If I could cycle back to the Virginia stuff for a moment, a math problem is starting to come to mind. South of WAS, I count the following with SEHSR, Hampton Roads, etc:
-9 SEHSR to CLT
-6 NER to NFK
-3 NER to NPN
-3 LD trains to SAV/MIA
That comes to 21 trains each way through RVR, or 42 trains on the old RF&P main from Amtrak. Then, we add:
-7 VRE to Fredericksburg
Now, we're at 28 each way/56 total...on the RF&P to Fredericksburg. Between ALX and WAS, we then add the following:
-2 LD (the Crescent and the Cardinal)
-2 NER (the Lynchburger and the TDX, or two TDX frequencies)
-8 VRE
That's another (12*2) 24 trains under currently extant plans, or 80 total assuming that nothing whatsoever gets added to the existing plans, from WAS-ALX. At what point does this segment simply get bought out and/or a parallel track get installed WAS-ALX? Also, how much traffic is CSXT going to take on the RF&P main before they want the traffic moved to another line? 42 trains per day is a lot, and this assumes no increases in VRE service.
The other thought that's coming to mind is that we're getting four-tier service:
-Super-local: The VRE commuter lines, where applicable
-Local: NE Regional trains with Woodbridge, Quantico, etc.
-Express: NE Regional trains only stopping RVM-RVR-Fredericksburg-ALX-WAS
-Super-Express: Not stopping in Fredericksburg
-9 SEHSR to CLT
-6 NER to NFK
-3 NER to NPN
-3 LD trains to SAV/MIA
That comes to 21 trains each way through RVR, or 42 trains on the old RF&P main from Amtrak. Then, we add:
-7 VRE to Fredericksburg
Now, we're at 28 each way/56 total...on the RF&P to Fredericksburg. Between ALX and WAS, we then add the following:
-2 LD (the Crescent and the Cardinal)
-2 NER (the Lynchburger and the TDX, or two TDX frequencies)
-8 VRE
That's another (12*2) 24 trains under currently extant plans, or 80 total assuming that nothing whatsoever gets added to the existing plans, from WAS-ALX. At what point does this segment simply get bought out and/or a parallel track get installed WAS-ALX? Also, how much traffic is CSXT going to take on the RF&P main before they want the traffic moved to another line? 42 trains per day is a lot, and this assumes no increases in VRE service.
The other thought that's coming to mind is that we're getting four-tier service:
-Super-local: The VRE commuter lines, where applicable
-Local: NE Regional trains with Woodbridge, Quantico, etc.
-Express: NE Regional trains only stopping RVM-RVR-Fredericksburg-ALX-WAS
-Super-Express: Not stopping in Fredericksburg