Hey everyone, I recently suggested a remaster of NEC BP. Now I'm suggesting the possibility of a new, expanded route similar to what was done with LIRR. I'm including all the features of the remaster but with expansions to the route (most of this has been copy/pasted from the remaster suggestion). - A new, more accurate PIS system that we should be seeing on the new MBTA route coming. - New, more accurate station signage (Again expected to come with MBTA Commuter). - Accurate highway signage between South Station and Back Bay (Yet again expected to come with the new route). - A new timetable making use of the HSP-46 and randomized consists. - Conductor mode (for Amtrak, this could have another interesting element since all Acela trains and Northeast Regional business class sections have reserved seating). - A 2024 version of South Station. - A revitalized Back Bay station. - Improved scenery out of Mansfield. - New platform at Ruggles. - New, realistic ACS-64 speed limits. - Playable services to Forest Hills (These are Needham Branch services which are currently AI only). It would add a new station and new gameplay using what we have now. - The abandoned Pawtucket/Central Falls Station. - The new, recently opened Pawtucket/Central Falls Station. - The 9-mile Fairmount Line/Dorchester Branch. - The 20-mile Franklin Line plus the Framingham Secondary for trains to/from Foxboro. - The 8-mile Needham Branch. As I had previously mentioned, I think we could revive the GP40 for this, for both a passenger and freight role (both MBTA and CSX use these on the line). However, the extra branches could also add a ton of gameplay to the route! I whipped up this route expansion map on my iPad (sorry if it looks bad, graphic design is not my forté xd): I'm aware that Plimptonville station closed 4 years ago, but I don't think there's any harm in its inclusion given how small it is (no real platform or anything) and the fact that it was served by only one train a day before its closure. We would have the following service patterns on the timetable: - Northeast Regional and Acela trains (as they currently are). - South Station to Providence or Wickford Junction (all stops). - South Station to Wickford Junction as far as Providence (express to Sharon). - South Station to Stoughton (all stops). - South Station to Needham Heights (all stops). - South Station to Forge Park/495 via Back Bay (all stops). - South Station to Foxboro via Back Bay (all stops). - South Station to Readville via Fairmount (all stops). - South Station to Forge Park/495 via Fairmount (all stops). - South Station to Foxboro via Fairmount (all stops). - South Station to Framingham or Worcester as far as Back Bay (potentially). - Providence to Foxboro game day trains (all stops). A potential scenario idea could be having to run a commuter train from Boston to Providence via Fairmount and/or Foxboro due to various shutdowns on the NEC. There are definitely a lot of ways you could mix-and-match this scenario, for instance only using one of the lines I mentioned, or running to/from Stoughton via the Fairmount Line. I hope you like the idea!
