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| Re: The LIRR President Speaks (244175) | |||
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Re: The LIRR President Speaks |
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Posted by GP38/R42 Chris on Sat Apr 22 11:19:11 2006, in response to Re: The LIRR President Speaks, posted by NIMBYkiller on Sat Apr 22 09:29:19 2006. They had to do a study to figure that out? I really hope the electrification goes to Riverhead. I don't see the point in just ending it at Manorville or Yaphank. BTW, there is no way in hell they will have a yard built on that property in Manorville, and fortunately, they know it and are looking for another location.Yes, he said that too. They own a lot of land in Manorville, but that is because that's where the old station was, as well as a lot of land in that area because of the Manorville branch that was there too. The problem is it's in the middle of the Pine barren district, and he acknowledged that there is little chance the large yard they have planned east of Ronkonkoma because of that. They are actively persuing a land swap with Suffolk county for a few potential sites, mostly around Yaphank. He did not rule out Riverhead though. He said anything between Riverhead and Yaphank is on the table as an option. This is a serious plan, as he said some funding is already there, as the funding that was obtained for the NOW TOTALLY SCRAPPED yard and electrification on the Port Jefferson Branch will be now transferred and focused on the Mainline instead. Hopefully that added DM will go to the OB line. They only have one now while other lines have 2 or 3. Here would have been an intereting idea. After May 26th, they have a direct from NYP to Montauk every Friday night.... Then just have that express run covered by the train comming from Greenport(5:30 out of Greenport). One thing he was pretty clear on (because this was actually in one of the audience's questions) was that there is basically absolutely NO CHANCE of a dual mode out of Greenport, or east of Ronkonkoma. He made that very clear. He said there is no room or facility in the Ronkonkoma yard to have a dual mode, especially because the dual modes require two engines. There is also little or no chance of an expansion of diesel service east of Ronkonkoma at this point either. While he stopped short of saying it was because of "low ridership" (he was clear that they UNDERSTAND that people only come all the way to Ronkonkoma because of the service ---THEY KNOW THIS, and he made it very clear that they also UNDERSTAND that Yaphank will explode in ridership once they extend Ronkonkoma electrification and service to Yaphank). They DO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THIS. The problem is that ROnkonkoma Yard is at 100% capacity. It can handle NO MORE. They already have an easement on the McArthur Airport property for the last two tracks that will EVER be added to Ronkonkoma Yard. They have extended capacity as far as they can. They HAVE to go east. This means they can put no more trains at this time in or out of Ronkonkoma, and this means eastward too. There is NO ROOM for any more trains to be stored, diesel or electric. Until this new yard is built, and electrification extended, east of Ronkonkoma service will stay just as it is. It's a capacity problem, there's NO WAY to do more than they do with current infastructure. About PD tower. MAY 8TH is the official LAST DAY of operation for PD TOWER. I'm told that the tower is too far gone and preservation efforts have been abandonned b/c of the physical shape of the tower. I'm told it will be taken down 3 weeks after it is closed. He said it will "torn down very shortly after the new signalling goes into effect in May, but made it clear that it will survive through June. He said "Immediately in May, the stairways WILL ne ripped off the tower to avoid tresspass, but they do have stuff stored downstairs that will remain through June. At that point PD Tower will be on death watch. He made it very clear that they have EVERY intention to Knock it down very soon, unless a deal is worked out with that Bethpage historical group, or Patchogue Village, and he was not optomistic about it. For all intents and purposes PD TOWER IS HISTORY. He made that very clear. As for Jay, Dunton, and Hall, he didn't say they were going to be knocked down. I think he may have even said they may still be maned in some way. I'm not clear on that. I do know he said they WILL be consolidated though, whatever that means. I forgot to mention he also mentioned the 1/2 hourly servicd on Port Washington. I agree about Mineola. As for increases on the Ronkonkoma Branch weekends or any other time, he said not at this time. It would be AT LEAST two years before any increase on service on weekends would happen. This is because of the ongoing trackwork being done on that line in the next year or two. He said he didn't want to add service, just to have to take it away again because of trackwork, so for now, it stays as it is. Glad he made a public announcement about photography being legal. And I think it's pretty cool he showed a slideshow about the history of the LIRR. believe me, he couldn't have been clearer on this fact. He made it VERY clear that it was completely legal, as long as it's on public accesible areas, and not in yards, etc (meaning you would have to enter illegally). He even went so far as to say they even allow it in the yards sometimes if people ask and come legally. But as a general rule, he couldn't have BEEN ANY CLEARER THAT THERE IS abosolutley no problem taking photos. |
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