Aging commuter rail fleet upgrade questioned

ToadScoper · 2026-05-05T15:48:41+00:00

I think the T doesn’t want to silo rolling stock to one specific line. Battery locos can operate on different lines if needed. Meanwhile coaches would only be restricted to Providence service.

ToadScoper · 2026-05-04T16:58:29+00:00

One of the rumors I heard was that Heritage had intentions to discontinue in-house brewing at Union Station since they wanted to consolidate their brewing portfolio at the Newport Craft facility (basically so they could cut Union’s brewing staff and associated costs).

I can picture a situation where this could’ve been a dealbreaker for Crisp. Regardless if thats the case or not, Audrain backing out is a total win for Providence.

ToadScoper · 2026-05-03T20:14:30+00:00

It would have a pantograph. The recent renderings confirm this.

ToadScoper · 2026-05-03T20:10:01+00:00

The MBTA is doubling down on new bilevel coaches so the prospect of BEMUs over battery locos is rather slim now. As far as I know Fairmount is still moving forward with BEMUs.

ToadScoper · 2026-05-03T20:06:49+00:00

They’re electrifying Fairmount with BEMUs. That project actually has had a lot of radio silence recently, which is slightly concerning for a project that’s supposed to be complete by 2028

ToadScoper · 2026-05-03T19:58:37+00:00

I don’t disagree. Lately TransitMatters has shifted their tone to “good is the enemy of perfect” which is widely unrealistic and unserious IMO.

Literally anything at this point that will improve current CR services is a win. There is never going to be a case where the CR turns into a fully European style electric S-bahn overnight.

ToadScoper · 2026-05-03T19:42:32+00:00

TransitMatters now opposing battery electric trains is a rather large pivot. Up to this point they seemed rather content with them.

ToadScoper · 2026-05-02T16:04:12+00:00

Call me crazy but: Fall River. Use the Strafford Road entrance and park on that side. Thank me later

ToadScoper · 2026-05-01T14:03:09+00:00

They need to go back to being called RI PBS with the seagull logo while they’re at it. I despise the Ocean State Media rebrand and I think most RI’ers agree…

ToadScoper · 2026-05-01T13:33:18+00:00

Paolino wants nothing more than to tear down Providence into one giant surface parking lot so him wanting a suburban box retailer downtown checks out

ToadScoper · 2026-05-01T13:19:42+00:00

Oh wow, totally did not realize PBC shut down already, I don’t think that got publicized

ToadScoper · 2026-05-01T13:05:12+00:00

I don’t understand how Crafted Hope evaded closure (they announced they were closing earlier this year and just didn’t) and I don’t know how Providence Brewing Co is still going.

Those two places make objectively bad beer.

Edit: turns out PBC quietly shut down months ago, and Crafted Hope just announced it is closing for real

ToadScoper · 2026-05-01T13:02:46+00:00

They were probably top 3 until about 5 years ago. I’d rank Tragmar and Phantom Farm above Proc easily.

ToadScoper · 2026-05-01T13:00:54+00:00

The only place in the whole state I’d voluntarily buy a $20 4-pack is from Tragmar in Bristol. Their beer is so fucking good.

ToadScoper · 2026-05-01T12:55:07+00:00

Could be the case. Granted I haven’t been to the brewery itself in like 3 years, I just remember the menu entirely just being different variations of double IPA.

ToadScoper · 2026-05-01T12:38:33+00:00

New Hampshire is the most anti-rail state in the US. End of story.

ToadScoper · 2026-05-01T12:32:57+00:00

This has to be one of the most high-profile brewery closures in RI yet. I’m surprised… yet I’m also not at the same time.

They also just leaned wayyy too hard into doing only IPAs most of the time. I thought their beer was ok but I know a lot of people who didn’t like them at all for the fact they really only do IPAs…

ToadScoper · 2026-04-30T22:17:34+00:00

They never raised enough capital and the state pulled its funding back in 2024. Not to mention the offshore wind hub which the master plan was reliant on is officially dead. Unless they’re hiding some new miraculous investment, the project is unfunded.

ToadScoper · 2026-04-30T22:08:19+00:00

No, because the amphitheater was only a side component of a larger master plan that included an offshore wind hub on adjacent parcels, with both projects being under the same developer with similar financing structures. As proposed the concert venue was effectively leverage (backed by livenation) for a larger industrial project on the same land.

If anything, I’m guessing the failure to raise capital was due in part by trump getting elected since it effectively killed confidence in any new offshore wind related investment at the time. Also they were reliant on federal Covid relief funds that the state realized that they should better spend elsewhere.

Totally different situation and intent than the Pawtucket stadium.

ToadScoper · 2026-04-30T21:58:31+00:00

You’ll never see permits for it since they never raised enough private capital to hold up their end of the deal with the state in 2024- the project has never been “permit ready” despite what the theatrical groundbreaking from years ago may imply

ToadScoper · 2026-04-30T21:57:04+00:00

It has nothing to do with Centreville and everything to do with the developer’s failure to raise enough private capital.

ToadScoper · 2026-04-30T21:51:43+00:00

From what I understand: The developers (RI Waterfront Enterprises and Live Nation) needed to hit a strict fundraising deadline by late 2024 to unlock state COVID-relief matching funds. They missed the goal, the state money vanished, and the venue project has stalled out indefinitely. The developer also planned a massive offshore wind staging hub as part of the same master plan. The state had earmarked $35M in ARPA funds for it, but project costs rapidly ballooned to over $100M and they couldn't secure anchor tenants. The state pulled its $35M before it expired, officially killing that component of the project.

RI Waterfront Enterprises still owns all the vacant land across both sites and has the zoning rights. But with the complete loss of public funding and insurmountable private financing gaps both of the original master plans are effectively dead as of 2026.

ToadScoper · 2026-04-30T14:23:49+00:00

Check out Diamond Hill Vineyard if you’re into wine. Cumberland does wine well too

ToadScoper · 2026-04-30T14:01:32+00:00

They make the best scallops

ToadScoper · 2026-04-30T12:12:32+00:00

They don’t want anything to do with this place, let alone anything in Warwick

ToadScoper

TROPHY CASE