To your first point: yes, that's part of why worcester and springfield have been dead since before the Civil War. And it's part of the context for "Ethan Frome

To your first point: yes, that's part of why worcester and springfield have been dead since before the Civil War. And it's part of the context for "Ethan Frome". For better or worse, CT port cities proved better than rail to the hudson, especially once farming moved west. Right of way is another big issue, but even if it wasn't, Acela can't hit full speed north of NYC. It'd derail if it tried.