Local Freight Where It Shouldn't Be: How Peddlers and Passenger Trains Mix on America's Fastest Railroad

This article examines how Amtrak accommodates freight trains on the 457-mile Boston-Washington Northeast Corridor, which share the same track. Some 22 local freights serve customers on the Corridor, primarily between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. when fewer passenger trains run. Yet it is a complicated dance the speedy passenger trains must play with the slower freights. A deadly collision between a 125-mile per hour Amtrak train and Conrail diesels meant more restrictions on freight speeds, operating hours and cab-signal requirements. The article describes which trains runs on the Corridor, what they are carrying, and how they are scheduled. In 2006 some 13.8 million freight-car-miles were run on the Corridor, and payments to Amtrak from NS, CSX, P&W, and Conrail for use of the Corridor spine added up to $16 million.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/6163876
• Authors:
  • Hartley, Scott A
• Publication Date: 2007-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Maps; Photos;
• Pagination: pp 53-61
• Serial:
  • Trains
  • Volume: 67
  • Issue Number: 7
  • Publisher: Kalmbach Publishing Company
  • ISSN: 0041-0934
  • Serial URL: http://trainsmag.com

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Freight and passenger traffic; Freight traffic; Passenger traffic; Railroad traffic
• Identifier Terms: Amtrak
• Geographic Terms: Northeast Corridor
• Subject Areas: Freight Transportation; Operations and Traffic Management; Passenger Transportation; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01052154
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: UC Berkeley Transportation Library
• Files: BTRIS, TRIS
• Created Date: Jun 14 2007 1:11AM