Here are some links to the pending NYP changes for track work. I like that Moorman is trying to get out front on this issue that has apparently been ignored for years.
The authority, which runs Grand Central Terminal, reached an agreement with Amtrak to have some Amtrak trains that normally travel to Penn Station instead go to Grand Central this summer, Ms. Hakim said, adding that six trains from Amtrak’s Empire Service between New York City and Albany would move to Grand Central to provide relief at Penn Station.
It appears to me that all three agencies using Penn are "sharing the pain" during the project. Possibly NJT's D,L,&W a bit more (no service into Penn), but basically it seems like a "we're all in this together" mindset.
It'll all pass in due course.
Posted by palmland (Member # 4344) on :
I wonder which 3 Empire service trains will use GCT. Will be tempted to try it later this summer on a visit to family/friends in the northeast.
I wonder it New Yorkers will like to so much better than fighting NYP that they and their politicians will pressure Amtrak to retain some GCT service. As for those connecting from the south, 'tough' would probably be their response.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
There is a full page ad appearing in The Times today outlining all the "great things" ahead for Penn Station riders. It is in "open letter" format and co-signed by "Wick and Dick".
One point in the service adjustments I do not understand is that if one LD train had to be changed to a WAS end.point, why wasn't it 91-92, Star, rather than 19-20, Crescent. Since Hialeah is the maintenance base for LDSL equipment, they will be at a loss to efficiently rotate the cars assigned to Crescent into "Silver" consists so as to have them get to HIA for their periodics.
Had they chosen to make the Star's endpoint WAS, the problem would be eliminated.
Posted by Vincent206 (Member # 15447) on :
The Crescent starts in New Orleans so the trainsets could be rotated with the CoNO for servicing in Chicago. Terminating in DC could also eliminate the need for one trainset. The arrival time in DC is 1005am and the departure is scheduled for 755pm. That's more time than the Empire Builder spends in Seattle (or Portland) for turnaround servicing.
Posted by RRRICH (Member # 1418) on :
How can the Crescent and CONO trainsets be rotated? The CONO is Superliner, and the Crescent is Viewliner.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
I must certainly note that if 92 to 91 were to be a same day turn at WAS, then the schedules of each would need to be adjusted. Not too sure how that would go down with the "precision railroading" hand now at the throttle down Jacksonville way.
I guess that if Hialeah remains the base for LDSL equipment (and this disruption is not all THAT long), cars needing periodics will need be cut from Crescent consists and sent dead to Hialeah added to a Meteor consist at WAS with the engine change.
Posted by Gilbert B Norman (Member # 1541) on :
After the recent reviews, Amtrak may want to consider producing a sequel to the “summer of hell.”
The curtain is about to come down on the eight weeks of emergency track repairs at Pennsylvania Station that inspired that warning from Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York. And by the accounts of some of Amtrak’s harshest critics, the months went more smoothly than anticipated for the many thousands of commuters who travel through Penn Station on the Long Island Rail Road and New Jersey Transit.
Service is scheduled to revert to normal on Tuesday, but regular commuters are hoping things will not return to the way they were. Before Amtrak, which owns Penn Station, decided to take drastic action at the rail hub, derailments and other transit disruptions had begun to seem routine. Commuters were constantly bracing for the next cascade of delays.