Worcester to Boston
The problem with rail service between Worcester and Boston is less the meandering layout then the freight traffic, grade crossings, and number of stations along the route. This section of track is at capacity. The current express train takes an hour, the local train an hour and a half. By leaving the current Worcester to Boston service in place, the TMT#2 would address the commuters from Springfield/Worcester and the current auto commuters on Route 495. The initial goal is to build ridership from Springfield/Worcester and remove riders from 495 and the Mass Pike headed to Boston. The secondary goal is to build ridership in the opposite direction by providing fast clean and regular service for Boston and Cambridge businesses who can move some operations to a lower cost building and operating environment.
A 30-minute ride in a clean fast and modern train will accomplish these goals.
Once entering the TMT#2 at Worcester the rail tunnel would continue beneath either Shrewsbury Street or the existing rail right of way to Route 9. From there it would continue to Framingham beneath Route 9. It would then pick up the Mass Pike and travel beneath it all the way to Boston.
Only a station at Route 495 and a Maintenance and Emergency Access Facility at Route 95 would interrupt the line between Worcester and Boston. All local rail traffic would continue utilizing the current Worcester to Boston line.
The TMT#1 avoids the issues of the current commuter rail line and permits high speed travel.
You can see by the above cross section that the TMT#2 would, like the TMT#1, also avoid substantial elevation changes of an above ground rail line.
Route 495 Station
The Beacon Hill metro station in Seattle, Washington. It has four elevators that reach the underground station in 20 seconds. The station is 160 feet below the surface.
The new rail station at Route 9 and Route 495 would be constructed between the east and west bound rail tunnels and accessed by a series of high-speed elevators. The station would be approximately 100- 200 feet below the Route 9 and the Route 495 exit ramps.
Directly above would be a 2500-5000 car parking garage that would be built between the north and south bound lanes of Route 495. This station would have a bus stop to service the business on and around Research Drive.
Route 95 Maintenance Facility:
An Emergency Access and Maintenance facility would be built within and under the Mass Pike / Route 95 interchange in Weston. This would be constructed so that it could be converted to a regular passenger station in the future.
Any future station would be like the Palmer Station in that it would have a parking garage above and could be directly accessed from both the Mass Pike and Route 95. This would take east bound traffic off the Mass Pike as well traffic from Route 95 before it reached the Mass Pike, all headed for Boston.
The TMT#1 would continue beneath the Mass Pike until it reached Boston at the new West Station.
West Station and Allston Tunnel Portal:
The current above ground Worcester commuter line would join the TMT#2 through a portal on the Boston side of the Boston Landing Station. This would put all these rail lines underground at Allston (Old Beacon Yards). The new West Station likewise would be constructed underground out of the way of the realignment of the Mass Pike and Storrow Drive. If the North/South rail project is built, then the Grand Trunk line could be eliminated, and the Mass Pike built at grade.
In the alternative the current Worcester to Boston line could remain above ground which would permit higher Springfield/Worcester/Boston traffic in the TMT#2.
There are a variety of interesting transportation options that open at the West Station with construction of the TMT#2.