29 replies to this topic

[KevinKorell]

 

MTA Prepares for Winter Storm Juno

 

Several areas of the MTA Service Area including New York City, the Hudson Valley and Long Island are currently under a Blizzard Watch with forecasts calling for anywhere from 12 to 20 inches or more of snow and blizzard-like conditions for portions of Monday, January 26th and Tuesday, January 27th. Travel will be hazardous, especially during the evening rush hour. Bus, commuter-rail, and subway service could be curtailed on a route-by-route basis, depending on conditions and snow-removal operations. As a result, commuters should consider working from home if at all possible. Monitor this page, Service Status, and local news reports for additional information as the weather system approaches.

[KevinKorell]

 

Subways and Buses Ready for Storm

 

Subways

 

The New York City Subway is entering a Plan V preparation mode, which means that New York City Transit will store trains underground starting tomorrow night to protect the subway car fleet from the elements.  New York City Transit stores trains underground on express tracks, so this will impact express service at night and into the overnight hours.

 

Personnel are in place to clear platforms and stairs of snow.  De-icers and snow throwers have been strategically deployed to focus on outdoor areas and open cuts that are the most susceptible to high snow accumulations. 

 

Super-powered snow throwers, jet-powered snow-blowers, and de-icing cars - retired subway cars modified with tanks and other specialized equipment to spray de-icing fluid on the third rail - were deployed starting Friday night. Select trains were also equipped with scraper shoes to keep ice off the third rails.

(edited out bus and paratransit information)

[KevinKorell]

LIRR Ready for Storm

Platforms and stairways will continue to be cleared and salted. LIRR station waiting rooms will remain open around-the-clock now through Friday afternoon, January 30, to provide shelter for customers waiting for trains during cold and inclement weather.

 

Extra engineers and signal maintainers are being called in. LIRR will take steps to ensure that switches – the interlocking tracks that allow rail traffic controllers to route trains from one track to another – are working throughout the storm. The railroad is activating switch heaters, lubricating the switches, and treating them with anti-freeze agents. Rail Traffic Controllers will activate the switches to keep them from freezing shut. In addition, track workers will be positioned in critical locations to be able to respond if any difficulties do crop up at switches.

 

Snow-fighting equipment will be positioned strategically throughout the systems to start when snow accumulation begins.

 

Railroad customers with smartphones can use the LIRR Train Time App for real-time train information.

[KevinKorell]

Metro-North Ready for Storm

 

Extra engineers and signal maintainers are being called in. Metro-North will take steps to ensure that switches – the interlocking tracks that allow rail traffic controllers to route trains from one track to another – are working throughout the storm. The railroad is activating switch heaters, lubricating the switches and treating them with anti-freeze agents. Rail Traffic Controllers will activate the switches to keep them from freezing shut. In addition, track workers will be positioned in critical locations to be able to respond if any difficulties do crop up at switches.
 
Snow-fighting equipment will be positioned strategically throughout the system to start when snow accumulation begins.
 
In the region served by Metro-North, a primary concern is the safety of station platforms. All stations will be pretreated with salt. Metro-North will continue to clear snow and ice throughout the weekend.
 
Trains will be protected by pretreating with deicer all door tracks and third rail contact shoes. To prevent ice build-up on the pantographs on top of New Haven Line trains, they will be raised and lowered throughout the storm. All couplers between cars will be covered with snow bags to prevent icing.
 
At Pelham, where New Haven Line trains change from overhead power to third rail power, mechanics will be stationed beginning at 5 a.m. to assist any train that experiences changeover issues.
 
Extra train crews and protect engines will be stationed at major junctions to assist in case any train breaks down. And extra signal maintainers, power and track department personnel will be station at critical interlockings.
 
Railroad customers with smartphones can use the Metro-North Train Time App for real-time train information.

[CNJRoss]

^{CNN via MSN.com news, 1/26:}

 

^{NY Mayor De Blasio: Don't underestimate this storm (video report)}

[KevinKorell]

Second Ave. Sagas, 1/25/15:

 

 

Snowmageddon 2K2015: Cuomo threatens subway shutdown ahead of storm

 

In case you’ve missed it, there’s a big amount of snow heading our way. The National Weather Service is warning of a “crippling and potentially historic blizzard” will hit the city with snow totals predicted to be 20-30 inches or more in some areas. The last time a storm of this magnitude struck, passengers were stranded for hours on an N train stuck in Brooklyn and an A left near Howard Beach. Since then, the MTA has been very proactive in managing subway service and its storm response.

Continue

[BillMagee]

The various computer forecasting models are starting to back away from the "storm of the century" scenario. Even the Euro, which has been the most bullish of the models with predicted snow depths (calling for 18" in Philadelphia and over two feet in New York), has backed way off. It's beginning to look more like a middle of the road 6" event in Philly, and maybe a bit under 12" in New York. The trend is downward.

This is far from a done deal. These storms that develop off the Carolinas can be tricky to predict, and it could still "bomb" and dump a ton of snow, but there is a possibility that the weather forecasting community will move into apology mode later today and tomorrow.

[KevinKorell]

 

LIRR Providing 8 Extra Trains This Afternoon; Service Expected to End at 11 p.m.

 

LIRR Providing 8 Extra Trains This Afternoon; Service Expected to End at 11 p.m

 

The LIRR’s extra trains will depart from Penn Station between 2 PM and 4 PM for the convenience of commuters who want to leave work early ahead of the storm. The LIRR may need to suspend service as of 11 PM tonight, subject to further evaluation of the severity of the storm. The extra trains include:

 

Babylon Branch

• 2:32 p.m. express to Lynbrook, then all stops to Babylon

• 3:00 p.m. stopping at Jamaica, Rockville Centre, then all stops to Babylon

• 3:31 p.m. express to Rockville Centre, then all stops to Babylon

 

Port Jefferson Branch to Hicksville/Huntington

• 2:08 p.m. stopping at Jamaica, Mineola, then all stops to Huntington

• 2:29 p.m. stopping at Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, Jamaica, New Hyde Park, then all stops to Huntington

• 3:24 p.m. stopping at Jamaica, Mineola, Westbury and Hicksville

 

Port Washington Branch to Great Neck

• 3:40 p.m. stopping at Woodside, Flushing-Main St., then all stops to Great Neck

 

Far Rockaway Branch

• 3:48 p.m. express to Locust Manor, then all stops to Far Rockaway

 

LIRR station waiting rooms will remain open around-the-clock now through Friday afternoon, January 30, to provide shelter for customers waiting for trains during cold and inclement weather. Platforms and stairways will continue to be cleared and salted.

 

Extra engineers and signal maintainers are being called in. LIRR is taking steps to ensure that switches – the interlocking tracks that allow rail traffic controllers to route trains from one track to another – are working throughout the storm. The railroad is activating switch heaters, lubricating the switches, and treating them with anti-freeze agents. Rail Traffic Controllers will activate the switches to keep them from freezing shut. In addition, track workers will be positioned in critical locations to be able to respond if any difficulties do crop up at switches.

 

Snow-fighting equipment will be positioned strategically throughout the systems to start when snow accumulation begins.

 

Railroad customers with smartphones can use the LIRR Train Time App for real-time train information

 

[KevinKorell]

 

Metro-North Operates Early Getaway Service in Advance of the Blizzard

 

In advance of Winter Storm Juno, Metro-North will operate an early getaway schedule today. Extra trains will depart Grand Central Terminal between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., with regular schedules between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., and fewer trains than a regular rush hour between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.

 

Please visit our schedules page or use the Metro-North Train Time app for train information. Because of reduced ridership, some trains will be canceled or combined. Please be sure to check the schedules page and listen for announcements.

 

Because of the expected severity of the storm, evening and overnight service may be further curtailed or suspended. Please monitor the website and email alerts, or call 511 as well as follow local media reports for the latest service updates.

 

Please take extra care when traveling during the storm, as platforms, parking lots and other surfaces will be snow-covered and slippery. Customers who are not required to travel are urged to stay home.

 

Connecting Services

Hudson Rail Link, Haverstraw-Ossining and Newburgh-Beacon Ferry customers should visit the Connecting Services page for the latest updates.

 

West-of-Hudson Service

West-of-Hudson customers: please visit www.njtransit.com for NJ TRANSIT travel information and current service status.

 

[KevinKorell]

 

MTA Prepares for Winter Storm Juno

 

To assist those customers who want to leave work early ahead of the storm, 26 extra trains are being added to LIRR and Metro-North schedules this afternoon. The trains are departing from Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal. Express subway service will be curtailed after the evening rush hour to allow subway trains to be stored underground in anticipation of the storm. Travel later this evening will be hazardous. Bus, commuter-rail, and subway service could be curtailed on a route-by-route basis, depending on conditions and snow-removal operations. Monitor this page, Service Status, and local news reports for additional information as the weather system approaches.