Long Island Railroad - Metro North - New Jersey Transit | News & Photos

[Nouvellecosse]

Isn't BB referring to the power lines in the pictures of the station? Those aren't train catenary lines.

[Busy Bee]

Good heavens, I'm talking about the utility lines not the OCS.

@Nouvellecosse, that G.B.Shaw quote has been a lifelong favorite.

[plutonicpanda]

Originally Posted by Busy Bee

That would look all the more better without the third world overhead lines everywhere.

I completely agree. I can't stand overhead wires along streets. I know the huge ones are necessary to be above ground, but the smaller ones that litter our cities should be buried.

[scalziand]

Connecticut DOT Warns Reduction Of Budget Could Mean Deep Cuts In Services
Don Stacom

Connecticut is facing a projected deficit of more than $1.4 billion for 2017-18, and all state agencies are giving Gov. Dannel P. Malloy projections of what would happen if they face substantial cuts in 2017-18 and 2018-19.

As part of that exercise, the DOT earlier this month reported on what it would do if it gets 10 percent less next year — and a frozen budget the following year.

Private snowplow contractors would no longer be hired in big storms, Shore Line East would lose half its service, the Waterbury and Danbury branch lines of Metro-North Railroad would shut down on weekends and night, CT Transit bus schedules would be chopped back and the new Hartford Line commuter rail service wouldn't start until 2019, the DOT said.

Its full report is at http://tinyurl.com/jdxduvt.

http://www.courant.com/news/connecti...225-story.html

Funny how a 10% cut in funding would result in a far greater than 10% cut in service...

[Nexis4Jersey]

Some photos I took at Jamaica Station the other day

[CastleScott]

^ Great pics and as a railfan I always enjoy your posts on here. That Jamaica station is really cool-kinda like something out of Star Wars.

Oh btw here in California CalTrans has bought several coaches from NJ Transit and has been renovating them for service on the regional Amtrak California routes.

[scalziand]

This is for the Waterbury line:

Pitched bills would expand rail service
http://www.rep-am.com/news/news-loca...-rail-service/

The bills in question behind the paywall are SB 301 and SB 384.

[Dac150]

Originally Posted by scalziand

This is for the Waterbury line:

Pitched bills would expand rail service
http://www.rep-am.com/news/news-loca...-rail-service/

The bills in question behind the paywall are SB 301 and SB 384.

I wish a lawmaker would stand up for the Danbury Branch … it should really be electrified. I know there are 'plans' for that to eventually happen, but I've heard nothing lately but crickets.

[Crawford]

Originally Posted by Dac150

I wish a lawmaker would stand up for the Danbury Branch … it should really be electrified. I know there are 'plans' for that to eventually happen, but I've heard nothing lately but crickets.

Yes, both the Danbury and Waterbury lines need serious upgrading. And Danbury definitely needs to be electrified. There's also a proposal to extend the line north to New Milford, Kent, and up to the Mass state line.

Lawmakers push to electrify, expand Danbury train line

http://www.newstimes.com/local/artic...#photo-7513212

[scalziand]

There's no point electrifying anything until the branches have been fully double tracked.

[mrsmartman]

Documenting Penn Station’s Departure Board Demolition

Originally Posted by michelle young

Gregory Grice, a photographer for Untapped Cities, documented the demolition of Penn Station’s Amtrak departure board last week over the course of four evenings. Although this sign didn’t have the flapping sound of the Solari board that it replaced in 2000, it nonetheless had a rather lo-fi analog look which instantly became an object of nostalgia once the removal was announced. The sign has been replaced by smaller digital LCD screens.

Source: http://untappedcities.com/2017/01/30...rd-demolition/

[mrsmartman]

New Passenger Information Displays Improve Customer Experience at Penn Station New York

Upgrades improve ADA access, help relieve concourse congestion

Originally Posted by Craig Schulz

NEW YORK – Amtrak is making a major upgrade to the busiest transit hub in America with the launch of a new, state-of-the-art Passenger Information Display System (PIDS) at Penn Station New York. The new PIDS communicates train status, origin and destination stations, boarding gate and other information and features bright, new LCD displays which are easier to read and synchronize audio and visual messaging in the station.

Strategic placement of the new displays, along with modification and eventual removal of some existing monitors – including the large train status board in the center of the concourse – provides customers access to the same information in various locations, allowing more efficient use of space in the main hall.

Source: http://media.amtrak.com/2016/10/new-...tion-new-york/

[Dac150]

Originally Posted by scalziand

There's no point electrifying anything until the branches have been fully double tracked.

While I agree that would be ideal, if they can manage a single electrified track on the New Cannan line, they can manage on both the Danbury and Waterbury branches. I can't speak for the Waterbury branch, but I know the Danbury branch very well and attaining the land which would be required for two tracks would be very challenging.

[Nexis4Jersey]

'All By Myself' LIRR Commuter's Video

• Video Link

[Nexis4Jersey]

Andover Twp. decision could get Lackawanna Cutoff station on track

http://www.njherald.com/20170302/and...tion-on-track#

[Nexis4Jersey]

Commuters Want Repairs At Lynbrook Train Station

• Video Link

[mrsmartman]

Grand Central Terminal is underutilized without Amtrak.

Why do Metro-North trains at Grand Central arrive so much earlier for boarding versus the LIRR trains at Penn Station?

Answer: https://www.quora.com/Why-do-Metro-N...t-Penn-Station

[k1052]

GCT at saturation with MNRR traffic at rush now. The switch plant and park ave tunnel can't handle any more peak traffic. Even if Amtrak wanted back in MNRR would never let them since it would mean cutting trains.

[Dac150]

Originally Posted by mrsmartman

Grand Central Terminal is underutilized without Amtrak.

Why do Metro-North trains at Grand Central arrive so much earlier for boarding versus the LIRR trains at Penn Station?

As a MNRR commuter I love it … I'll often catch a little later train on the way back for the sole purpose of getting a good seat in the car I want.

[mrsmartman]

Originally Posted by k1052

GCT at saturation with MNRR traffic at rush now. The switch plant and park ave tunnel can't handle any more peak traffic. Even if Amtrak wanted back in MNRR would never let them since it would mean cutting trains.

GCT is probably the only double level terminal in the world. The upper level of GCT was designed for intercity trains while the lower level was for commuter trains. How does MNRR allocate trains to the upper and lower levels? As there are more platforms than needed, does MNRR allocate trains to both levels evenly or to upper level first then lower level for convenience?

NY Penn seems to have more serious capacity issue than GCT. Would it be possible for some Amtrak trains running to GCT at non-peak hours?