The media is going to have a frenzy along with the POLS to divert attention away from other problems. Especially MYC subways and LIRR ESA.
http://abc7ny.com/2023228/
NJT had delays this morning due to track work
Quote from NJT
Christie announces all Midtown direct trains will go to Hoboken during the July - August NYPS maintenance blitz. Anyone know the history of the start of Midtown direct and how did Amtrak feel about it ?
"Boardman's revenge" Time for him to come before the Amtrak board and face the derailment fiasco ?
Also in same link LIRR is going to have rush hour problems during the Blitz. Some passengers to Woodlawn and Atlantic terminal. Current subway riders update us on how that will crowd the lines ?
All the POLs keep blaming Amtrak for not maintaining NYPS. Why don't they hold past congress cupable ? Also since many of these problems "MAT" be from Sandy why not sandy funds to do these repairs ? Too much concern with the North River tunnel bores ?
http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/New-Jersey-Transit-Morris--Essex-Lines-Canceled-Penn-Station-Overhaul-Summer-2017-423885164.html
Amtrak is posting delays. Other site said it was track 10 no other information.
LIRR announcing plans.
http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Long-Island-Rail-Road-Commuters-Alternatives-Penn-Station-Overhaul-Amtrak-Summer-Shutdown-New-York-State-Plan-Governor-Cuomo-423856364.html
Several of us here has tried to come up with a comprehensive plan but just have a rehash with the following conclusions.
5ptsFeatured
NY State, NY city, MNRR, LIRR East side access have put all their efforts and money into Grand Central Terminal. Has been a great job at GCT but nothing for NYPS. As well NJ Transit put all their money into the Mid Town direct services in NJ but neglected the original projections and what actually now goes to NYPS. Mid town direct diversions to Hoboken will cause some capacity problems but they may be temporary ? No money for NYPS for the passenger totals boom. Now LIRR, NJT and Amtrak have all increased their passengers into NYPS on all other lines.. But has any money been put in in any significant amount by the above ?
With more than double the number of passengers of LIRR & NJT traffic without any upgrades to the tracks and station and related infrastructure what do the POLs expect ? Expanding number of passengers into Penn Station above crush capacity in now the norm. There are more passengers into NYPS than GCT but GCT has twice the number of tracks and lobby space.
Cancelling ARC was correct but that money should have immediately gone to Gateway projects not questionable road projects. Christie needs to push for the declarations listed at the end of these statements. As well he needs to get the Portal north bridge preconstruction started immediately
At least LIRR built the Hudson yards west of the NYPS station tracks but without upgrades to the East river tunnels. If those tunnels had been upgraded with flood gates maybe Sandy would not have damaged them. Also the North river tunnels.
Of course Congress has starved Amtrak of funds so that upgrades and Gateway have not been started. Now the proverbial manure has hit the fan. But please no additional bureaucratic and political pay offs to get the problems not fixed but more convoluted.
The best thing which would happen is for the US government declare a transportation emergency and start all Gateway projects and Penn south without further review. Built it ! not argue about some possible environmental concerns. Christie, Cuomo, US reps, Senators and the Mayor all get behind a declaration and maybe major construction will be started by the end of FY17 ? The two 800 # bears are always in the background a Portal bridge failure or a North river bore shut down.
blue streak 1 ... The best thing which would happen is for the US government declare a transportation emergency and start all Gateway projects and Penn south without further review. Built it ! not argue about some possible environmental concerns. Christie, Cuomo, US reps, Senators and the Mayor all get behind a declaration and maybe major construction will be started by the end of FY17 ? The two 800 # bears are always in the background a Portal bridge failure or a North river bore shut down.
...
Not argue about some environmental concerns? You mean like unstable ground, population conflicts, super storms?
MidlandMike
blue streak 1 MidlandMike Those are all engineering concerns not enviromental. Population concerns -- move on construction settle later. If Portal has major failure or one bore unexpectly
You seem to be unfamiliar with environmental reviews. The engineering design is integral to the environmental review. How long would a tunnel last if it was not designed for the stability of its environment. A project built without regard to conflicting local population concerns could find itself shut down/tied up in political/legal entanglements for years. You are not going to compensate for past political delays buy thinking you can wish away environmental hazards.
A check of the Amtrak web site shows Crescent terminating / originating at WASH as of July 12, 2017 . Cardinal, Silvers, Palmetto, and Carolinian still operating to from NYPS.
Amtrak moved Empire Corridor Trains from Grand Central to Penn in 1991. Midtown Direct started about 10 - 12 years ago. That dumped many extra trains into an already overcrowded Penn. I never felt that Midtown Direct was thought out very well. Sure, it was great for passengers to have a one seat ride, but look at the consequences. Hoboken is underutilized. GCT has extra capacity. The plan is to revert service back to what it was. Empire lines back to GCT and DL&W trains back to Hoboken. Then it is on to the PATH or ferries. (Funny, in 1967 you took PATH or ferry and it worked just fine) My father did that for 40 years. He never complained. People these days feel priviledged. Everything has to gear towards them having to do as little as possible. People are spoiled and lazy. Now they are paying for it the hard way. They may (heaven forbid) have to allow (gasp) extra time to get to work. Now that Ringling has shut down, NJT can purchase their cannon so that the commuters in a real hurry can get across the river real fast.
blue streak 1 A check of the Amtrak web site shows Crescent terminating / originating at WASH as of July 12, 2017 . Cardinal, Silvers, Palmetto, and Carolinian still operating to from NYPS.
Does Amtrak give any reason for not operating the Crescent north of Washington? Is it permanent or is it temporary? Is it to reduce, in a tiny part, the congestion in New York City?
Johnny
Well Amtrak so far shows 7 RTs NYP <> PHL cancelled plus the Crescent. The Crescent passengers will get a benefit as they are getting an Acela ride from WAS <> NYP/ PHL / BAL / intermediates at no additional cost.
No official reason for Crescent cancellations NYP - WAS given yet. One unrelated thought is that would give chance of cancelled Crescent's consist to be divided up to remaining Crescent consists giving one more sleeper and coach ? Plus will make the diner situation a little less critical ? The turn at washington makes Crescent just needing 3 consists.
To hazard a guess, they may be setting up to get 'track and time' on particular three-track-wide areas for enough duration to achieve safe work completion on the 'middle' track section in one pull. It may well be that handling and turning the Crescent consist adds to the difficulty of doing this, net of all the other 'higher-passenger-count' movements; I'd certainly be looking at consolidating onto Acela where possible.
RME To hazard a guess, they may be setting up to get 'track and time' on particular three-track-wide areas for enough duration to achieve safe work completion on the 'middle' track section in one pull. It may well be that handling and turning the Crescent consist adds to the difficulty of doing this, net of all the other 'higher-passenger-count' movements; I'd certainly be looking at consolidating onto Acela where possible.
Here is Amtrak's announcement of schedule changes. The Empire trains from ALB not given yet.
http://media.amtrak.com/2017/05/amtrak-announces-schedule-changes-speed-infrastructure-renewal-new-york-penn-station/
Bloomberg has a very detailed work scheduled for this summer's work. Now we can understand what is having to be replaced. Note: At least 30 special angle frogs, total track replacements, number of LIRR platforms that will be blocked on west end, etc. With this map if we can get what is being worked on each day understanding of the work will be easy.
This poster is going to print it out.
https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2017-penn-station-summer-construction-creates-commuting-hell/
Some interesting info from Amtrak. Time laspe video is way too fast !
http://blog.amtrak.com/2017/06/update-progress-new-york-penn-station/
list of preliminary work. Note some East river tunnel work done.
http://www.progressiverailroading.com/amtrak/news/Amtrak-updates-progress-on-Penn-Station-renewal-work--52052
Amtrak has raised the max speed at NYP back to 15 MPH. This for NJT, Amtrak, & LIRR. That should cut delays because the RR's can all clear the interlockings faster at NYPS. May be result of the preliminary work on our previous post ?
http://nypost.com/2017/07/03/amtrak-raises-the-speed-limit-for-penn-station-trains/
Well another derailment NYPS Thrusday evening of out bound NJT coast line train on the ladder tracks.
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2017/07/06/penn-station-derailment/
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.