Trains.com

Clock is ticking on Hudson river tunnels

10295 views
93 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 9,610 posts
Posted by schlimm on Tuesday, May 6, 2014 12:32 AM

henry6

What's the surprise?  What's the doubt?   What's the discussion?  These two tunnels have served for about 100 years and have taken a pounding.  When will Americans learn that nothing we make lasts forever and needs to be rebuilt, replaced, and retired.   Many only hope the tunnels will last more than 20 more days much less 20 more years.   They've got to be replaced.  There are no questions, there are  no doubts.  And there may  be no time to doubt and debate.,

Precisely, henry!!   It is a tell-tale sign of a nation in decline that lets existing infrastructure decay and is not building new for the future.  All part of a self-destructive theme of wringing out profits today and giving the finger to the future.   
Recall "deferred maintenance" on most railroads 40-50 years ago?

C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan

  • Member since
    August 2010
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 8,955 posts
Posted by Firelock76 on Monday, May 5, 2014 8:24 PM

Well then, in the meantime they'd better run as many trains possible through those tunnels before it's too late!

  • Member since
    December 2001
  • 8,156 posts
Posted by henry6 on Monday, May 5, 2014 8:15 PM

What's the surprise?  What's the doubt?   What's the discussion?  These two tunnels have served for about 100 years and have taken a pounding.  When will Americans learn that nothing we make lasts forever and needs to be rebuilt, replaced, and retired.   Many only hope the tunnels will last more than 20 more days much less 20 more years.   They've got to be replaced.  There are no questions, there are  no doubts.  And there may  be no time to doubt and debate.,

RIDEWITHMEHENRY is the name for our almost monthly day of riding trains and transit in either the NYCity or Philadelphia areas including all commuter lines, Amtrak, subways, light rail and trolleys, bus and ferries when warranted. No fees, just let us know you want to join the ride and pay your fares. Ask to be on our email list or find us on FB as RIDEWITHMEHENRY (all caps) to get descriptions of each outing.

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Georgia USA SW of Atlanta
  • 11,919 posts
Posted by blue streak 1 on Monday, May 5, 2014 7:01 PM

blue streak 1

Boardman has been told North river tunnels have 20 years or less before at least one will have to be shut down.  Will try to post is full comments.

 http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-05-05/hudson-rail-tunnels-have-up-to-20-years-left-amtrak-says.html

 

Could not find Boardman's complete statement but may some other poster can ?

If this is correct several possibilities exist.

1.  Question what is the basis for such a claim ?

2.  IIs water leakage increasing ?

3.  Are the walls of the tunnels getting thin ? If so at a certain point the possibility of a catastrophic failure ?

5.  If one tunnel closed and Gateway tunnels not complete the other tunnel would probably have to be closed on some weekends cutting off service ?

6.  What would NJT & Amtrak do for traffic?  Could one solution be diverting trains to Hoboken terminal with Newark Penn - Hoboken double tracked ?

7.  Maybe some trains would need to be lengthened but that would require a quick double stop at NYP?.  Unfortunately longer trains would slightly reduce trains per hour thru tunnel even with extended fleeting times. .The 18 car regionals now being tested behind ACS-64s could become the norm ?

8.  Most Amtrak LD trains might need to terminate at PHL ?  Ongoing passengers would need to transfer to expanded Regionals ?

9.  Acela trains could rob cars from one or more train sets to lengthen others to maximum allowable NYP?  

10.  More late night trains ?  ex 2 -3 more trains 66 & 67 

All in all

Congress needs to get going on the new Gateway tunnels.

  • Member since
    December 2007
  • From: Georgia USA SW of Atlanta
  • 11,919 posts
Clock is ticking on Hudson river tunnels
Posted by blue streak 1 on Monday, May 5, 2014 5:29 PM

Boardman has been told North river tunnels have 20 years or less before at least one will have to be shut down.  Will try to post his full comments.

 

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-05-05/hudson-rail-tunnels-have-up-to-20-years-left-amtrak-says.html

 

 

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

Newsletter Sign-Up

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Trains magazine.Please view our privacy policy