The recent thread on Hiawatha ticketing got be wondering why the shuttle service between Springfield, Mass and New Haven requires reserved seating.
As I think about it further, it may be because so many of the stations along the route are just bus shelters without Quik Trak machines. They would want people to get tickets in advance, and not have to bother the people on the train for the ticket purchase. Still, it seems like more trouble than necessary for a route they want to expand to regular commuter service.
I'm in favor of improved rail service, but spending $480 Million on a 63 mile route with 8 stations to enable any so called high speed service doesn't make sense. How can the train ever get up to any high speed if it has to slow down for another station so quickly?
As I think about it further, it may be because so many of the stations along the route are just bus shelters without Quik Trak machines. They would want people to get tickets in advance, and not have to bother the people on the train for the ticket purchase. Still, it seems like more trouble than necessary for a route they want to expand to regular commuter service.
I'm in favor of improved rail service, but spending $480 Million on a 63 mile route with 8 stations to enable any so called high speed service doesn't make sense. How can the train ever get up to any high speed if it has to slow down for another station so quickly?