. It certainly would be less expensive than California's.

For sure. After all, the size of Rhode Island is such that they do not need any 3 digit mile markers on their highway system.

[Nexis4Jersey]

There are a few planned lines and alot of infill stations for Rhode Island ,just no $$$ for it. The Commuter Rail lines would connect and serve the following large towns and cities.... Theres no $$$ to build these lines in one shot even though there small and cheap compared to neighboring states. My Friend estimates all the plans below to cost between 7 to 12 Billion $$$.

Newport
Middletown
Tiverton
Central Falls
East Greenwich
Kingston
Quonset
Woonsocket
Pawtucket
Cranston
Warwick

Light Rail would service these cities / towns

Providence
Pawtucket
East Providence
West Warwick
Cranston
Riverside
Warren

Streetcars would service these cities

Providence
East Providence
Cranston
North Providence

[jis]

Does a commuter rail in Rhode Island sound like a good idea? To me, yes. The line will go from Providence to Westerly on Amtrak's Northeast Corridor. Stations are Providence, Providence Airport, Wickford Junction, Kingston, Kenyon, Wood River Junction, Bradford, then Westerly. Trains will use an AEM-7 locomotive and will have 6 cars with a locomotive at each end. Maximum speed is 78 MPH. End to end will take around an hour and twenty minutes.

Actually, I think you should use a GG1. I've always wanted to see those running again. And since they're just as likely to make new GG1s as they are to make new AEM-7s, we might as well go with the more antiquated technology.

Are you kidding? I would like to see K-4s used. That would be so cool

[the_traveler]

All I want is a rail line from my house to KIN, so I don't have to drive those 4 miles! I sometimes have to carry lunch with me for that trip!

[The Davy Crockett]

All I want is a rail line from my house to KIN, so I don't have to drive those 4 miles! I sometimes have to carry lunch with me for that trip!

You drive it? What happened to your limo?

[The Davy Crockett]

I want a commuter line powered by Big Boys! Alco could open shops in Rhode Island to build them!

I mean, since talk is cheap and we can present any wild thing that enters our minds like it is the best thing since sliced bread, why not? Practical? Realistic? Financially viable? Who cares!?!

[Trogdor]

I want a commuter line powered by Big Boys!

I haven't been to one of those restaurants in years!

[amamba]

They are talking about adding streetcar service into Providence. I think that would be nice because currently the city is only served by RIPTA buses and then they have this weird "trolley" route. Except the trolley is a bus that looks like a trolley.

In regards to a commuter rail, they are making a station in wickford and I believe that the idea is to have the Providence line of the MBTA extend south to Wickford and just extend the route that now currently runs from Boston South Station to Providence and then continues on to TF Green airport.

In regards to public transit into the city center, sadly downtown Providence isn't that vibrant in terms of employers/businesses. I am not sure how many people would utilize a commuter rail into Providence from South County. But then again a native Rhode Islander thinks traveling from someplace like Newport to Providence is a very long trip - its all the way across the bay! Back me up on this one Dave

[Shanghai]

Should there be light rail on Bellevue Ave in Newport?

[Nexis4Jersey]

Should there be light rail on Bellevue Ave in Newport?

Newport is too small for LRT , maybe a streetcar to tie into the Future Commuter Rail...

[the_traveler]

Newport already has "trolley" service - those buses that look like a trolley!

And I will back up amamba on the RI thinking. When i was an IRS auditor, people from Little Compton didn't want to drive to Providence - all 25 miles - because it is such a long trip! Either that or they had to stay overnight!

BREAKING NEWS!!!!!!!! MBTA service serving TF Green (Providence airport) to Boston South Station begins today (11/14)!