Talk:Framingham/Worcester Line

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On Time Performance[edit]

It would be good to provide on time performance data for trains that only go from Boston to Framingham separately from the Worcester trains. I've been led to believe that the former may tend to be quite good, whereas the latter have poor on time performance. JNW2 (talk) 02:08, 26 November 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Actually both segments are horrible, but what else do you expect from the agents of evil? Nutmegger (talk) 22:09, 31 March 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Ownership[edit]

The Amtrak System Timetable for Spring and Summer 2007, "Effective April 2, 2007 - October, 2007" page 59 lists track ownership, and under the Lake Shore Limited lists Boston/Poughkeepsie - Cleveland as being owned by CSX. This article seems to imply that a more correct description of that region would be "Framingham/Poughkeepsie - Cleveland", and that Amtrak should list Framingham - Boston as being owned by the MBTA. However, this article does not seem to have a citation for the MBTA ownership claims, which may mean that the correct thing for me to do might be to change the Wikipedia article to match Amtrak's description. JNW2 (talk) 02:07, 26 November 2007 (UTC)[reply]

I've since found a reference which shows Turnpike Authority owns part of the line. -- Beland (talk) 16:05, 15 February 2008 (UTC)[reply]

CSX presently owns west of Worcester Union station. MBTA now owns from Worcester to South Station. Previously CSX owned Worcester-Framingham. Supposedly, MBTA bought Framingham-Boston track in 1975 from the Penn Central bankruptcy estate or Conrail. Mass Turnpike Authority bought track between Boston and bridge west of Auburndale around 1960 for the Mass Turnpike Extension, with New York Central having a permanent easement on track and Beacon Park yard. I *think* Amtrak dispatches South Station to COVE, and MBTA dispatches BBY to Worcester.--CommanderMcBragg (talk) 17:19, 1 August 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Operators & Subsidies[edit]

My understanding is that Boston & Maine did not take over south side operations until 1978, not 1964!!!! So who operated this line from 1975-1978, Conrail? When did subsidies come into effect?

NYC joined Penn Central on February 1, 1968, and the New Haven joined on December 31, 1968, which consolidated all southside ops under PC. In January 1973 the MBTA bought Riverside-Framingham and began subsidizing Boston-Framingham service. After Amtrak dropped the Boston-Springfield Bay State in April 1973, remaining service was one Worcester round trip and two to Framingham. The last Worcester round trip was dropped on Monday, October 27, 1975; on Friday the 31st the Lake Shore Limited began operation. Contrail took over PC on April 1, 1976; the MBTA bought most of the PC passenger equipment, but Conrail continued to provide limited Framingham service under subsidy. The B&M took over all southside ops (still under MBTA subsidy) on March 12, 1977. The MBTA gradually paid for more service: 2.5 round trips in October 1977, 5.0 in October 1979, 4.5 in February 1981, 6.5 in 1982, and 12.5 by April 1984. That number stayed steady until the MBTA purchased the outer section of the line in 2012 and three round trips were added on October 29, 2012.

Much of that is from the NETransit history (an incredible source - Jonathan is the definitive source on MBTA history); some is from a book in my personal collection. This article isn't my highest priority for the moment, but I'll add more history in time. Pi.1415926535 (talk) 15:03, 2 August 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Riverside[edit]

The Riverside station on this line, distinct from Riverside station (MBTA) and the former terminus of the Highland Branch, appears to have stayed open until around 1977. Does anyone have any sources for this station for the Penn Central/Conrail/MBTA period of operation? Thanks, Mackensen (talk) 01:46, 10 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]

The history of the mainline station is closely enough linked to the modern MBTA station to have it in the same article, so I've adjusted the templates accordingly. I might be able to find a source for when the depot was demolished. Pi.1415926535 (talk) 06:30, 10 June 2018 (UTC)[reply]