New MN schedules April 26

[nostalgia]

I haven't gone to the station to get a new schedule. However, I looked on the computer and find that New Haven local trains on the weekend take LONGER to get to GCT. Running time wasn't added eastbound nor on the weekdays. What is so special about westbound weekend trains that needs longer running time?

[Truckie]

Would you believe the stations spread out farther? I didn't think so.

 

Seriously, it could be to accommodate track work (yeah I know, another excuse). It's nothing more than a game that is played for the purpose of on time performance. The New Haven Line isn't the only line this was done to.

[nostalgia]

I found a press release from April 2014 on the website that speeds were increased and running times lowered because ROW work in the Bronx was finished. I haven't found anything on the latest release that gives an explanation. The strange thing is the weekday base schedule is the same as the weekend for westbound trains. But some strange reason, it takes weekend westbound trains 4 minutes longer than weekend westbound trains.

 

I know trains have been late arriving GCT on the weekends from track work. (I've seen bridge plates are several stations.) Is this the real reason?

[Truckie]

Is this the real reason?

 

Can't say for sure.  Sounds like a good reason as more track projects take place during the summer, off peak hours.

[nostalgia]

The placement of the bridge plates and spotting of the train cause long stops. Going westbound, the front of the train is more likely to be more crowded than the rear because the front is closer to the entrance at GCT. The first two cars are usually spotted when there are bridge plates. Passengers have to walk back for seats. I'm not an equipment expert but the M7 doors are heavy to open and there aren't any curtains between the cars to prevent people falling off the train. If the back of the train is less crowded, wouldn't it make more sense to spot the rear of the train at the plates? Passengers would find seats faster.

 

I've been told the rules state it has to be the first two cars. Well, last night going home on the 8:37PM from GCT, there were plates at Mt. Vernon and Pelham and the first and third cars were used for the stop.

[paulrivera]

On the NH line alone they are working on the new catenary system, repairing the Devon railroad bridge, a new interlocking near Fordham (I thought that was finished?), replacing an existing interlocking south of 125th, and third rail replacement along Park Avenue. The latter three projects also affects the Harlem Line, and the Hudson Line is affected by the latter two projects and a "culvert replacement project" near Poughkeepsie.

[nostalgia]

Is this information in a press release I missed?

[Truckie]

The placement of the bridge plates and spotting of the train cause long stops.

.......wouldn't it make more sense to spot the rear of the train at the plates? Passengers would find seats faster.

 

I've been told the rules state it has to be the first two cars. Well, last night going home on the 8:37PM from GCT, there were plates at Mt. Vernon and Pelham and the first and third cars were used for the stop.

 

Bridge plates are a royal pain no matter what you do.  The problem with spotting the rear is it takes longer to spot as the conductor has to communicate with the engineer the proper spot further delaying the train.  When the first car is spotted,  the engineer spots up the plate looking out the window. 

 

Even though there are plates for the first and third car at those stops, the concept is the same.  The engineer spots up the plates for the first car and when the first car is lined, the third should also be lined.

[paulrivera]

Is this information in a press release I missed?

http://web.mta.info/mnr/html/april_schedules.htm

[nostalgia]

I read that press release but it doesn't mention longer running times on the New Haven line.

[Via Garibaldi 8]

Well if they need to adjust the time, so be it.  I've been noticing that on weekends when I use Metro-North, the trains don't seem to be as punctual as they are during the weekday rush, and I don't appreciate it. I have places to be and sometimes need to meet clients, and I base my arrival upon those schedules.  For what they are charging, I expect them to be punctual.  This morning I had to be down in the South Bronx and opted to sleep in later and get the train from Spuyten Duyvil rather than use the express bus into the city from Riverdale and then into the South Bronx.  The train was supposed to arrive at 42 after, but was about 5 minutes late, which didn't matter much in terms of me reaching my client, as we kept moving once I boarded.  Sometimes they are almost 10 minutes late, and by the time you get off, the train is almost 20 minutes late.  I wonder if the Amtrak train has anything to do with it along the Hudson Line?  For the first time ever, I saw an Amtrak train cross the Spuyten Duyvil drawbridge, just a few minutes before our train was due.  On the New Haven Line, I had a client up in Westchester on Sundays last year, and heading back towards the city, the trains were regularly 10 minutes late, leading me to miss my BxM4 express bus from the Fordham station into the city.

[DaTransitMan4608]

Well if they need to adjust the time, so be it. I've been noticing that on weekends when I use Metro-North, the trains don't seem to be as punctual as they are during the weekday rush, and I don't appreciate it. I have places to be and sometimes need to meet clients, and I base my arrival upon those schedules. For what they are charging, I expect them to be punctual. This morning I had to be down in the South Bronx and opted to sleep in later and get the train from Spuyten Duyvil rather than use the express bus into the city from Riverdale and then into the South Bronx. The train was supposed to arrive at 42 after, but was about 5 minutes late, which didn't matter much in terms of me reaching my client, as we kept moving once I boarded. Sometimes they are almost 10 minutes late, and by the time you get off, the train is almost 20 minutes late. I wonder if the Amtrak train has anything to do with it along the Hudson Line? For the first time ever, I saw an Amtrak train cross the Spuyten Duyvil drawbridge, just a few minutes before our train was due. On the New Haven Line, I had a client up in Westchester on Sundays last year, and heading back towards the city, the trains were regularly 10 minutes late, leading me to miss my BxM4 express bus from the Fordham station into the city.

I don't think Amtrak has anything to do with those train delays seeing as how the Hudson & New Haven Lines are owned and operated by Metro North. It may be the track work/projects mentioned above that are making these trains late.

[nostalgia]

Amtrak should run on the express track, if available. Amtrak trains stop at Poughkeepsie, Croton Harmon, and very few at Yonkers. Southbound trains have to run on the local track to switch to the Spuyten Duyvil drawbridge. Northbound trains have to cross over to the northbound express.

[paulrivera]

I read that press release but it doesn't mention longer running times on the New Haven line.

The New Haven line was not specifically mentioned, but here are some general statements:

 

-On weekends, travel times will be temporarily lengthened to accommodate several critical infrastructure projects. Also, some service adjustments have been made to address issues you raised.

 

-Minor adjustments in the AM and PM Peak involve changes of one to two minutes to improve reliability and better reflect actual operating performance.

 

All of this work requires continuous track outages over several weekends from Friday evening until early Monday morning. This also limits our operating flexibility, which could result in some potential weekend service delays. As a result, five minutes of additional running time is added to virtually all weekend trains.

[lirr42]

This memo from the March MTA Board committee meeting might have some additional information that answers some of your questions: http://web.mta.info/mta/news/books/docs/150323_0830_MNR_Exhibit.pdf

[nostalgia]

Thanks for the information. The posts this information on the website. It looked strange that 4 minutes of running time was added to New Haven weekend westbound trains but no time was added for eastbound trains.

[Truckie]

Southbound trains have to run on the local track to switch to the Spuyten Duyvil drawbridge. Northbound trains have to cross over to the northbound express.

 

Trains can run south on any track and be able to be switched for the Empire connection (drawbridge), just as north bound trains can be switched to any track once on MNR property.  There is no what has to happen.  The dispatchers take in to account all train movements and switch Amtrak to what ever track will best suit everyone. 

[Via Garibaldi 8]

Trains can run south on any track and be able to be switched for the Empire connection (drawbridge), just as north bound trains can be switched to any track once on MNR property.  There is no what has to happen.  The dispatchers take in to account all train movements and switch Amtrak to what ever track will best suit everyone. 

So what causes delays on the Hudson Line on weekends?

[Truckie]

So what causes delays on the Hudson Line on weekends?

As of the last few weeks there has been a lot of track maintenance on the weekends (as Metro North has indicated to allowed extra travel time). Beyond that I don't know.

[Via Garibaldi 8]

As of the last few weeks there has been a lot of track maintenance on the weekends (as Metro North has indicated to allowed extra travel time). Beyond that I don't know.

Oh I see... I wasn't aware that it was happening on the Hudson Line too...

[nostalgia]

If the "local" track is taken out of service for maintenance on MN, bridge plates are used so no stations are missed. If the local track is taken out of service for maintenance in the subway, there's no service at that station. Based on subway advisories, the only takes out one local track so service is available in the other direction. Passengers may have to go the wrong way to the next express station and then change to a train in the other direction.