New Portsmouth-Newport trains arrive

By John McDaid | Saturday, 21 April 2007

Newport Touring TrainThe Newport Dinner Train (NDT) is bringing two rail cars to the Island next week in preparation for a new touring and shuttle service from Portsmouth to Newport. On Monday and Tuesday, the self-propelled diesel cars, purchased from a scenic railway in New Hampshire, make the final leg of their journey across the bay from Davisville.

I am such a rail buff that if I wasn't out of town, I might have stopped by the Hinckley Shipyard, just to see the process, as the cars are offloaded from a barge and moved to the tracks. NDT said in a release that they'll be refurbishing the cars, and in June, launching a new service, the Islander Touring Train, from the Weaver's Cove area to Newport.

According to the NDT web site, "These cars were purchased to create an affordable touring package and to begin the implementation of an economical shuttle service." I, for one, am thrilled to see local light rail as a transportation option. Heck, I might even visit Newport after Memorial Day, if I didn't have to drive past Two Mile Corner...

You can see more info and pix of the Islander Touring Train and its
planned operation, or learn more about the Newport Dinner Train.

Tags: 
Localblogging, 02871

Comments

eileen

Sat, 04/21/2007 - 1:28pm

Rail has always been a good idea, but the cost of actually updating it has been prohibitive. The other problem is that some VERY expensive P'mouth homes have been built along the tracks & most certainly wopuld oppose any plan for most extensive updating/use. Ever hear of the C of C endorsing light rail? Some are also concerned that easier transportation would make this area even more desirable & values would jump even higher.

Still... roads & cars & trucks don't seem to be the answer. Sen. Levesque has always liked the idea rather than another highway. This new idea would seem to be a good start.

I come from a long line of railroaders (when there were such). When I was a kid we had no car, but we had railroad passes (Dad's benefit) & used them!

I was also afeard that the global warming map was coming to Island Park a tad earlier than expected!

John McDaid

Sat, 04/21/2007 - 3:06pm

Hi, Eileen...
It has always struck me as one of the sad absurdities of technology that cars so completely destroyed rail in this country. A hundred years ago, you could take a train from Portsmouth to Boston. Now, when that might actually be something you might want to do, you can't.

There are only four technologies America ever said 'no' to: rail, supersonic travel, the Apollo program, and the Superconducting Supercollider. Of those, the most clearly insane decision was rail.

I have ridden the shinkansen in Japan, which is so punctual you can literally set your watch by it. Seriously. If it's supposed to stop at Kyoto at 9:18, those doors whisk open right on the dot. I take Amtrak as much as possible, and I love Acela, but frankly, it is no bullet train. It's so unreliable that I often end up driving to New Haven to take Metro-North, because it has a better chance of getting me to NY on time. And that is just gobsmackingly abysmal.

Anything that puts less cars on the road — especially here on the Island — strikes me as a positive.

Cheers.
-j

Newport 9

Sat, 04/21/2007 - 6:30pm

For those of us in Newport, the ideal situation would be for all the tourists to park their cars in Middletown and Portsmouth and be shuttled in to spend their money here.

Extending the Dinner Train to Portsmouth is just one step in our cunningly evil plan.

Bwahahahahahaaa!

John McDaid

Sat, 04/21/2007 - 6:53pm

You'll never succeed in your dastardly Plan, Newport9 (from Outer Space). Once the tourists see our superior Quality of Life™ they will not only park their cars, but they will park their coolers, their keisters, and their 401ks in our local economy, and spend the rest of their lives paying taxes to US!

Alternatively, we'll charge them parking fees that would make Bowen's Wharf look cheap. We're flexible. Imagine, our new development, Portsmouth CO® — A vast underground hi-tech parking system (with a theme park extension planned) in the old Portsmouth Coal Mines, cars stacked like flapjacks by semi-autonomous robot forklifts — and can you imagine the kind of tip you have to lay on an inscrutable plastic android if it can't "remember" where it put your car?

Bwa-ha-ha rite back atcha, good buddy. :)

eileen

Mon, 04/23/2007 - 11:43am

Yeah, but they spend their time at our Middletown beaches (although it doesn't profit us). And sleep & eat here (bring us $). And use our shopping areas. Some even work here. Then LEAVE! Ah-h-h-. I can use the main streets again (and no, I won't share the back road secrets).

We have what is referred to as a well-rounded economy. No money, but well-rounded (like me).

Is there going to be a Depot & parking area for the train? Where???

PS. Both of you are even crazier than I thought. But, oh, that's right. I'm the one who actually ran in an election. Twice. Hmmm. I'll have to rethink that "crazy" part.

GoRDC

Sun, 06/24/2007 - 3:32pm

SHUTTLE RUNS CANCELLED - DUE TO UNFORESEEN SCHEDULING CONFLICTS. However, Please let us know your support of the idea to help with future planning.
{{{Well, the time has arrived to give the Portsmouth Rail Shuttle idea a test run - in a perfect situation. Many residents decide against visiting Newport for large festivals - such as the upcoming Tall Ships. Imagine - parking at the Melville Train Yard or the foot of Green Lane in Middletown (or, for Bristol Ferry Landing or Carnegie Abbey residents, WALKING) and climbing onboard an air-conditioned, cushioned seated, bright silver and blue rail-car, and arriving in downtown Newport having had a soda on board, ready to tour away. And at the end of the day, NOT sitting in a parking lot trying to get out of town. WELL - give it a try!! Shuttles will be running Friday and Saturday from Bristol Ferry all the way into the Newport Station - just steps from the Gateway Center, as well as Friday night for the fireworks-debarking at Mama Leone's just outside Gate 1. We're all excited to see how wonderfully this can work!!}}}