u/Prudent_Shallot2971

If the money and political will were there, would it make sense to run trains along the CSX line on the Western Shore of the Hudson River to Kingston?

If anything, I'd run it along the CSX line from Kingston to Orangeburg, then along an unused ROW (if the money is there) to serve places like Sparkill, Englewood, and Leonia.

Once the line rejoins the CSX line that parallels West Side Avenue, it would run along that line until a new ROW is built to connect to the Hudson River Tubes and Penn Station.

This could spur economic development in places like Newburgh and Kingston (where, let's be honest, it's needed) and also serve the Plaisades Mall, and large population centers like south of Haverstraw.

All electric trains would either short-turn at Stony Point or run to Newburgh, where diesel service would continue to Kingston. (Similar to the Harlem line having trains terminate at North White Plains or Southeast, with diesel continuing to Wassaic)

This line would need extensive upgrades, and new siding would need to be built to facilitate passenger service on this heavily used rail line.

For fun, I made a map (not complete): https://metrodreamin.com/view/Vkg1ZDRmckNQNVVFNzNDZ0NYbHJkNDJnRTJpMXwyOA%3D%3D