Due to "search the community" function not working starting this new thread.
Have found an announcement that Amtrak is going to start longer outages on the present tunnel bores. Have ot yet been able to find this testimony by Choa. The chickens are coming hoome to roost ?
https://www.rtands.com/railroad-news/gateway-project-dream-results-in-heavy-maintenance-reality-for-north-river-tunnels/
Found a news article from TV report. Still no transcript. Longer term shutdowns of one bore will probably mean all possible NJ Transit trains to Hoboken. That may take some planning and new bids for NJT crews and changes to PATH operations. Path deliveries of more cars cannot come too soon!
https://wtvbam.com/news/articles/2020/feb/27/us-transportation-chief-backs-rehabilitation-of-key-nyc-rail-tunnel/989211/
Now, this IS a place where a bunch of interesting 'conspiracy' theories might come into play.
It would appear that recognition is dawning that Gateway won't be finished before something, perhaps drastic and expensive, is done to the existing tunnels. Schumer et al. love the idea that this can be done with Federal money before Gateway reduces the comparative importance of stabilized PRR tunnels to regional (read 'mostly New York-centric') service. You'll recall that ARC foundered precisely on perception that New Jersey would get left on the hook for an 'outsize' share of regional responsibility - I wouldn't look for any revival of the idea even under current NJ 'new management' - so how nifty it is that the regional use of the tunnel can be paid for with OPM.
I regretfully note that it will be actions, not stories like these 'news' reports, that actually govern what goes on. On the other hand, some very important government actions, some utterly wack, have originated from catastrophic one-time occurrences that could be said to be similar to this situation with flash crowding at Penn -- reading between the lines it could have become much more of a catastrophe than it was. Next step: does Congress approve the funds for specific programs rehabilitating the tunnels? get your popcorn going and the butter hot!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Cp1Rh-FNOc
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
BaltACD https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Cp1Rh-FNOc
Balt that is a real eye opener. Makes one wonder about the safety of the present North River tunnels. Also the many subway tunnels in NY City ?
blue streak 1 BaltACD https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Cp1Rh-FNOc Balt that is a real eye opener. Makes one wonder about the safety of the present North River tunnels. Also the many subway tunnels in NY City ?
Also remember the small electrical fire on the DC Metro that killed a woman from smoke inhalation just several years ago.
The link makes one wonder about the safety of East river bores, North river bores, Baltimore B&P single bore. and 1st ave tunnel single bore south of Washington union station ?
blue streak 1The lnk makes one wonder about the safety of East river bores, North river bores, Baltimore B&P single bore. and 1st ave tunnel single bore south of Washington union station ?
Don't overlook water main breaks in metropolitan areas. Running water is one of the most unstoppable forces on Earth. While tunnels may be lined, running water can destroy the lining.
Chao seems to be the appointed assasin to torpedo the new tunnels.
https://www.nj.com/politics/2020/03/trump-administration-deals-another-blow-to-gateway-tunnel.html
blue streak 1Chao seems to be the appointed assassin to torpedo the new tunnels. https://www.nj.com/politics/2020/03/trump-administration-deals-another-blow-to-gateway-tunnel.html
For some reason this starts to open normally on my system, then defaults to some legal banner about community rules. Hopefully others can read the story and comment on what it says.
I have to wonder whether some part of this is intended to put Midget Mike on the defensive in the remainder of the primary season.
After all the discussions about 'cost-effective' ways to mitigate the chloride-contamination and wiring-damage concerns in the existing tunnels (which is most of the actual concern with them as far as current 'remediation' needs are concerned) it seems strange that doing this would now be 'prioritized' over proceeding with the Gateway work.
Perhaps the recent signal problem, and the very real threat of mass injury that it could have 'produced', has been a wake-up call that emergency tunnel remediation has to be done NOW ... and that rhetoric about not proceeding promptly with Gateway represents a need for Federal money allocation 'from' sources for NECIP that preserve essential Corridor service with actual running through Gateway still a number of years off no matter how 'prioritized' the Administration might try to finish it.
Isn't it fun when New Yorkers and other New Yorkers get their panties in perceived twists?
OvermodIsn't it fun when New Yorkers and other New Yorkers get their panties in perceived twists?
It's dismaying to read this.
Those people being endangered and inconvenienced by the delay in building these tunnels are not only paying passengers, they are taxpayers, workers, citizens and my fellow countrymen. Yours, too.
I fail to see the humor in any of this. Were it not for the usual one political party, those replacement tunnels would be nearing completion by now.
"'T'aint funny, McGee."
blue streak 1Chao seems to be the appointed assasin to torpedo the new tunnels. https://www.nj.com/politics/2020/03/trump-administration-deals-another-blow-to-gateway-tunnel.html
Considering who her husband is there is no doubt. Mr. & Mrs. Do Nothing.
I strongly doubt that the replacement tunnels would be anywhere nearing replacement by now. There's too much politics and unwillingness to keep a lid on costs if the federal Government would just write a blank check like the NY and NJ politicans want. If they got their way this would probably be another never ending "Big Dig" scandel and that would be the worst thing for a long-term rail passenger outlook for the overall country. Look at how the proposed entrance for the Long Island to Grand Central has dragged on and on with costs also rising on and on.
I don't remeber the details but Trump offered Schumer a deal on the tunnels but he wanted Schumer's support on some proposed legislation in return. Schumer turned it down and that resulted in the current stalemate.
As someone who is not affected by the tunnels, I'd be willing to support a fixed sum of Federal Money for them but NY and NJ have to pay their share and pay for all of the inevitable delays and cost overruns. It looks like that's not acceptable to NY and NJ politicians [they are well aware of the many billions they would have to be responsible far] so as far as I'm concerned the ball is in their court to come up with a workable solution.
"I fail to see the humor in any of this. Were it not for the usual one political party, those replacement tunnels would be nearing completion by now."
Overmod Isn't it fun when New Yorkers and other New Yorkers get their panties in perceived twists?
[/quote]
NKP guyThose people being endangered and inconvenienced by the delay in building these tunnels are not only paying passengers, they are taxpayers, workers, citizens and my fellow countrymen. Yours, too. I fail to see the humor in any of this.
What made you think I was being humorous either? That was sarcasm.
Many of those 'people being endangered and inconvenienced' are also voters, who elected precisely the democracy that now plays games with Gateway or any prospective PRR tunnel rehabilitation or reconstruction. Those who elected people like Schumer or Cuomo (or Trump) are getting precisely the democracy they deserve when it comes to gaming things that ought to be necessities.
Not that their likely 'replacements' would do much better, though.
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