Thanks for the up to date information, Henry. Bergen County people will still have service as far as Glen Rock Lower Station. Some people in southern Bergen County wil will be able to get to Main Line stations driving or by bus.
There are still the people who ride the Morris and Essex Line and Montclair-Boonton Line. They are supposed to have a lot of fallen trees over the tracks.
NJT website tonight has links to schedules...I don't know if these are just SUnday's schedules or for weekdays, too. 4 trains from PJ between 3:30AM and 7:15Am plus three trains from Suffern, same westbound in the late afternoon. Bergen and Pascack Valley lines still down as are Morristown and Montclair lines, the NJCL south of Woodbridge and the Raritan Valley line west of Raritan. So, NJT is making plans but have not said much beyond what already has been said since Monday.
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Henry don't know what to read into it but I find it interesting that the announcement came from the governor's office. Anyone have a handle on the NJ political scene?
The Governors' offices in all states are making the announcements for everything...part of the clean up and rescue plans to keep a chain of command and communications so that all know what all others are doing. In part, anyway. Also with NJT, they don't have a command center or communications center evidently if Meadows is completely washed out. And Hoboken, of course, under water itself. Chrstie and Cuomo have both shown good command and leadership skills through this from what I can see 150-200 miles away.and reading the NJ papers and suburban NY papers, both on line.
Check out www.railfan.com, it's the website for "Railfan and Railroad" magazine. Go to "Railnews", then the story "East Coast Railroads Devestated by Sandy." There's a slide show of the damage on the commuter roads, NJ Transit pedominating. Pretty horrendous stuff.
Henry; and others -- 2 diverse thoughts about NJ TRANSIT'S troubles.
1. If the NJT control center is completely trashed is it possible if the programing tapes, / etc can be taken to the AMTRAK CETA control center at PHL 30th st station and loaded there along with NJT personel?. Realizing that compuer compatibility may be a problem ? There may be a lack of control stations at PHL but should be able to find extra ones quickly ?
2. If AMTRAK can lease VIA equipment what about the HEP incompatibility. My understanding is VIA cars use a higher HEP voltage ( 570 volts ? ) and the phase order may be ( ? ) reversed as CHI METRA does ? Maybe the VIA cars can accept the 480 v AMTRAK voltage or maybe lease VIA locos as well BUF -- ALB? Then the P-30 DMs only would need modification(s) to go ALB - NYP ?
also BOS ceta might be useable ?
Today (Sunday) I actually rode a New Jersey Train between Newark and New York. NJT is following the emergency time table. The trains going and coming were on time and quite full but no one was standing. I went to New York shortly before noon. Riding through the meadow lands there was nothing to suggest Sandy had been through even though I looked for signs of high water. Water in the rivers was high but not over the banks. In the station the stairway to the Newark Light Rail was closed off. The arrival and departure boards were all off. The escalator up to the track was working and coming back the elevator was working. Everything seems to be working quite smoothly.
The emergency time table typically shows one or two expresses followed by a local. However, the NYP departure board showed only one train an hour, a Trenton local.
from NJ TRANSIT
will only operate 13 trains into NYP 0600 - 1000. usually operates 63 trains
http://www.njtransit.com/tm/tm_servlet.srv?hdnPageAction=PressReleaseTo&PRESS_RELEASE_ID=2806
wonder if only one north river tunnel at a time is useable and / or problems at sunnyside yard ?
To John WR: Everything OK with yourself and family? Since you live in NJ I'm a bit concerned about what Sandy might have done to you and yours. Ironically, the wife and I were in Paramus NJ for a visit with her mother when Sandy decided to visit as well. No problems with us except for a loss of electric power for 48 hours. A bit of a headache but nothing to complain about compared to some other poor folks.
Firelock,
Thank you for your concern. My family is absolutely OK. My wife and I did not loose power at all although my son and his wife lost it for a few days. They live close to us and spent a lot of time with us. We are in Essex County well away from the shore and even from rivers.
I'm glad everything ultimately turned out well for your family too.
No new routes or services on rail reported tonight...at least not yet...for commuter or transit.. Subways are expanding but not down to Coney Island yet and E and G trains not running. PATH is not running.yet as of their Sunday morning posts. NJT has announced more buses available for connecting to Trans Hudson bus and ferry services from numerous places in the State. NJT has scheduled and reiterated that they can only run 13 trains into NYP and out in the evening for rush hour service. (Question: are all seven Port Jervis /Suffern trains guaranteed connections at Secausus?)
On another note, notices, news releases, postings from NJT are coming from Trenton and Christie's office as was mentioned earlier. In part I think this is because all communications through this situation have to be funneled through one place, and rightfully so...Chirstie is the Governor, his office is in command. NJT officials are quoted in the releases and posts. But I wonder how much any and all NJT offices being out of commission also have a bearing? I have been hard on the way communications have been sparse and incomplete from NJT...but will admit there may be reasons for this. Yet I am uneasy about giving them a clear board and disappointed that no one in the media has brought any of this up or pushed for any further information.
Oh, and Amtrak is running the Corridor as was posted yesterday and tonight more to and from Albany, too but the Lake Shore and the Maple Leaf are both being fed by shuttle trains to and from NYP. Ethan Allen is to run from NYP tomorrow....I think there probably are problems at Sunnyside so that keeping trains out of there is desirable...Corridor trains run through and can be serviced elsewhere.
I was completely mislead by PATH' website which said they were running but they were not. Are they running now?
Yeah, ya gotta go a couple of pages in to find out they are not running....
Late afternoon, Monday Nov 5. PATH has announced service from Journal Sq. to 33rd St. starting Tues. morn. No stops at Christopher or 19th Sts. but the NJ riverfront stops are open. They report they are still pumping water at many places including Hoboken, Exchange Pl., and WTC stations. This should alleviate the water ferry services being fed by regular and extra service buses at Hoboken.
Hudson Bergen Light rail is operating from North Bergen (Tonnelle Ave) to Hoboken and Hoboken to Marin Blvd, Jersey City only but that means access to PATH at Newport-Pavonia
NJT has not announced yet any changes for tomorrow except for more trains in and out of NYP to Trenton but not restoration of Woodbridge service which was overwhelmed this morning and shut down. Special bus services still running from park and rides and other designated locations to Hoboken for ferry transfer. Not known what progress NJT made today and what is the schedule for tomorrow...probably will have something later this evening.
Full Atlantic City service to Philadelphia was opened this morning, too.
John WR, that's great! Glad to hear it! If you didn't loose the Internet I suppose your grandson got to watch the rest of those PennRail videos?
Should be noted about NYP.. Both NJ bores are open but only two of the four under the East River. This restricts the number of moves to and from Sunnyside for Amtrak and NJT while also restricting LIRR services. So, NJT apparently has to do a quick turnaround instead of parking for long periods of time. LIRR probably is under the same crunch as West Side Yard was flooded and may not be 100% either. NJT of course does not have Hoboken yards and we don't know how bad Meadows tracks are or the equipment stored there.
Aside from the NJT HBLRT and PATH announcements late this afternoon, there has been no further word on what progress has been made and what Tuesday morning's plans are. I will keep check through the evening and bring it here if possible.
Henry; --- article in railway age on NJT equipment damages. still no announcement from NJT ?
http://www.railwayage.com/index.php/passenger/commuter-regional/for-njt-equipment-damage-looms-large.html?channel=55
PATH is open Herald Square- Journal Square stopping at Grove, Pavonia, 14th St. and 23rd St. only (9th and Sheridan Sq, bypassed.) Woodbridge was closed, no Jersey Coat service. Port Jervice - Hoboken running, but not stopping at Secaucus, Raritan - Newark running. River Line running. North half, Holoken to northm Light Railr running. Newark Light Rail not running. Full Metro North service except buses on Neew Canaan branch. Long Island service on all branches, but not all to end points, except still no service on Long Beach branch. Subways now have both IRT lines and Manhattan Bridge BMT Brooklyn - Manhattan service. Crosstown, Brighton, Canarsie - 14th, Dyre Avenue, Coney Island Stillwell Avenue Terminal, South Ferry, Sea Beach still without service, and service on all ines mentioned with service usually have only one service operating and may not run to endpoints.
NJT this morning is running only Trenton to NYP and Port Jervis (4 trains) and Suffern (3 trains) to Hoboken, no stops at Secaucus. (evidently with Woodbridge service cancelled and Corridor trains jammed, it is best to go to Hoboken for ferry or HBLRT to Pavonia Ave and PATH to 33rd...and that is my conjecture because NJT still not explaining much aside from the broad generalizations).
Newark City subway still closed but Hudson-Bergen line operating Hoboken to Marin Ave Jersey City, (including Pavonia Ave) and Hoboken-Tonnelle Ave. North Bergen.
LIRR has added trains Ronkonkoma to Riverhead and bus to Greenport as all else is up and runninge with no service east of Speonk, and no Long Beach service.
MNRR is busing on the New Canaan branch, otherwise they're attempting full schedules on all other lines..
Subways continue to open new with Q open to Brighton Beach and the B train to Kings Highway, A train giving full Manhattan service but not to the Rockaways yet. The 1 train not going south of Chambers St., and the R train not running to Brooklyn from Canal St., not N service in Brooklyn. F trains stop at Avenue X and the D train only to Bay Pkwy.
Thanks for the Railway Age article, Streak.
According to my morning paper (Star-Ledger Tuesday, November 6) where New Jersey Transit is operating it is being overwhelmed. As of yesterday one North River Tunnel is still flooded but one is open. Ordinarily, NJT runs 63 trains into New York Penn Station during the morning rush hour but it is now restricted to 13. North of New Brunswick there is standing room only on the trains. There is now some service from Port Jervis and Suffern on the Erie Main Line but none goes to Secacus; all goes to Hoboken.
Amtrak is trying to provide extra service along NJT's Northeast Corridor Line. All Amtrak Northeast Regional trains stop at Trenton with some stopping at Princeton Junction, New Brunswick and Metro Park. However, Amtrak fares are much higher than NJT fares. Up to the late 90's or early 2000's some Amtrak trains honored NJT monthly and weekly commuter tickets but Amtrak stopped doing that. I can only wonder if they are doing it during the storm. I know from personal experience they have refused in other emergencies.
NJT's regular one way fare from Trenton to New York Penn is $15.50. Today Amtrak's lowest fare is $41.00.
Hey Henry, B doesn;t go to Kings Highway. That is the Q. The turnback point on the B is Bay Parkway.
I was not aware that the Q had been extended from Kings Highway to Brighton Beach.
Note that the Franklin Avenue shuttle is running.
Lots of changes on the Subway map.. D train is turning back at Bay Pkwy. B train runs the Brighton Beach line but is turning back at Kings Highway. It is the R train not running from Canal St to Brooklyn but is running in Brooklyn. N train not running beyond Pacific Pkwy. Some of the changes have been in effect (B train on Brighton Beach line, D train via Bay Pkwy and Q train to Brighton Beach, too), others are temporary for the emergency. No service to Stillwell Ave on any line as of noon.
No Canarsie (L) trains from Manhattan, only Broadway Jct to Rockaway Pk,; no Z train service and J trains to Chambers St. while M trains are back to Forest Park...
BTW, MTA has several great maps...the regular maps for MNRR, LIRR, and subways, but also right now, "recovery maps" that are changing as lines open and trains are assigned...great stuff. great work by MTA's website people...
blue streak 1 Henry; --- article in railway age on NJT equipment damages. still no announcement from NJT ? http://www.railwayage.com/index.php/passenger/commuter-regional/for-njt-equipment-damage-looms-large.html?channel=55
Interesting in that nothing specific was reported by NJT, the figures are guesses by the reporter. The lack of specifically addressing issues and facts says a lot...to me any way...it says that NJT does not have a grip on what has happened. But I don't think it is the people but lack of facilities and means. With the whole of the operations in the servers at MMC, they are bewildered and shell shocked. The several things that are coming through are 1) we having a fear of disarray in the organization; 2) loss of communications not just operating communications but also internal communications; 3) no remote back up location for anything...all died with MMC's drowning; 4) communications is being filtered through the State' offices under the Governor's auspicies; 5) we know we don't know anything for sure, some have been out along the tracks and have seen what they can, some have been part of the commuting and know their own difficulties, but otherwise we are relying on the internet handouts; 6) further feat is that it is very bad for NJT from whatever the loss of equipment and damages to infrastructure, that even if the tracks are cleared and wires are put back up, the loss of MMC ability to operate presents a set of problems to be addressed in how to operate; 7) there's probably a heck of a lot more me or you can't know or don't know or will never know, but factors that are effecting decisions and operations; 8) there's going to be a lot of public disgust and discussion when the water recedes and the sun comes out; 9) there's gonna be a lot of explanations, bureaucratic double speak and political axe swinging for a long time to come. Unfortunately. MNRR, LIRR, SEPTA, MTA, were all up and running quickly if not completely while little was and has been heard from NJT's management. And it not all because NJ and NJT got hit worse. But this is what the commuters, the public, the pundits are all going to use for ammunition. Again I say, I am and always have been a supporter of NJT's operations and people from management to trackman, but there are just a lot of questions that need to be answered as soon as possible, many before they are asked.
Henry, thank you and others for your ceaseless efforts to report on this developing situation. It has been the most interesting thread on this forum in a very long time. I anxiously await further posts.
Bruce
So shovel the coal, let this rattler roll.
"A Train is a Place Going Somewhere" CP Rail Public Timetable
"O. S. Irricana"
. . . __ . ______
Thank you, AgentKid for the compliments...
It is about 5:20P as I write this with nothing different to report concerning routings, etc.: all are theoretically operating as scheduled, published, or reported this morning....changes for tomorrow will probably come through later tonight. However, some news has emerged. Bloomberg did report that 257 rail cars and 65 engines representing 23% of the cars and 35% of the locomotives are damaged or ruined but have not been totally accessed nor assessed so NJT doesn't know what they are up against equipment wise And as the article points out, unlike the old days of steam heat, HEP power differs from pool to pool, agency by agency, so a simple borrow is not an easy assumption
Amtrak's actual assessments are: north bore of Hudson Tunnel and two of the four East river tunnels are still flooded and being pumped thus keeping traffic down as much as possible because the east tubes carry LIRR and Amtrak schedules plus Amtrak equipment moves to and from Sunnyside Yard. Couple the track problem with the substation at Kearny being flooded knocks down available power for NJT and Amtrak trains thus the reduction in the number of trains. I have seen a letter NJT sent out to select people outlining but not detailing problems...but one that does provide a grave picture of mulitple problems which have to be faced (maybe overwhelming is the real description) and noting that it will be quite a while until much of the services will be returned and a very long time until regular schedules can be considered. Most of what has been accomplished and scheduled was posted this morning. There are buses running to Liberty St Park to connect with the Liberty Island ferry which is running to the Battery. The Holland Tunnel remains closed to automobile traffic except for emergency vehicles and for one lane of the North tube being opened for buses inbound in the morning and outbound in the evening. As I have stated, there is little information, little specific information, but broad statements about lots of damage and losses from wind, water, and lack of electricity with a few spots noted, like the MidTown Direct connection at Kearny being washed out, bridges on the NJCL being out of commission, and trees and wires down.
Nothing big new this morning. But NJT has put up a Recovery Map this morning showing all light rail lines up and running and, curiously, rail service only from Suffern to Hoboken instead of from Port Jervis (their banner does say from PJ, though)>
However, the segment of Newark Light Rail that runs between Newark Penn Station and Broad Street Station is not yet running. The rest of Newark Light Rail is.
Several months ago, NJT moved their ALP-44's to Port Morris for storage. Does anyone know how much work would be required to return them to service?
AMTRAK ANNOUNCEMENT.
It appears that the Kearny substation damage is going to hold up the availability of full service. Does anyone know if the Mutchen converter station feed this substation?
AMTRAK TO RE-OPEN THREE TUNNELS TO
PENN STATION NEW YORK BY LATE FRIDAY, NOV. 9
Expanded train service north, south and west of NYC to follow
WASHINGTON – By late Friday, Nov. 9, Amtrak intends to re-open three tunnels that provide access to/from Penn Station New York (PSNY) which were significantly flooded and damaged by Hurricane Sandy. All Amtrak PSNY tunnels will then be in operation and will allow expanded Amtrak and commuter rail service north, south and west of New York City. Individual tunnels are expected to open at various times during the next three days.
"The return of all tunnel access to New York City will be a major milestone in the continued restoration of Amtrak and commuter rail service and for the larger recovery efforts of the Northeast region," said President and CEO Joe Boardman.
Two of the tunnels (known as Line 1 and Line 2) that will re-open this week are located under the East River and will support more Northeast Corridor service north of New York and
Empire Service
and other trains that operate to/from Albany and further west. When the two tunnels open, each will operate at 80 percent capacity, or at a peak level of about 32 trains per hour, as repairs continue. Two other East River tunnels did not flood and are operating at 100 percent capacity, or at a peak level of about 40 trains per hour.
The other tunnel (known as the North Tube) to re-open is located under the Hudson River and will allow expanded Amtrak and New Jersey Transit commuter rail service south of New York. In combination with the South Tube, which re-opened on Oct. 31, the two Hudson River tunnels will operate at about 63 percent capacity, or a peak of about 24 trains per hour which doubles the capacity of a peak of 12 per hour today. A normal peak is about 38 trains per hour.
The ability to further increase capacity through the Hudson River tunnels is currently limited by significant flooding damage at a key electrical substation located near Kearney, N.J. On Nov. 6, with the assistance of the Army Corps of Engineers, Amtrak brought the flooding under control and de-watered the facility. The equipment is now being cleaned and will be
- more -
- 2 - ATK-12-104
tested to determine the damage, the next course of action and estimated time for repair. Amtrak is able to bypass this substation, but because the power used for this section of track now has to supply a longer distance, the number of trains allowed to take power in the longer supply section is to be restricted in order to protect the catenary wires from over heating or tripping the supply breakers on overload until the substation is back on line for full restoration of service.
In addition, the 1930s-era electrical system was built by the Pennsylvania Railroad and inherited by Amtrak when it took control of sections of the Northeast Corridor in 1976. It uses unusual 25 Hz current; most modern electrical components are designed for 60 Hz current, thus limiting the ability to easily substitute electrical components or bring in alternate power sources.
The Hurricane Sandy storm surge flooded four of six 102-year-old tunnels under the
Hudson and East Rivers for the first time in their history. In particular, signal and electrical systems in three of the four flooded tunnels were severely damaged by the salt water. Amtrak crews have designed a bypass for the signal system to allow the tunnels to re-open and provide safe operations, but more repairs are needed.
While Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor received unprecedented levels of storm damage from Hurricane Sandy, investments made since 2002 helped mitigate the damage and are assisting in the recovery. For example, fire and life safety improvements in the New York tunnels including better emergency ingress/egress points and an enhanced ventilation system have supported the
blue streak 1 ... In addition, the 1930s-era electrical system was built by the Pennsylvania Railroad and inherited by Amtrak when it took control of sections of the Northeast Corridor in 1976. It uses unusual 25 Hz current; most modern electrical components are designed for 60 Hz current, thus limiting the ability to easily substitute electrical components or bring in alternate power sources....
...
In addition, the 1930s-era electrical system was built by the Pennsylvania Railroad and inherited by Amtrak when it took control of sections of the Northeast Corridor in 1976. It uses unusual 25 Hz current; most modern electrical components are designed for 60 Hz current, thus limiting the ability to easily substitute electrical components or bring in alternate power sources....
I hope this finally spurs Amtrak to modernize the electrical supply system to 60 Hz, like is already done on the north end, MetroNorth and even parts of NJT.
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