Quote:
Originally Posted by NYguy
Then you should probably read mine. Amtrak doesn’t need any track expansion there, you know, because it’s a tunnel. If you are suggesting they put a station there, then you really don’t know much about the site.
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Amtrak owned Empire Connection tunnel is a single track. ESA phase 2 plans call for some Metro-North Hudson Line trains to divert at Spuyten Duyvil along the Empire Connection and terminate at Penn. A single track tunnel strains Penn capacity unless trains are through run to Sunnyside with the addition of Metro- North usage. Amtrak never worked with the MTA that I know of to plan for tunnel capacity improvements though ive read secondhand knowledge on esoteric transit forums that a possible second tunnel track was possibly accommodated for in the Amtrak easement profile, though the easement graphic diagram for this site suggests otherwise. Whether or not with the current building out of Hudson Yards it would be feasible at this point is unknown. This brings me back to my original comment concerning transportation priorities regarding this site. I beleive the best solution might be living with the current single track tunnel but arranging an agreement with Amtrak to move current and any future high[er] speed upstate Empire or Montreal services to Grand Central (like existed pre-1988) after capacity is freed up after ESA New Haven / Penn service commences and have the MTA take ownership of the Empire Connection removing any operation constraints. And yes if the west side Empire Connection is electrified and used for Metro-North Hudson Line split service to Penn (and includes new stations at 125th and 62nd on the UWS) there is actually an opportunity for a below grade Hudson Yards station between 36th and 41st, under the future park, in the current Empire Connection r.o.w. that could in theory be connected by seamless passageway to the 7 train Hudson Yards station mezzanine. Some M-N trains could even terminate there on a couple pocket tracks if Penn platform constraints warranted it.
Just for clarity, I'm not sure how the in depth concept I'm laying out here could be misunderstood as ignorant. Your confusion over what it is that I'm saying leads me to wonder about your depth of knowledge on the subject or your ability to envision how transport needs and development needs are interacting at Hudson Yards.