Announcement that a contract for preliminary service engineering is to be let. There are many problems for getting the service . Two are how to integrate the CSX service over Hell gate route and MNRR not having any 12 Kv 25 Hz compatible equippment yet. Also the need for the New Rochelle flyover to finally be built. That flyover will definitely be needed if any MNRR trains originate at New Rochelle for NYP.
http://www.mta.info/news/2019/01/22/project-build-bronx-metro-north-stations-advances
When thinking about transit in the Northeast, I often consider the cost vs. benefit of unifying all of the wildly disparate electrification schemes that were developed independently and incompatibly due to the interests of the commercial railroads of the time.
The Erie-Lackawanna lines inherited by New Jersey Transit were eventualy unified under a mostly 25 kV, 60 Hz system. Why haven't Metro-North, NJT, and Amtrak unified their wildly incompatible electrification systems with their weird under-running third rail with the more modern over-running third rail?
Why wouldn't it be smarter to just unify all of the third rail to the over-running LIRR-style third rail and change all the overhead catenary to 25 kV, 60 Hz? Is it really going to be so prohibitively expensive to never do it?
My understanding is thet 25 kV cat needs more isolation distance around the wire, which would be difficult with all the tunnels and clearance issues.
The tunnels are a main reason that a dual-voltage system would be required. I've read about using 12.5 kV in the Hudson River and East River Tunnels and 25 kV or 50 kV elsewhere.
25 KV is preferred for less resistance loss and fewer substations; 12.5 for reduced clearences; and both for less resistance loss and fewer substatilions than third rail which is very impractical over 1000V.
Meanwhile:
Dave here is lik to parts cut off.
http://www.mta.info/news/2019/02/25/metro-north-opens-new-haven-line-travel-between-fordham-and-manhattan
New Timetables Effective Sunday, April 14, Will Accommodate Infrastructure Improvements, Enhance Reliability
Our new timetables effective April 14 on the Hudson, Harlemand New Haven lines are designed to reflect more accurately how the railroad’s progressive infrastructure improvement plan affects train running times, resulting in more reliable, dependable and safe service for our customers.
Most of our trains will have an adjusted schedule, anywhere from one minute to, in some cases, sixteen minutes on the Connecticut branch lines. In designing this schedule, we took into account a busy infrastructure improvement schedule that includes upgrades to our infrastructure, continued Positive Train Control installation along our tracks and on our fleet, and the actual running times of trains.
To learn how your train service is affected, new timetables will be available in Grand Central Terminal and at outlying stations or check our schedules page or Metro-North Train Time® to access the information directly on your phone.
Or, call Metro-North’s Customer Service Center at 511, the New York State Travel Information Line, and say, “Metro-North Railroad.” From Connecticut, dial 877-690-5114. Those who are deaf or hard of hearing can use their preferred service provider for the free 711-relay to reach Metro-North at 511.
On the Hudson Line
There will be minor schedule changes to morning and evening peak service, and off-peak service, with more significant schedule changes to the Upper Hudson Line’s weekend schedule to accomodate switch work near Poughkeepsie.
Harlem • New Haven
On the Harlem Line
There are minimal changes to the morning and evening peak service, with minor adjustments to off-peak and weekend trains to accommodate infrastructure projects along the line.
Hudson • New Haven
On the New Haven Line
The New Haven Line will experience the most extensive infrastructure work, with morning and evening peak trains schedules lengthened by 1 – 6 minutes. Off-peak and weekend trains will have schedules lengthened by 1 – 11 minutes. Depending on their mainline connection, New Canaan, Waterbury, and Danbury branch trains will have their schedules changed by 1 – 16 minutes.
More service is being added for customers, with additional weekday, Saturday and Sunday New Haven Line trains accessible for travel that had previously been restricted between Fordham and Manhattan. During off-peak times, service between Fordham and Manhattan will operate roughly four times an hour instead of twice an hour.
Hudson • Harlem
Also, effective Sunday, April 14, Metro-North is opening New Haven Line trains for travel between Fordham and Manhattan.
The change means customers will be able to access an additional 96 weekday trains for travel between Fordham and Manhattan that previously had been off-limits, more than doubling existing service of 93 daily Harlem Line trains.
On Saturdays,
67 New Haven Line trains will now be available for such travel, bolstering the existing 83 Harlem Line trains.
On Sundays,
the railroad is adding access to 65 New Haven Line trains to the existing 63 Harlem Line trains.
During off-peak times,
when waits can be longest, the changes mean service between Fordham and Manhattan will operate roughly four times an hour instead of twice an hour.
Previously, New Haven Line trains stopped at Fordham only to enable travel between Fordham and points north, in Westchester County and Connecticut. Customers at Fordham seeking to travel south to Grand Central or Harlem-125th Street, as well as customers at those two stations seeking to travel to Fordham, were directed to Harlem Line trains.
Southbound New Haven Line trains
stopped at Fordham to discharge passengers only, and northbound New Haven Line trains stopped at Fordham only to receive passengers.
The move comes after Metro-North completed a $15.1 million renewal of the Fordham station.
“The rule about boarding at Fordham had a long history, but that’s no reason for us to continue to uphold it,” said Metro-North Railroad President Catherine Rinaldi, who authorized the rules change after discussing the matter with Connecticut Transportation Commissioner Joseph Giulietti.
Commissioner Giulietti said: “I applaud Metro-North for managing to change this archaic rule in the spirit of better serving our customers. This will make a critical difference for commuters on the Harlem and New Haven Lines.”
You won’t need the luck of the Irish to travel to the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 16 — there will be plenty of trains to choose from since we will be adding additional inbound and outbound trains to our regular Hudson, Harlemand New Haven Line Saturday schedules.
Please note: ALCOHOL WILL NOT BE ALLOWED on trains, platforms, and at stations to maintain orderly travel for customers. Any alcoholic beverages found by the MTA Police will be confiscated.
Southeast
8:45 AM
GCT
10:20 AM
North White Plains
9:44 AM
10:37 AM
New Haven
8:40 AM
10:31 AM
Stamford
9:50 AM
11:02 AM
For full details of all stops on these additional trains, please visit our schedule page, or download Metro-North Train Time®.
Remember, buying your ticket is easy when you use MTA eTix®, the tickets you can purchase directly on your smartphone.
And no matter how you purchase your ticket, you can always take advantage of the Family Fare, where each child pays $1 up to 4 children traveling with a fare-paying adult on weekend and non-peak trains. For the fifth child, the off-peak child fareapplies on the weekends.
To schedule an appointment to donate call 1-800-933-2566 or log onto AllAboardToSaveLives.
The first 250 presenting donors will receive a pair of tickets to an upcoming New York Yankees*Game.
Please bring I.D. with photo or signature. Eat well and drink fluids before you donate.
Emergency Evacuation Instructions
Even if you think you are familiar with what to do in the event of an emergency on your train, we urge you to take a moment to review the emergency procedures.
In the meantime, here are a few quick safety tips:
We bring you this information because your safety is always our first priority.
Getaway – to a Delicious Meal in the Hudson Valley!
Hudson Valley Restaurant WeekMarch 11 – March 24.
Relax aboard a Metro-North train and dine at one of the 200 participating restaurants. Nearly half of which are located near Metro-North train stations on the Hudson, Harlem, New Haven and Port Jervis lines.
The Hudson Valley has grown into New York's premier culinary destination. Hudson Valley Restaurant Week offers three-course prix-fixe lunches at $22.95 and dinners at $32.95. Many chefs' menus include original dishes using the best fresh produce, cheeses and meats, all locally-grown in the Hudson Valley.
Getting there:
Please call the restaurant you've chosen to get directions from the closest train station.
We can make sure you have something to do every weekend! See a complete list of our Getaways.
It’s All About THE PUPPIES!
In addition to Saint Patrick’s Day on March 17, March is the month when we celebrate the Spring (vernal) Equinox (March 20); and Purim (March 21, at sundown).
But we would like to call your attention to one special day in particular, National Puppy Day on March 23.
Though there have not been any official congressional declarations or presidential proclamations for this special day, it is a time we recognize the unconditional love puppies give us and the joy they bring – and when the goal is to adopt a puppy who doesn’t have a home.
And let’s face it, no matter how old your dog is, they are still your “puppy!”
And, if you are taking your “puppy” home with you on Metro-North, please don’t forget for their safety, to have them on a leash and hold the little ones on your lap or in a special carrier tucked under the seat for the trip home.
And don’t forget to give your “puppy” a special bone, a kiss on the head, and a big hug on this day.
It’s the courteous thing to do!
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