Hi All,

I know that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has several ideas
about further extensions on its East-of-River lines as well as
West-of-River, and so I was wondering where things stand at the moment.

-- I know that Metro-North has spoken about extending service beyond Poughkeepsie to Rhinecliff-Kingston, and that the local authorities in
the latter have expressed more interest in it over the past 10 or so years.

The MTA, I think, would also like to eventually extend the Harlem Line
beyond Wassaic -- if not to Chatham, then at least to Millerton. It
seems that this would be more difficult process, however, as they would
need to reclaim the existing Rail Trail between Wassaic and Millerton,
plus the agency also needs to amend its operating charter to include
Columbia County.

It won't be impossible, AIUI, just more difficult.

On West-of-River, what is happening with the project to restore rail
service to Binghamton? The Southern Tier Line is not a realistic option,
AIUI, due to its rather circuitous route and numerous speed
restrictions. Thus, any proposed rail service to Binghamton would see
trains run via the Lackawana Cut-Off and Scranton.

I am guessing that the third project is the most complex, at least from
a legal perspective, as it would involve the participation of
transportation departments in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, as
well as a number of charter amendments for various operating agencies.

So, is there any real progress on any of the aforementioned projects
and which of them is the most realistic at this point? Is it perhaps
still a "Wouldn't that be nice? Maybe someday." scenario?

(I am guessing that extension of service from Poughkeepsie to Rhinecliff-Kingston is the most realistic option at the moment, due to
the relative ease of making legal and physical changes.)


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In article <pjqlcs$5ke$1@dont-email.me>,
hounslow3@yahoo.co.uk <hounslow3@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

So, is there any real progress on any of the aforementioned projects
and which of them is the most realistic at this point? Is it perhaps
still a "Wouldn't that be nice? Maybe someday." scenario?

None of them, as far as I can tell. There's an election campaign
heating up and I haven't heard anything about it.

(I am guessing that extension of service from Poughkeepsie to >Rhinecliff-Kingston is the most realistic option at the moment, due to
the relative ease of making legal and physical changes.)

Well, yeah, that line has Amtrak passenger service, and M-N and Amtrak
already share the line south of Poughkeepsie. They probably wouldn't
have to make any physical changes other than perhaps some sidings near Rhinecliff to store trains.

--
Regards,
John Levine, johnl@iecc.com, Primary Perpetrator of "The Internet for Dummies", Please consider the environment before reading this e-mail. https://jl.ly
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On 31/07/2018 23:20, John Levine wrote:

In article <pjqlcs$5ke$1@dont-email.me>,
hounslow3@yahoo.co.uk <hounslow3@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

So, is there any real progress on any of the aforementioned projects
and which of them is the most realistic at this point? Is it perhaps
still a "Wouldn't that be nice? Maybe someday." scenario?

None of them, as far as I can tell. There's an election campaign
heating up and I haven't heard anything about it.

Yes, the Mid-Terms are coming up.

(I am guessing that extension of service from Poughkeepsie to
Rhinecliff-Kingston is the most realistic option at the moment, due to
the relative ease of making legal and physical changes.)

Well, yeah, that line has Amtrak passenger service, and M-N and Amtrak already share the line south of Poughkeepsie.

Yes, I know; they're sharing metal for now between Poughkeepsie and all
the way to GCT. It's normally between Poughkeepsie and Riverdale, where
Amtrak trains traverse the Empire Connection to join the West Side Line.

They probably wouldn't
have to make any physical changes other than perhaps some sidings near Rhinecliff to store trains.

They would need to raise the platforms as well as put in signage, TVMs.

Is there space for a siding track to turn trains, BTW?
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RE:
"The MTA, I think, would also like to eventually extend the
Harlem Line beyond Wassaic -- if not to Chatham, then at
least to Millerton. It seems that this would be more
difficult process, however, as they would need to reclaim
the existing Rail Trail between Wassaic and Millerton, plus
the agency also needs to amend its operating charter to
include Columbia County."

I sense that they've given up on this for the foreseeable
future -- just too expensive.

Also problematical is where a storage yard could be
constructed at Millerton. There's no room "in town" (near
the station) nor immediately north of there.

RE:
"On West-of-River, what is happening with the project to
restore rail service to Binghamton?"

Not going to happen in your lifetime.

The problem with extending to Rhinecliff is that the
railroad is now operated by Amtrak, and they already stop
there. Anyone -in- Rhinecliff/Kingston looking for
relatively quick service to New York will get there
considerably faster on Amtrak, than they would on Metro-North.
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On 01/08/2018 02:35, J.Albert wrote:

RE:
"The MTA, I think, would also like to eventually extend the Harlem Line beyond Wassaic -- if not to Chatham, then at least to Millerton. It
seems that this would be more difficult process, however, as they would
need to reclaim the existing Rail Trail between Wassaic and Millerton,
plus the agency also needs to amend its operating charter to include Columbia County."

I sense that they've given up on this for the foreseeable future -- just
too expensive.

Also problematical is where a storage yard could be constructed at Millerton. There's no room "in town" (near the station) nor immediately north of there.

Assuming that MTA do extend up to Millerton, then who says that you need
a lay-up track?

RE:
"On West-of-River, what is happening with the project to restore rail service to Binghamton?"

Not going to happen in your lifetime.

I see. Have they or do they run any excursion trains on the Southern
Tier Line? I heard that there was one such excursion in the early 1970s, though I know of no others since that time.

> The problem with extending to Rhinecliff is that the railroad is now

operated by Amtrak, and they already stop there. Anyone -in- Rhinecliff/Kingston looking for relatively quick service to New York
will get there considerably faster on Amtrak, than they would on Metro-North.

Logical.
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On 01/08/2018 01:25, hounslow3@yahoo.co.uk wrote:

On 31/07/2018 23:20, John Levine wrote:

In article <pjqlcs$5ke$1@dont-email.me>,
hounslow3@yahoo.co.uk <hounslow3@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

So, is there any real progress-a on any of the aforementioned projects
and which of them is the most realistic at this point? Is it perhaps
still a "Wouldn't that be nice? Maybe someday." scenario?

None of them, as far as I can tell.-a There's an election campaign
heating up and I haven't heard anything about it.

Yes, the Mid-Terms are coming up.

(I am guessing that extension of service from Poughkeepsie to
Rhinecliff-Kingston is the most realistic option at the moment, due to
the relative ease of making legal and physical changes.)

Well, yeah, that line has Amtrak passenger service, and M-N and Amtrak
already share the line south of Poughkeepsie.

Yes, I know; they're sharing metal for now between Poughkeepsie and all
the way to GCT. It's normally between Poughkeepsie and Riverdale, where Amtrak trains traverse the Empire Connection to join the West Side Line.

They probably wouldn't
have to make any physical changes other than perhaps some sidings near
Rhinecliff to store trains.

They would need to raise the platforms as well as put in signage, TVMs.

Is there space for a siding track to turn trains, BTW?

One other thing: What is the current state of plans to re-electrify the Danbury Branch and to extend at least as far as New Milford?

I remember hearing at least 20 years ago that MTA would like to refry
the line, but I wonder how much traction that has at the moment.

Would it be safe to assume that any prospect of rehanging wires go hand-in-hand with extending to New Milford?

I am also guessing that such a project needs to be a joint effort
between MTA and CDOT, probably with the former undertaking and
supervising the work and some of the cash and the remaining sum would
coming from the latter.

Any progress on extending the Waterbury Branch up to Hartford? Or is
that unlikely as Amtrak has that route covered out of New Haven?
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