The “Thoughts from Everyone” series is a collection of discussions and analyses of the current system contributed by other transit fans that I personally find interesting. For a full index with ideas on all topics, see here.

This post includes discussions and analyses of transit in southernmost Boston, most notably the neighborhood of Hyde Park, which includes Fairmount and Readville. Many such discussions involve commuter rail lines on the Northeast Corridor and the Fairmount Line.

Last updated: March 31, 2024 (created page)

Commuter Rail Stations

Hyde Park Station

Several uncertainties remain with the future of Hyde Park station on the Northeast Corridor. As of March 2024, it receives asymmetric service in both directions, particularly fewer inbound trains (with no inbound Franklin Line trains stopping), and Phase 2 of South Coast Rail (SCR) may remove trains from Stoughton/SCR that currently stop there. It is unclear whether all trains can stop here as the system moves to a Regional Rail model. Moreover, Amtrak has plans to expand the Northeast Corridor right-of-way (ROW) to 4 tracks, which presents challenges with ROW width at Hyde Park station and a real chance of removing the station altogether.

2018 discussion of quad-tracking Hyde Park and surrounding stations (F-Line to Dudley and other users, August 2018), and later comments

• In several replies, F-Line detailed the difficulties of quad-tracking Hyde Park station according to the NEC Infrastructure Improvements Master Plan (IIMP), primarily due to properties on the west side of the ROW where the fourth track is planned.

2024 discussion of Hyde Park station’s service levels and quad-tracking the station (archBoston users, March 2024), and later comments

• The discussion started with hypothetical trains per hour (TPH) at the station, but quickly moved into feasibility of expanding the station’s footprint, starting here.
• The thread also has brief mentions of other infill stations to the north of Hyde Park, and the possibility of a flying junction at Readville for the Franklin Line (replicated in sections below).
• [Crosslist] Part of this discussion included an analysis of travel demands from Hyde Park, listed separately below.

[Crosslist] This discussion, listed in the “Thoughts from Everyone: MBTA Commuter Rail and Other MA Mainline Rail” page, contains layouts of all NEC stations under the quad-track plan, including Hyde Park.

Readville Station

Discussion of building a flying junction at Readville for Franklin Line (archBoston users, March 2024), and later comments

• This discussion was part of a broader discussion on Hyde Park and Readville’s service levels. TheRatmeister proposed adding a flying junction at Readville for Franklin Line trains, but others quickly pointed out its engineering difficulties, most notably insufficient length and grades.

Travel Demand

Analysis of travel demands from Hyde Park (Teban54, March 2024)

• As part of the broader discussion on Hyde Park commuter rail, I did a thorough analysis of the neighborhood’s travel demands, with the station’s possible removal (and replacement with Fairmount Station) as context.
• Summary: There exists significant demand from Hyde Park station to both the Northeast Corridor and the Fairmount Line corridor. Thus, replacing the station with Fairmount station is likely insufficient.