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The only reason I don't take the train when traveling between Boston and New York or DC is because the time it takes doesn't warrant the price.
I just looked into prices and times for a mini-vacation I took the little lady on to DC. Trains were slightly less expensive than flying, but took 10 hours to get to DC.
We ended up driving. Took us 7.5 hours and the cost of fuel/parking were cheaper than 1 train ticket. If the trains weren't so heavily inefficient, we would have taken a train.
I have a great idea.
Instead of complaining about everything, why not present a solution?
You have kids, I'm sure you got to a point where it didn't matter what your kids were whining about, it all sounded the same. That's what posts like this have come to and why they get little response.
7.5 hours! Holy crap, you were hauling. It takes me 10, And I'm pretty fast. You must have really needed that quality time alone.
7.5 hours! Holy crap, you were hauling. It takes me 10, And I'm pretty fast. You must have really needed that quality time alone.
That is moving but in the realm of not too bad traffic, well, not too bad. I used to go from Dedham to halfway between Baltimore and Annapolis and would typically average 6.5-7. Did it once in 6.5 towing a 20' boat.
Personal best was 5 hours 15 minutes (including a 125mph stint over the Tappen Zee)
Oh, where were we? Train, umm, yeh. If the Acela was able to live up to its design requirements (vaporspecs) it might be a worthy alternative to flying...
That is moving but in the realm of not too bad traffic, well, not too bad. I used to go from Dedham to halfway between Baltimore and Annapolis and would typically average 6.5-7. Did it once in 6.5 towing a 20' boat.
Personal best was 5 hours 15 minutes (including a 125mph stint over the Tappen Zee)
Oh, where were we? Train, umm, yeh. If the Acela was able to live up to its design requirements (vaporspecs) it might be a worthy alternative to flying...
The big problem with the Acela is that the tracks between New Haven and Washington are a series of curves, and there are a number of old bridges that they have to slow down to cross. They can boogie along between Boston and Pawtucket, and again when they get out of Providence, but once they hit New Haven, it's like playing Twister the rest of the way into NYC.
To make this work, you'd have to rebuild the entire Northeast Corridor by straightening the tracks and eliminating grade crossings (there are several grade crossings in southern RI and estern CT that don't even have gates ).
Outside of the Northeast Corridor, Amtrak doesn't own the railbeds and rights of way, and their trains are often delayed by the dispatchers from the freight railroads that do own the tracks, as they'd rather make an Amtrak train wait while their profitable freight traffic proceeds.
This would be a multi-trillion dollar operation, and even then ridership isn't guaranteed.
Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools, because they have to say something.
The big problem with the Acela is that the tracks between New Haven and Washington are a series of curves, and there are a number of old bridges that they have to slow down to cross. They can boogie along between Boston and Pawtucket, and again when they get out of Providence, but once they hit New Haven, it's like playing Twister the rest of the way into NYC.
To make this work, you'd have to rebuild the entire Northeast Corridor by straightening the tracks and eliminating grade crossings (there are several grade crossings in southern RI and estern CT that don't even have gates ).
Outside of the Northeast Corridor, Amtrak doesn't own the railbeds and rights of way, and their trains are often delayed by the dispatchers from the freight railroads that do own the tracks, as they'd rather make an Amtrak train wait while their profitable freight traffic proceeds.
This would be a multi-trillion dollar operation, and even then ridership isn't guaranteed.
I remember reading frequently in the mid 90s that Acela would do this and Acela would do that, problems would disappear etc... Back when journalism had someone research the cons to a proposal there were a few people saying it wouldn't be possible to hit their times because of New Haven west through nothern Jersey. Who knew the naysayers were correct??
7.5 hours! Holy crap, you were hauling. It takes me 10, And I'm pretty fast. You must have really needed that quality time alone.
Google maps says 7hrs 28minutes, but that's driving straight with no stops. Stopped once for fuel and a second time so the little lady could pee. 15 minutes each stop.
How fast I drive depends on the people around me. If I can, I'll hope in a group of people driving fast to give me a PD buffer in front and behind me. Otherwise, cruise control is set at 4-6MPH over the speed limit.
It all comes down to planning your trip. Have to plan it early enough so you are on the early end of rush hour in Providence but the tail end of rush hour in New Haven.
).
Hybrid Mode
