31 replies to this topic

[KevinKorell]

WPIX-TV, Pix-11 in New York, NY, 12/7/18:

 

 

New push to get Metro-North stations in East Bronx has one obstacle: Amtrak, Bronx officials say

 

 

 

It’s been talked about for decades, but now, funding and government commitments have been made to a proposed new Metro-North line that would connect the East Bronx to Penn Station in Manhattan, and to various destinations between the Bronx and New Haven, Connecticut.

 

 

Read

[CNJRoss]

gothamist, New York, NY 12/11/18:
 

Metro-North Service Finally Coming To The East Bronx... Pending Several Other Things First

 

 

It's been more than 100 years since the East Bronx has had rail service, but in four years the MTA hopes to have built four new Metro-North stations in Hunts Point, Parkchester, Morris Park and Co-op City (PDF). The agency plans to use Amtrak's existing tracks where the Northeast Regional runs from Penn Station to New Rochelle, known as the Hell's Gate line.

 

Once the line is up and running, commuters will be able to get from Penn Station to the East Bronx in about 20-25 minutes—shaving off about 45 minutes from the current bus trip it takes now.

 

This is the rare project that has city, state and MTA support. The more than $500 million project has secured state funding. The only holdup is disagreements with Amtrak over rail fees for using their track.

 

Continue here w/audio report.

[KevinKorell]

 

"Amtrak and MTA executives have met frequently in recent months to try to reach agreement on a number of key issues regarding design, construction and ultimate train operation of this project, in order to ensure that the proposed expansion of Metro-North service does not adversely impact Amtrak intercity passenger rail operation, which will see a significant expansion in 2021 with the introduction of expanded Acela service between New York and Boston."

 

I am not sure how this would be a significant problem.  Currently, Acela service between New York and Washington is hourly, and selected runs extend to & from Boston, which might or might not have hourly headways. This expansion would just extend more Acelas that begin or end in New York to Boston.  Bottom line is that it would not require more slots in Penn Station because these trains are already there.

[KevinKorell]

WABC-TV, ABC-7 in New York, NY, 12/21/18:

 

New York officials pushing to expand Metro North service to East Bronx

 

 

 

New York officials and key stakeholders spoke out Friday in support of the expansion of Metro-North service to the East Bronx.

 

 

Story here.  This item ignores the fact that space in New York's Penn Station is contingent on the LIRR moving some of its trains to Grand Central with East Side Access, thus opening up capacity at Penn Station.

[KevinKorell]

CBS New York, 12/21/18:

 

Amtrak Slammed For Keeping Bronx Metro-North Expansion Plan On Hold

 

 

 

Lawmakers in Westchester County and the Bronx are joining forces to turn up the heat on Amtrak.

 

 

More

[KevinKorell]

Bronx, NY Times, 12/28/18:

 

 

BP to Amtrak: Get on board/Bronx, Westchester officials demand clear tracks

 

 

Since the MTA and Metro North Railroad announced a Metro North service expansion that would bring commuters to Manhattan via the Hell Gate Bridge earlier in 2018, adding four new Bronx stations at Co-op City, Morris Park, Parkchester and Hunts Point, Amtrak has not cleared the tracks for the project to move forward, literally.

 

Read this.

[KevinKorell]

NBC New York, 1/22/19:

 

 

MTA Reaches Deal With Amtrak on Metro-North Expansion Project, Officials Say

 

 

MTA officials say there is now a deal with Amtrak to move forward on four Bronx stations for Metro-North, with the first ever Metro-North service to New York Penn Station.

 

 

Story

[CNJRoss]

News12 Westchester, Yonkers, NY 1/22/19:
 

MTA, Amtrak to make Westchester-Penn Station commute a reality

 

 

NEW ROCHELLE - Commuters might have the ability to catch a train from Westchester directly to Penn Station sometime in the near future.

 

The MTA announced Tuesday that it finally reached a deal with Amtrak to run some Metro-North trains down Amtrak's eastern line. That line crosses over and ends up on the west side of New York City in Penn Station.

 

Known as the Penn Station Access Project,  .  .  .

 

Continue here w/video report.

[CNJRoss]

News12 The Bronx, 1/22/19:
 

MTA, Amtrak plan would speed up East Bronx-Manhattan commute

 

 

HUNTS POINT - A new plan from the MTA and Amtrak could make the trip from East Bronx into Manhattan a little easier.

 

Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Tuesday that the MTA, Empire State Development and Amtrak have reached an agreement that will lead to four new Metro-North railroad stations in the Bronx.

 

The plan is known as Metro-North's Penn Station Access Project. It is still in its very early stages. The project is aimed at cutting down travel times into Midtown Manhattan and even boosting the East Bronx's local economy.

 

Continue here w/video report.

[KevinKorell]

Part of this deal, contained in its final sentence, allows not only for Metro North to operate on Amtrak property, but also for Amtrak to operate trains onto Long Island over LIRR trackage. While the announcement says that Amtrak trains from Long Island could continue via Penn Station to Washington or Boston, logically Boston would involve some doglegging between Penn Station and Queens.  But add service to the Empire Corridor (Albany), which is also possible without changing directions.  

 

From Albany, NY Times-Union, 1/22/19:

 

 

 

Amtrak trains could serve Long Island

 

 

 

Some Metro-North commuter trains serving the New Haven line could arrive at Penn Station instead of Grand Central, under an agreement between the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Amtrak and the Empire State Development Corp. announced Tuesday by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

 

Read

 

Technically what still needs to be ironed out is the power collection systems...  overhead catenary vs third rail, and the differences between overrunning and underrunning third rail on LIRR and MNRR trackage.  I think that through Long Island-Albany service seems the most logical since dual mode locomotives are already used, and with LIRR type third rail.