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| LIRR service to Grand Central....what happened? (1649968) | |
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| (1649968) | |
LIRR service to Grand Central....what happened? |
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Posted by Chris R16/R2730 on Thu Jul 30 10:41:52 2026 I was looking over the schedule recently and i noticed all the off peak service from Babylon, RO and Huntington that used to alternate hourly between here and NYP now all goes to Penn Station. When was this changed? If GCM is now just a glorified Atlantic terminal than the whole concept was a massive billion dollar mistake.Sorry, I've been out of the loop transit wise for a while now. |
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| (1649976) | |
Re: LIRR service to Grand Central....what happened? |
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Posted by Mitch45 on Thu Jul 30 11:54:36 2026, in response to LIRR service to Grand Central....what happened?, posted by Chris R16/R2730 on Thu Jul 30 10:41:52 2026. I think calling the GCM a "glorified Atlantic Terminal" is quite a reach. I used to ride the train to Brooklyn every day and I can tell you firsthand that 90% of the passengers on my trains exited at Jamaica for Penn Station. There were maybe 50-75 passengers on the train by the time it got to Atlantic Terminal.That being said, the MTA has already acknowledged that its estimates for usage of GCM was incorrect and that not as many riders use it as the MTA originally thought. But its still an extremely useful connection and one that was long overdue. |
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| (1649981) | |
Re: LIRR service to Grand Central....what happened? |
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Posted by Bill from Maspeth on Thu Jul 30 14:06:59 2026, in response to LIRR service to Grand Central....what happened?, posted by Chris R16/R2730 on Thu Jul 30 10:41:52 2026. As far as I'm concerned if it wasn't for Covid, which started all this Work From Home stuff and Zoom, GCM would not have been built.It is an alternate to NYP in case the railroad blows up but that's about it. Outside of rush hours, GCM is extremely quiet. Yes, the lines that formerly went to Brooklyn (FR and Hemp) are the primary tenants there off peak. |
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| (1649983) | |
Re: LIRR service to Grand Central....what happened? |
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Posted by AlM on Thu Jul 30 15:20:44 2026, in response to LIRR service to Grand Central....what happened?, posted by Chris R16/R2730 on Thu Jul 30 10:41:52 2026. I'm not seeing what you're seeing.I see weekday trains from GCM to Babylon at 906, 1006, 1106, 1206, 105, 156, and 304. |
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| (1649992) | |
Re: LIRR service to Grand Central....what happened? |
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Posted by Allen45 on Thu Jul 30 21:27:38 2026, in response to Re: LIRR service to Grand Central....what happened?, posted by Bill from Maspeth on Thu Jul 30 14:06:59 2026. The solution to that is make Jamaica a business district on par with Midtown. The EDNY court houses and 2nd department should all be there, all the finance and tech firms should be there too Jamaica has a lot of potential. |
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| (1649994) | |
Re: LIRR service to Grand Central....what happened? |
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Posted by randyo on Thu Jul 30 21:49:34 2026, in response to Re: LIRR service to Grand Central....what happened?, posted by Bill from Maspeth on Thu Jul 30 14:06:59 2026. Plans for the LIRR to go to Grand Central were in the works when I was in college in the early 1960s. |
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| (1649995) | |
Re: LIRR service to Grand Central....what happened? |
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Posted by gbs on Thu Jul 30 22:49:57 2026, in response to Re: LIRR service to Grand Central....what happened?, posted by randyo on Thu Jul 30 21:49:34 2026. And don't forget that the 63 St tunnel was planned and built with two levels in anticipation of east-side LIRR service. 
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| (1649999) | |
Re: LIRR service to Grand Central Madison…what happened? |
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Posted by Olog-hai on Fri Jul 31 01:05:10 2026, in response to LIRR service to Grand Central....what happened?, posted by Chris R16/R2730 on Thu Jul 30 10:41:52 2026. Why didn't you call it a massive multi-billion-dollar mistake? First estimate was $4 billion, but it rose to $11.6 billion. That's more than enough money to build a tunnel down the length of lower Manhattan into Brooklyn to connect to the aforementioned Atlantic Avenue Branch.And here we had the joyful bandwagoneers predicting that GCM would "make room" in NYP for their imaginary Metro-North Hell Gate service that has still not been funded. Which it was never intended to do. |
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| (1650001) | |
Re: LIRR service to Grand Central Madison…what happened? |
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Posted by Q4 on Fri Jul 31 01:19:51 2026, in response to Re: LIRR service to Grand Central Madison…what happened?, posted by Olog-hai on Fri Jul 31 01:05:10 2026. The LIRR and Metro North are both under the MTA and if the MTA wants the LIRR to give up slots, they have no choice but to capitulate.Work has started on that project (Amtrak has been the biggest hurdle, not funding). |
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| (1650004) | |
Re: LIRR service to Grand Central....what happened? |
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Posted by AlM on Fri Jul 31 08:41:06 2026, in response to Re: LIRR service to Grand Central....what happened?, posted by randyo on Thu Jul 30 21:49:34 2026. Ah yes, I remember when there was going to be a new LIRR terminal at 3rd and 48th. |
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| (1650011) | |
Re: LIRR service to Grand Central Madison…what happened? |
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Posted by Spider-Pig on Fri Jul 31 11:08:28 2026, in response to Re: LIRR service to Grand Central Madison…what happened?, posted by Olog-hai on Fri Jul 31 01:05:10 2026. What the fuck are you talking about? Construction has already started on MN to Penn. |
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| (1650012) | |
Re: LIRR service to Grand Central....what happened? |
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Posted by Spider-Pig on Fri Jul 31 11:11:03 2026, in response to Re: LIRR service to Grand Central....what happened?, posted by AlM on Fri Jul 31 08:41:06 2026. 
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| (1650013) | |
Re: LIRR service to Grand Central Madison…what happened? |
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Posted by Jersey Mike on Fri Jul 31 11:12:05 2026, in response to Re: LIRR service to Grand Central Madison…what happened?, posted by Spider-Pig on Fri Jul 31 11:08:28 2026. It's progressing slowly due to drama between the MTA and Amtrak. |
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| (1650015) | |
Re: LIRR service to Grand Central....what happened? |
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Posted by Jersey Mike on Fri Jul 31 11:13:29 2026, in response to Re: LIRR service to Grand Central....what happened?, posted by Spider-Pig on Fri Jul 31 11:11:03 2026. This is amazing xD |
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| (1650018) | |
Re: LIRR service to Grand Central Madison…what happened? |
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Posted by Olog-hai on Fri Jul 31 13:27:50 2026, in response to Re: LIRR service to Grand Central....what happened?, posted by Bill from Maspeth on Thu Jul 30 14:06:59 2026. It sure is no alternative to NYP. Nor was it ever intended to be. |
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| (1650020) | |
Re: LIRR service to Grand Central Madison…what happened? |
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Posted by Olog-hai on Fri Jul 31 15:20:20 2026, in response to Re: LIRR service to Grand Central Madison…what happened?, posted by Q4 on Fri Jul 31 01:19:51 2026. Not true. And it is not happening, obviously.And Amtrak has no obligation to fund anything that is going to intrude on a railroad line under their ownership. |
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| (1650027) | |
Re: LIRR service to Grand Central Madison…what happened? |
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Posted by Steamdriven on Fri Jul 31 19:42:37 2026, in response to Re: LIRR service to Grand Central Madison…what happened?, posted by Olog-hai on Fri Jul 31 01:05:10 2026. It's not a mistake if you got a cut of the action ;-) |
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| (1650036) | |
Re: LIRR service to Grand Central Madison…what happened? |
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Posted by Q4 on Sat Aug 1 10:59:12 2026, in response to Re: LIRR service to Grand Central Madison…what happened?, posted by Olog-hai on Fri Jul 31 15:20:20 2026. What is not true? The work has started, the LIRR will give up those slots if directed. As for Amtrak was never going to fund the work. The MTA reimburses them for work they need to perform just like they did for work done associated with ESA that was performed in Amtrak’s portion of Harold Interlocking. Amtrak will always put their needs first and will want something out of it to their benefit.While stuff might be delayed, the major projects the MTA has worked on this century has trended to be completed like Phase 1 of the Second Avenue Subway (whom someone on this Site kept saying would never open even as the finishing touches were being done) and East Side Access. |
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| (1650059) | |
Re: LIRR service to Grand Central Madison…what happened? |
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Posted by Chris R16/R2730 on Sun Aug 2 09:28:25 2026, in response to Re: LIRR service to Grand Central Madison…what happened?, posted by Jersey Mike on Fri Jul 31 11:12:05 2026. Amtrak needs to chill. It has little influence and power north of Penn Station. |
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| (1650061) | |
Re: LIRR service to Grand Central....what happened? |
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Posted by Chris R16/R2730 on Sun Aug 2 09:34:07 2026, in response to Re: LIRR service to Grand Central....what happened?, posted by AlM on Thu Jul 30 15:20:44 2026. Yeah, i missed those because they end in Massappequa.Still, the RO and Huntington off peak hourly service IS gone. |
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| (1650064) | |
Re: LIRR service to Grand Central....what happened? |
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Posted by Chris R16/R2730 on Sun Aug 2 09:41:53 2026, in response to Re: LIRR service to Grand Central....what happened?, posted by Spider-Pig on Fri Jul 31 11:11:03 2026. Incredibly 1960's thinking here. |
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| (1650065) | |
Re: LIRR service to Grand Central....what happened? |
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Posted by Chris R16/R2730 on Sun Aug 2 09:56:56 2026, in response to Re: LIRR service to Grand Central....what happened?, posted by Chris R16/R2730 on Sun Aug 2 09:34:07 2026. They also did retain the alternating hourly service on the Port Washington branch. |
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| (1650066) | |
Re: LIRR service to Grand Central Madison…what happened? |
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Posted by Avid reader on Sun Aug 2 10:02:15 2026, in response to Re: LIRR service to Grand Central Madison…what happened?, posted by Olog-hai on Fri Jul 31 13:27:50 2026. Are these DMU's high or low level or both when they platform and can they operate on right-a-ways with 3rd rails?Who is the manufacture? |
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| (1650067) | |
Re: LIRR service to Grand Central Madison…what happened? |
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Posted by Avid reader on Sun Aug 2 10:02:58 2026, in response to Re: LIRR service to Grand Central Madison…what happened?, posted by Olog-hai on Fri Jul 31 13:27:50 2026. Are these DMU's high or low level or both when they platform and can they operate on right-a-ways with 3rd rails?Who is the manufacture? 
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| (1650069) | |
Re: LIRR service to Grand Central....what happened? |
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Posted by AlM on Sun Aug 2 11:04:18 2026, in response to Re: LIRR service to Grand Central....what happened?, posted by Chris R16/R2730 on Sun Aug 2 09:34:07 2026. Ah, OK, I happened to pick the only semi-exception to what you were saying.Lookin at Manhattan to Jamaica in total, I'm seeing 7 per hour from Penn and 4 from GCT. So definitely a bias in favor of Penn. Presumably because that's where a majority of the off peak travel is going. From a recreational trip point of view, Penn probably is closer to more attractions, while from a work locations point of view, they're probably more equal. |
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| (1650073) | |
Re: LIRR service to Grand Central Madison…what happened? |
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Posted by Olog-hai on Sun Aug 2 13:31:20 2026, in response to Re: LIRR service to Grand Central Madison…what happened?, posted by Avid reader on Sun Aug 2 10:02:58 2026. Platforms on the "River Line" are 23" above rail, so that's less than two feet, which makes them low platforms. High platforms are 48" above rail. Not to mention that the Stadler GTW 2/6 "light rail" DMUs you are showing in the pic are not FRA compliant. What were you thinking of using them for? and what does this have to do with the fact that Grand Central Madison was not intended to take LIRR trains out of NYP so that Metro-North New Haven Line trains could travel over the Hell Gate Line and use them? |
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| (1650081) | |
Re: LIRR service to Grand Central Madison…what happened? |
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Posted by Avid reader on Mon Aug 3 11:29:02 2026, in response to Re: LIRR service to Grand Central Madison…what happened?, posted by Olog-hai on Sun Aug 2 13:31:20 2026. What were you thinking of using them for?Using DMU's with standard high platforming that clear 3rd rails for "Scoot service on all unelectrified branch lines during off-peak hours. | Patchogue Port Jeff Green Port Montauk Point and any I missed |
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| (1650084) | |
Re: LIRR service to Grand Central Madison…what happened? |
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Posted by Olog-hai on Mon Aug 3 13:52:47 2026, in response to Re: LIRR service to Grand Central Madison…what happened?, posted by Avid reader on Mon Aug 3 11:29:02 2026. Nobody likes scoots. Better follow Rita Mae Brown's advice and not do the same thing that failed in the past with RDCs and expect a different outcome. |
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| (1650085) | |
Re: LIRR service to Grand Central Madison…what happened? |
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Posted by Jackson Park B Train on Mon Aug 3 14:23:30 2026, in response to Re: LIRR service to Grand Central Madison…what happened?, posted by Olog-hai on Mon Aug 3 13:52:47 2026. Au contraire. SMART operating between Larkspur and Windsor (route in process of extension to Healdsburg) Has seen ridership growing. All high platform. |
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| (1650086) | |
Re: LIRR service to Grand Central Madison…what happened? |
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Posted by Olog-hai on Mon Aug 3 14:54:13 2026, in response to Re: LIRR service to Grand Central Madison…what happened?, posted by Jackson Park B Train on Mon Aug 3 14:23:30 2026. That's not a scoot. Were you expecting it to be extended over the Golden Gate Bridge or directly connected to the Golden Gate Ferry terminal? |
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| (1650087) | |
Re: LIRR service to Grand Central Madison…what happened? |
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Posted by Jackson Park B Train on Mon Aug 3 15:10:50 2026, in response to Re: LIRR service to Grand Central Madison…what happened?, posted by Olog-hai on Mon Aug 3 14:54:13 2026. DMU is the term of art. You did mention RDCs--rode some in my youth..Indeed the current south end is an unpleasant walk from the ferry--welcome to competing transit agency turf wars. As to GGB, when Marinites didn't want BART they commissioned a stury "proving" the bridge could not have trains. However, a recent in depth history of the bridge states that the chief engineer explicitly designed rail capability. In my view, the 'main' route should go over the bridge all the way down the western side of SF to offer transfer to BART at Daly City. Secondarily connecting across a rebuilt (replaced?) Richmond San Rafael Bridge offering transfers to Capitol Corridor and BART. |
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