[JohnR]

Originally Posted by Mike P

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??