East River Tunnels rehabilitation 2024-2027

[PVD]

It looks like running the Maple Leaf and Adirondack as separate trains takes effect this weekend -- Sunday night east/southbound and Monday morning west/northbound. This is great news for through travelers on both trains, ending the ridiculous long layovers at ALB, and it also fills a big gap in both directions for local travelers between Albany and New York.

The restoration of 235/238 starts Dec. 2, but they've advanced the time of 238, which previously left Albany at 12:10p, to 11:40a, which is just 25 minutes later than 240's departure at 11:15. Personally, I would much rather they restored the early morning run from Albany and, especially, the late night departure from NYP. There are other midday runs within 60-90 minutes of 235/238, but we are apparently still stuck with just one daily departure after 7 p.m. from NYP, compared with three previously.

the additional car will be helpful as well

 

[glensfallsse]

Here’s the press release from the Gov: https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/go...iWOMK-2S-Oyjd4BnHE_aem_R7J8HWs20Bf2tClMNcsA9g
Kind of funny 245 gets an extra coach. I’ve never seen them use more than two.
Do I understand the earlier conversation correctly — they do not turn trains at NYP? I came in last month on a train that originated in Niagara Falls. When we came up the escalator, there were people in line for the outbound train headed west, and I thought they boarded the right away.

 

[Amtrak25]

The train would have to be topped-and tailed, otherwise it must go to Sunnyside. There is no such thing as cab cars on the Empire Corridor.

 

[PVD]

The trains go through the tunnels to Sunnyside where they loop and come back in, they are not double ended. That's part of the traffic they want to reduce. What is the set 245 uses run as in the other direction? That might be where the extra car will be useful.

 

[fdaley]

Here’s the press release from the Gov: https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/go...iWOMK-2S-Oyjd4BnHE_aem_R7J8HWs20Bf2tClMNcsA9g
Kind of funny 245 gets an extra coach. I’ve never seen them use more than two.
Do I understand the earlier conversation correctly — they do not turn trains at NYP? I came in last month on a train that originated in Niagara Falls. When we came up the escalator, there were people in line for the outbound train headed west, and I thought they boarded the right away.

Perhaps if you came in on track 5 or 6, there was an outbound waiting to board across the platform? The inbound train would have to go out to Sunnyside to be turned before it could go back north.

 

[glensfallsse]

Perhaps if you came in on track 5 or 6, there was an outbound waiting to board across the platform? The inbound train would have to go out to Sunnyside to be turned before it could go back north.

I don’t think there was another train there, but it was a while ago, I could be wrong. I’m pretty sure we were on track 5, which is the usual track for northbound departures.

 

[Bonser]

1. What was the full story about the demise of congestion pricing in NYC? I recall that it was quite unpopular in the NY suburbs, and perhpas the state legislature also has something to say about it. It would seem that if there's a budge hole, a small increase in the motor fuel tax would provide at least a short-term fix.

2. I wonder what Rep. Stefanik's position is on congestion pricing and increases in the gas tax. Being that she's from way upstate, she might not care one bit about the wishes of suburban New York voters, but I would suspect that she'd raise bloody hell about any increases in the gas tax. But then, she's a US representative, so maybe she doesn't weigh in on state and local issues, unless she has ambitions for running for statewide office.

3. I also suspect that the Empire Service is pretty low in the priority list of most New York voters. Whatever support for funding rail transportation is probably focused on the NY subway, the Metro-North Harlem and Hudson Lines, and the Long Island RR. The state government merely reflects the attitude of the voters.

The primary concerns of all US Reps are local issues.