Beacon Hill (train): Difference between revisions
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===Beacon Hill=== |
===Beacon Hill=== |
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[[File:Beacon Hill.svg|thumb|400px|left|Geographic map of Beacon Hill service]] |
[[File:Beacon Hill.svg|thumb|400px|left|Geographic map of Beacon Hill service]] |
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On April 30, 1978, the ''Clamdigger'' was replaced with the ''Beacon Hill'', which ran in the reverse direction to serve the Boston commuter market rather than the New Haven and New York markets.<ref>{{cite news | title=Seaport urges early train | publisher=''[[The Day]]'' | date=July 25, 1978 | accessdate=2011-06-05 | url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WwsiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DHMFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1067,4393713}}</ref> This left the ''Beacon Hill'' as the only commuter service between New Haven and Providence, except for a daily Westerly-Providence train subsidized by Rhode Island.<ref name=netransit /> Amtrak |
On April 30, 1978, the ''Clamdigger'' was replaced with the ''Beacon Hill'', which ran in the reverse direction to serve the Boston commuter market rather than the New Haven and New York markets.<ref>{{cite news | title=Seaport urges early train | publisher=''[[The Day]]'' | date=July 25, 1978 | accessdate=2011-06-05 | url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WwsiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DHMFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1067,4393713}}</ref> This left the ''Beacon Hill'' as the only commuter service between New Haven and Providence, except for a daily Westerly-Providence train subsidized by Rhode Island.<ref name=netransit /> Amtrak [[Northeast Regional|regional]] trains along the same corridor provided limited intercity service. |
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The ''Beacon Hill'' made station stops at [[New Haven Union Station]], [[Branford (Shore Line East station)|Branford]], [[Madison (Shore Line East station)|Madison]], [[Old Saybrook (Amtrak station)|Old Saybrook]], [[East Lyme (CT)|East Lyme]] ([[Niantic (CT)|Niantic]]), [[New London Union Station]], [[Mystic (Amtrak station)|Mystic]], [[Westerly (Amtrak station)|Westerly]], [[Richmond (RI)|Shannock]], [[Kingston (Amtrak station)|Kingston]], [[Wickford Junction (MBTA station)|Wickford Junction]], [[East Greenwich (RI)|East Greenwich]], [[Providence (Amtrak station)|Providence]], [[Route 128 (Amtrak station)|Route 128]], [[Back Bay (MBTA station)|Back Bay]], and [[South Station]]. Running time was slightly over 3 hours, with service on weekdays plus Sundays.<ref name=1979schedule>{{cite web |url=http://www.timetables.org/browse/?group=19791001&item=0016 |title=National Train Timetables |date=1 October 1979 |author=National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) |publisher=The Museum of Railway Timetables |page=15 |accessdate=1 November 2012}}</ref> |
The ''Beacon Hill'' made station stops at [[New Haven Union Station]], [[Branford (Shore Line East station)|Branford]], [[Madison (Shore Line East station)|Madison]], [[Old Saybrook (Amtrak station)|Old Saybrook]], [[East Lyme (CT)|East Lyme]] ([[Niantic (CT)|Niantic]]), [[New London Union Station]], [[Mystic (Amtrak station)|Mystic]], [[Westerly (Amtrak station)|Westerly]], [[Richmond (RI)|Shannock]], [[Kingston (Amtrak station)|Kingston]], [[Wickford Junction (MBTA station)|Wickford Junction]], [[East Greenwich (RI)|East Greenwich]], [[Providence (Amtrak station)|Providence]], [[Route 128 (Amtrak station)|Route 128]], [[Back Bay (MBTA station)|Back Bay]], and [[South Station]]. Running time was slightly over 3 hours, with service on weekdays plus Sundays.<ref name=1979schedule>{{cite web |url=http://www.timetables.org/browse/?group=19791001&item=0016 |title=National Train Timetables |date=1 October 1979 |author=National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) |publisher=The Museum of Railway Timetables |page=15 |accessdate=1 November 2012}}</ref> |
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===Cancellation and modern service=== |
===Cancellation and modern service=== |
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[[File:Wickford Junction platform 1.JPG|thumb|left|This MBTA station at Wickford Junction was opened in 2012 across the tracks from the former ''Beacon Hill'' station]] |
[[File:Wickford Junction platform 1.JPG|thumb|left|This MBTA station at Wickford Junction was opened in 2012 across the tracks from the former ''Beacon Hill'' station]] |
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The ''Beacon Hill'' was discontinued effective October 24, 1981, victim both of Amtrak cost-cutting and the unwillingness of state governments to provide necessary funding, as well as declining ridership.<ref>{{cite news | title=New Amtrak Network Keeps Most of System Intact |url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1346&dat=19810827&id=FmJNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=L_sDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7019,3970357 | work=[[Associated Press]] | date=August 26, 1981 | accessdate=2008-05-04 | first=H. Josef | last=Hebert}}</ref> |
The ''Beacon Hill'' was discontinued effective October 24, 1981, victim both of Amtrak cost-cutting and the unwillingness of state governments to provide necessary funding, as well as declining ridership.<ref>{{cite news | title=New Amtrak Network Keeps Most of System Intact |url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1346&dat=19810827&id=FmJNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=L_sDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7019,3970357 | work=[[Associated Press]] | date=August 26, 1981 | accessdate=2008-05-04 | first=H. Josef | last=Hebert}}</ref> Regional (now branded as ''[[Northeast Regional]]'') service continues and has been supplemented by ''[[Acela Express]]'' service, but those intercity services stop only at larger towns and cities and are not priced for commuter service. |
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In 1990, the [[Connecticut Department of Transportation]] began [[Shore Line East]] service between [[Old Saybrook (Amtrak station)|Old Saybrook]] and new Haven, with 4 daily trains. The service was extended to New London in 1996 and now includes 12 daily trains in each direction. |
In 1990, the [[Connecticut Department of Transportation]] began [[Shore Line East]] service between [[Old Saybrook (Amtrak station)|Old Saybrook]] and new Haven, with 4 daily trains. The service was extended to New London in 1996 and now includes 12 daily trains in each direction. |
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Revision as of 17:54, 1 November 2012
 A Bombardier LRC in use with the Beacon Hill in 1980 | |||||
| Overview | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service type | Commuter rail | ||||
| Status | Discontinued | ||||
| Predecessor | Clamdigger | ||||
| First service | 1978 | ||||
| Last service | 1981 | ||||
| Former operator(s) | Amtrak | ||||
| Route | |||||
| Termini | Boston New Haven | ||||
| Stops | 12 | ||||
| Distance travelled | 157 miles (253 km) | ||||
| Average journey time | 3 hours | ||||
| Service frequency | Daily (weekdays only) | ||||
| Train number(s) | 153, 154 | ||||
| Technical | |||||
| Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) | ||||
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The Beacon Hill was a daily 157-mile (253 km) commuter rail service operated by Amtrak between Boston, Massachusetts and New Haven, Connecticut from 1978 to 1981. The Beacon Hill was one of the last long-haul commuter services operated by Amtrak. Service consisted of a single rush-hour round trip, with service eastbound to Boston in the morning and westbound to New Haven in the evening.
History
Previous service
After the New Haven Railroad folded into Penn Central in 1969, most commuter service between New Haven and Providence was terminated. (Commuter service west of New Haven continued under Penn Central and Conrail then Metro-North Railroad, while Boston-Providence service was taken over by the MBTA in 1975). The Clamdigger operated as a daily local from New London to New Haven until 1972, then later from Providence to New Haven beginning in 1976.
Beacon Hill
On April 30, 1978, the Clamdigger was replaced with the Beacon Hill, which ran in the reverse direction to serve the Boston commuter market rather than the New Haven and New York markets.[1] This left the Beacon Hill as the only commuter service between New Haven and Providence, except for a daily Westerly-Providence train subsidized by Rhode Island.[2] Amtrak regional trains along the same corridor provided limited intercity service.
The Beacon Hill made station stops at New Haven Union Station, Branford, Madison, Old Saybrook, East Lyme (Niantic), New London Union Station, Mystic, Westerly, Shannock, Kingston, Wickford Junction, East Greenwich, Providence, Route 128, Back Bay, and South Station. Running time was slightly over 3 hours, with service on weekdays plus Sundays.[3]
On November 3, 1979, the Southwest Corridor was closed for reconstruction. All MBTA Commuter Rail and Amtrak service was routed via the Midland Branch instead. The Midland does not pass through Back Bay station; a shuttle train from South Station to Back Bay was available.[2]
In December 1979, the Westerly-Providence trip was canceled, leaving the Beacon Hill as the only commuter service in southern Rhode Island.[2] On February 20, 1981, MBTA Providence/Stoughton Line service was back to Attleboro. Pawtucket/Central Falls was abandoned and Providence became an Amtrak-only stop.[2]
When service began in 1978, the Beacon Hill departed Boston at 5:05pm.[3] However, beginning February 2, 1980, the departure time was moved to 4:20pm and the train became weekdays-only[4] This prevented workers on a 9-to-5 schedule from using the train, and contributed to a decline in ridership.
Beginning in late 1980, the Beacon Hill frequently ran with one of Amtrak's two LRC test trainsets.
Cancellation and modern service
The Beacon Hill was discontinued effective October 24, 1981, victim both of Amtrak cost-cutting and the unwillingness of state governments to provide necessary funding, as well as declining ridership.[5] Regional (now branded as Northeast Regional) service continues and has been supplemented by Acela Express service, but those intercity services stop only at larger towns and cities and are not priced for commuter service.
In 1990, the Connecticut Department of Transportation began Shore Line East service between Old Saybrook and new Haven, with 4 daily trains. The service was extended to New London in 1996 and now includes 12 daily trains in each direction.
MBTA service to Providence resumed on February 1, 1988, restoring commuter rail service to Rhode Island. The Pawtucket/Central Falls station remained closed and was replaced in 1992 by South Attleboro station just across the Massachusetts border. After years of planning by RIDOT, the Providence/Stoughton Line was extended south to T.F. Green Airport on December 6, 2010, and to the former Beacon Hill station at Wickford Junction on April 23, 2012.[2]
ConnDOT and RIDOT have long-term plans to extend Shore Line East and MBTA service to meet at Westerly (Amtrak station), which would provide a two-seat ride roughly matching the Beacon Hill.[6][7] RIDOT also plans to add an infill station at East Greenwich near the former station site.[7]
References
- ^ "Seaport urges early train". The Day. July 25, 1978. Retrieved 2011-06-05.
{{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=(help) - ^ a b c d e Belcher, Jonathan (31 August 2012). "Changes to Transit Service in the MBTA district" (PDF). NETransit. Retrieved 31 October 2012.
- ^ a b National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) (1 October 1979). "National Train Timetables". The Museum of Railway Timetables. p. 15. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
- ^ National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) (3 February 1980). "National Train Timetables". The Museum of Railway Timetables. p. 15. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
- ^ Hebert, H. Josef (August 26, 1981). "New Amtrak Network Keeps Most of System Intact". Associated Press. Retrieved 2008-05-04.
- ^ "Expanding Rail Service" (PDF). Connecticut Department of Transportation. 1 January 2007. Retrieved 1 November 2012.
- ^ a b Edwards and Kelcey, Inc (July 2001). "South County Commuter Rail Service Plan" (PDF). Rhode Island Department of Transportation. Retrieved 1 November 2012.