DMU Service - Equipment Requirements

AN "ALL POWER" OPERATION

The current plan proposes DMU service with 3 power and 2 trailer units. However, a 5 unit all power fleet would offer further service opportunity and schedule flexibility. Initial service should not have the passenger loads to require trailer cars .

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Could AMTRAK, Massachusetts, or Connecticut be persuaded to contribute to the campaign?

What would it cost to convert the two trailer car order to full power units? How far would the $500,000 saved on the maintenance building go toward paying the mortgage?

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Consider the potential of a 5 unit fleet where each car can run independently

At Springfield, the south bound Montreal train would split. One car runs into Boston, the other going south to Bradley, Hartford, and New Haven.
On the trip north to Montreal, that train could also split, but at Essex Junction. Now the 2^nd car is free to run into Burlington and then on down to Rutland. The next morning, it will run back up into Burlington (passing through Middlebury, Charlotte, Shelburne, etc.) to rejoin the southbound Canada service. Partial ABRB service could begin!

And how long would the remaining single car take to clear customs at the border?

There would now be a reasonable same day return service from Rutland (Pittsford, Middlebury, etc.) to both Burlington and Montpelier.
WRJ service will also split at Springfield, allowing service to Bradley, Hartford and Bradley without a connection.
Anyone on the Middlebury-Burlington section has an attractive (no train swap) schedule to Springfield, Boston (Logan Airport), plus service south to Bradley Airport, Hartford, New Haven, NYC, etc.
There might even be a few people in Rutland who would ride up to Burlington Airport.
Using this unit and the DMU car from the Montreal service, AMTRAK could re-deploy legacy train cars and locomotives in the Hartford-Bradley-Springfield corridor.

Plan B Service

Montreal to Boston			White River South

Rutland		Montreal
Burlington
	Essex Jcn.			White River
	(2 cars)			(2 cars)
	White River
	Springfield			Springfield
Windsor Locks			Windsor Locks
New Haven		Boston	New Haven		Boston

Note: I suspect that expensive AMTRAK shuttle equipment has not allowed more frequent service to Windsor Locks, and that this in turn will not allow an organized connection into Bradley Airport. If DMU equipment could make more frequent service economical and practical, it would be worth promoting taxi or van service for the 7 mile trip to the terminals.

03/20/2007 19:17