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LIRR: New Rules on Crowding for the Cannonball Express


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#1 CNJRoss

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Posted 19 August 2015 - 08:18 AM

CBS News New York, 8/17:

 

CBS2 Exclusive: Feds Probe Safety Concerns On LIRR’s Cannonball Express

 

NEW YORK(CBSNewYork) — It’s not just an inconvenience anymore, the feds are looking into danger on the Long Island Railroad.

 

As CBS2’s Meg Baker exclusively reported, the Federal Railroad Administration is looking into safety issues on the LIRR.

 

“It’s like gladiator to get on the train,” Lauren Machinist said.

 

CBS2’s Baker rode a train where dozens of commuters were jam packed into cars, sitting on top of suitcases, and blocking stairs and emergency exits.

 

SNIP

 

The Friday, 4 p.m. Cannonball express train on the Montauk Line consists of twelve cars, three of which are reserved seating only, which leaves 1,046 seats in the unreserved section.

 

According to the LIRR there were 1,540 customers on board on Friday, Aug. 7. That left 494 people standing between 9 cars, or about extra people per car.

 

More here w/video report.



#2 CNJRoss

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Posted 20 August 2015 - 01:40 PM

The East Hampton (NY) Star, 8/20:

 

Editorial
 

Missing Rider Numbers And Crowding Concerns

The Federal Railroad Administration this week met with the L.I.R.R.’s operations head to discuss overcrowding

Reading last week’s story about the Amagansett Citizens Advisory Committee, we were struck by a brief mention of that hamlet’s train station and the vehicle congestion during high-season weekend arrival and departure times. Things are not much better at East Hampton’s Long Island Rail Road stop and a whole lot worse at the Bridgehampton site, where the chaos even on a recent August weekday morning was truly beyond belief. But traffic problems may be the least of the railroad’s worries as a federal agency has begun to look at onboard safety on Hamptons-bound trains.

 

Underscoring concerns about the Montauk branch nearing a breaking point, the Federal Railroad Administration this week met with the L.I.R.R.’s operations head to discuss overcrowding. A railroad spokesman said that the question of passengers sitting on luggage in the aisles on the Cannonball, a Friday express from New York City, was added to the agenda of a previously scheduled meeting. The feds are concerned that too many passengers and all their weekend baggage might hinder an evacuation between cars in the event of an emergency.


SNIP

 

Anyone who has been in one of these vehicle scrums or a packed Friday train car can attest to the problem. What is astounding is that no one in a position to do something about it is keeping track even in the most minimal fashion — accurate passenger counts. At this point, moving the Amagansett L.I.R.R. station to another site, as suggested, might be a good idea, but until there are real numbers about its use, advocating for it can only be speculation. However, it is more than obvious that the railroad must move swiftly to improve weekender service on the Montauk branch.

 

More here.



#3 jis

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Posted 20 August 2015 - 01:49 PM

And they are not concerned about trains to Babylon or Patchogue for the exact same safety issues? I think they need to get a life. :)



#4 CNJRoss

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Posted 21 August 2015 - 10:47 AM

LIRR news release, 8/20:

 

LIRR Asks Friday Afternoon Cannonball Customers to
Limit Oversized Luggage
 
Crews Will Ensure Aisles and Doorways Are Kept Clear
 

MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) is asking customers on the Friday afternoon Cannonball – the popular train from Penn Station to the Hamptons and Montauk – to help ensure a safe and comfortable ride by leaving oversized luggage at home and stowing all items in overhead racks or under seats.

 

To maintain safe conditions, the LIRR will designate some storage areas on the Cannonball for luggage. No luggage will be permitted in aisles or doorways. The upper and lower level seating areas have overhead luggage racks that have 8 inches of clearance between the rack and the ceiling and measure 16 inches from the back wall to the end of the rack.

 

The Cannonball is one of 10 Friday trains to Montauk, but customers who appreciate its speed have made it the most popular train to begin summer weekends on Long Island. The LIRR cannot add more cars to the train or run additional expresses because of equipment and scheduling limitations, and must sometimes limit boarding at Penn Station before the Cannonball departs.

 

“We certainly hope that everyone who wants to board the Cannonball can do so,” said LIRR President Patrick A. Nowakowski. “If our customers leave oversized items at home, more of them will be able to enjoy a ride to the Hamptons in under two hours. We need everyone’s cooperation to make this work.”

 

The LIRR is spreading this message to customers on its website, its Facebook page and its Twitter feed as well as in email and text service alerts, on its electronic message boards and its public address system with this message:

 

“All luggage MUST fit in the overhead rack or under the seat. Luggage MUST NOT block aisles or doors.”

 

Extra LIRR crew members and MTA Police officers will be on hand in Penn Station to ensure a smooth process for the first-come, first-serve seating process. The LIRR’s nine other trains leaving Penn Station on Friday for the Hamptons and Montauk include an early bird special at 12:39 a.m., with continuing departures at 7:49 a.m., 11:01 a.m., 1:43 p.m. 4:19 p.m., 5:09 p.m. 5:51 p.m., 7:11 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

 

For More Information

For further details on LIRR service to the Hamptons and Montauk consult the LIRR’s regular Montauk Branch schedule available at all terminals and stations as well as on the web at this page http://web.mta.info/lirr/Timetable/, and clicking on Montauk under Branch Timetables, which links here: http://web.mta.info/...ntaukBranch.pdf. At the LIRR website, you can also find out more about the LIRR’s Hamptons Reserve Service. Customers can also download the LIRR’s official TrainTime App from the Apple Store or Google Play Store. To contact the railroad by phone, call 511 and say “LIRR” or “Long Island Rail Road” to be connected to a customer service representative.



#5 CNJRoss

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Posted 22 August 2015 - 06:10 AM

The New York Times, 8/21:

 

New Rules on Crowding for the Hamptons Express

 

CANNONBALL1-master675.jpg

 

Good seats were scarce on a Cannonball train to Long Island’s East End on Friday. Credit Nicole

 

 

The track number appeared on the train board at Pennsylvania Station, and the beachgoers wasted no time.

They stampeded down a set of stairs to the platform, a blur of designer bags, sunglasses, golf clubs and straw hats. They all wanted the same thing: a seat on the Cannonball train to Montauk, the fastest route out of Manhattan to the Hamptons.

 

Each Friday at 4:06 p.m., the train departs with hundreds of passengers dreaming of sand, sun and perhaps a stiff drink. But first they have to endure nearly two hours on board, where the conditions are less than ideal for those not able to secure a seat.

 

Those unlucky riders find themselves sprawled on the floor, crouched on stairs or squeezed into any nook or cranny they can find. Some balance large suitcases. Others flock to the cart on board selling Long Island craft beers.

 

Continue here.



#6 Sloan

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Posted 28 August 2015 - 03:35 PM

 

 

LIRR Cannonball illustrates need for better rail

 

For New York City travelers headed out east on Friday afternoons in the summer, the Cannonball is a fast, fun and frugal option. The 4:06 p.m. express train from Penn Station makes it to Westhampton in 95 minutes, then stops at three more Hamptons stations on the way to Montauk.

http://www.amny.com/...rail-1.10783205

 

How 'bout a second section of dmus with bistro sections originating from Jamaica?  :)

 

Sloan



#7 KevinKorell

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Posted 28 August 2015 - 10:52 PM

People going away for the weekend may very well be carrying luggage, even of the oversized variety.  Maybe LIRR needs to borrow a page from Amtrak and begin some type of reservation system for this seasonal weekly special. First come first served -- and that's it once the seats are all sold.  That would better distribute some passengers onto the other trains, which would remain unreserved.  The problem however may come with people who have monthly passes, who should have a right to ride those trains too. Friday is not only a weekend getaway day, but also people are coming home from a work day in the city.

 

Standing room only situations happen not only on LIRR but also many other commuter rail properties.  Bottom line, there are more rush hour passengers than available seats even when trains are running at rush hour intervals and car lengths.   Remember too that it happened on Amtrak during holiday periods before they turned to an all-reserved model.

 

It's technically an uncomfortable situation, but consider too that it could be a lot worse........

indiatrain.jpg



Kevin Korell


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Lakewood, NJ





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