You would think it would be easier to serve CIN but it really isn't. These are "possible" routes from CIN to NYP.
Current Cardinal route:
CIN to WAS (603 miles) - 3:27am 6:19pm 14 hr, 52 min
WAS to PHL (134 miles) - 6:19pm 8:26pm 2 hr, 7 min
PHL to NYP (91 miles) - 8:26pm 9:58pm 1 hr, 32 min
Total: 828 miles - 3:27am 9:58pm 18 hr, 31 min
Using AAO's proposed schedules:
http://freepdfhosting.com/cf26514bc8.pdffor routes that aren't currently run,
To NYP via PGH/PHL (Pennsylvanian times):
CIN to COL (125 miles) - 5:05pm 8:05pm 3 hr
COL to PGH (218 miles) - 11:40pm 5:30am 5 hr, 50 min
PGH to PHL (353 miles) - 7:30am 2:55pm 7 hr, 25 min
PHL to NYP (91 miles) - 3:25pm 4:50pm 1 hr, 25 min
Total without breaks (787 miles): 17 hr, 40 min
AAO scheduled a 5 min gap for its northbound CIN-CLE path via Columbus. They proposed CHI-Columbus-PGH via Ft. Wayne. The gap in Columbus is 10 min. The eastbound CL has a 15 min gap at PGH. Adding those you get 30 extra min via PGH/PHL (the gaps in HAR and PHL are already included in the Pennsylvanian schedule).
Rough estimate of total time: 18 hr, 10 min
To NYP via CLE/BUF/ALB (LSL times):
CIN to CLE (260 miles) 5:05pm 10:50pm 5 hr, 45 min
CLE to NYP (618 miles) 5:50am 6:23pm 12 hr, 33 min
Total without breaks (878 miles) 18 hr, 8 min
AAO's proposal CIN-NYP via CLE/BUF with breaks: 5:05pm 12:27pm 19 hr, 22 min (5 min gap in Columbus, 1 hr, 9 min layover in CLE due to proposed connection with LSL)
In terms of mileage, going through the Keystone route is the shortest (787 mi) with going through WV/VA second (828 mi) and via the Empire route (878 mi) the longest. In terms of time, the differences are less than an hour apart so negligible for a roughly 18-19 hr trip.
Add in CHI to CIN (319 miles): 5:45pm 3:17am 9 hr, 32 min (9 min gap in Indianapolis) and the trip is about 28 hrs CHI to NYP no matter which route you choose. By contrast, CHI-WAS via CL is 780 miles, 6:40pm to 1:05pm (17:25) while CHI-NYP via BUF/ALB is 959 miles, 9:30pm-6:23pm (19:53). CHI to CLE via the LSL is 341 miles, 9:30pm-5:35am (7:05 including a 30 min gap in TOL).
AAO's CHI-PGH via Columbus: 519 miles, 4:55pm to 5:30am (11:35). Add the Pennsylvanian times PGH-NYP (444 mi, 8:50) and you get without a break in PGH 963 mi (20:25). Add 15 min to PGH and it's 20:40.
CL CHI-PGH via CLE: 481 miles, 6:40pm to 5:05am (9:25). Add the Pennsylvanian times PGH-NYP (444 mi, 8:50) and you get without a break in PGH 925 mi (18:15). Add 15 min to PGH and it's 18:45.
Ironically going through CIN-PGH-PHL-COL would be the shortest distance (787 miles) but the longest time by about eight hours over via COL despite being 152 miles shorter.
So it's hard to serve CIN on a CHI-NEC train.
