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Boston Globe

Could old Acelas be a providential opportunity?

After all, the 'FirstGen' Acelas can clearly handle the route, having served it for more than 20 years. Could Rhode Island or Massachusetts buy the soon-to-be-retired trainsets, slap some purple paint on them, and start a Providence-to-Boston shuttle? I emailed Amtrak's spokesperson, Jason Abrams, about the fate of the old Acelas. Here's what he said: 'Amtrak will decommission the FirstGen Acela trainsets per our current fleet decommissioning process, which includes disposing of the trainsets safely per all applicable regulations and allows for private organizations to acquire.' Advertisement As a great Rhode Islander once put it, that seems to mean Go ahead, tell me how dumb an idea it is seems so sensible for both states. Advertisement More, faster commuter rail service would help workers and businesses in Boston if Providence, with its lower-cost housing, was more accessible. And it would boost Rhode Island's economy to connect it with the economic engine of Boston. Amtrak trains do provide that speedy service now, but the timetable isn't very convenient for someone who wants to live in Providence and commute to Boston. Tickets are also often much more expensive than the T's $12.25 one-way fare. For instance, when I checked on Friday, the cheapest seat on Amtrak's 8:41 a.m. departure — the only one that gets you to South Station before 10 a.m. — was $53. And if you want to get to Boston before 9 a.m. on Amtrak, forget it — your only choice leaves Providence at 12:26 a.m. The downside of express commuter rail trains is that if they replace current Providence Line departures, the result would be fewer trains for commuters in suburban Massachusetts local stops. Trains that used to stop in Attleboro and Mansfield would speed through them instead. Adding new express departures on top of the existing schedule would solve that problem, but run into a different one — South Station's So Providence commuters probably shouldn't hold their breath. But hey, in another 20 years or so, when the new Acelas are nearing retirement… This is an excerpt from , a Globe Opinion newsletter about the future of transportation in the region. Sign up to . Advertisement Alan Wirzbicki is Globe deputy editor for editorials. He can be reached at