itmaybeokay

They said that sending the past 71st Ave is expensive, but can't they just run it express to 179th so that they can get them 's out of the way, then turn them back to 71st Ave? Or are they worried about the extra mileage?

I mean, I think sending the R past 71st is expensive as a regularly scheduled service - the issue with doing it in response to an unplanned change is different: Even on an express run, it's a 20-25 Minute round trip to 179 from 71.

So, what about southbound service? This train is already delayed, mind you, by the express on the local scenario described - so unless you have trains and crews waiting at Jamaica Yard ready to pinch-hit (spoiler alert: you don't) 

What will easily happen is there will be a 45 minute gap in Southbound R service, and all hell breaks loose. And I'm not just talking about queens. Crowding on platforms will impact the N/Q/D/ trains which will ripple to the B the F - the M is probably already suspended under this scenario, so the J is overtaxed as it is. 

So, extending the R to 179 is not quite a viable "quick fix" option for delays on QBL. 

But, you could just turn the thing on the express tracks at union turnpike assuming the trouble zone isn't that far back and there aren't any trains laid up there. 

Also on the subject of QBL:

Dafuq is this, during rush hour? 

Delays  Posted: 01/06/2016  3:59PM 

Due to track maintenance from Roosevelt Av-Jackson Heights to 36 St (Queens), southbound , ,  and  trains are running with delays.

Allow additional travel time. 

What is going on with the MTA today?

As was said before, cold that drastic (and that sudden) can have a hard effect on the rails. BMT broadway line had 2, both in 2-track territory.

Meanwhile, it was brief, but the IRT broadway line was sent screwy during the evening commute by a heavily intoxicated person "rolling around on the platform" at 96 st. As he went from express side to local side of the platform the delays rippled across both lines. Funny to listen to though.

My E ran on the local track from QP to 71 Avenue, running express on the local track from Roosevelt to 71. After 71 it switched to the express track. Initially my E was supposed to stop at 75th, and the C/O announced that, but it was changed. At 71, and E pulled in on the express track opposite my E on the local, and many passengers on my train switched to the other train. In retrospect, it was stupid as my train came to Union Tpke first. What a mess. There was no communication at all, so the people on the train, and the C/O didn't know what was going on so that once people found out they came in and out of the train as the doors were closing delaying service even more.[/size]

There needs to be better communication.[/size]

Ripple effects from the BMT broadway line incident. Remember, Roosevelt Ave is a seperate tower from 71st ave, and Union Turnpike has it's own tower too - but I don't know how often it's staffed. In any case, I think what you have here is a case where the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing. When there's an incident that has a tower scrambling to divert service, sometimes it's just not feasible to explain the minutia behind the rationale of their decisions to the next tower. Tower A tells the train they're gonna do X then Y, but when the train does X and gets into Tower B's territory, tower B tells them to skip straight to Z. It happens. One of the benefits of CBTC will be at least we don't have that issue, (although we'll just have to deal with everything coming to a screeching halt every time the computer burps)

In terms of everyone hauling-ass from the local track to the express track, it's a psychological thing. Everyone wants to be in the "fast lane" At queens plaza people even run over from the R to the M if they come in at the same time thinking the M will leave first, even know they know it's also a Local. (I'm the only jackass who looks at the lineup on the signals and knows which one's really the leader. Unless QBMT takes it away at the last second as they're want to do)

When there are issues on the Express tracks why do they send all trains local as opposed to sending the express trains "express on the local" to mitigate delays and increase throughput on limited track space?

 

For example, if there is an issue on Queens Blvd, instead of sending all trains local. Hold the train and send the and/or express in front of it so they can be on their way. The can follow them and make all local stops, and now you've had 3 trains get through in less time, with less cascading delays.

Sometimes they do that, but one has to be careful with this approach. Remember, express-on-the-local trains still have to slow down rather dramatically at each station, so the additional throughput isn't quite that much. Furthermore, by holding that train, the local platforms along the way are now filling up - Now when you're trying to send the next E/F pair Exp-on-the-Lcl, they're behind an already delayed R train that is dwelling longer than normal at each station and they'll quickly be right on it's tail. What's the sense in running express on the local if you're holding outside every station for 30 seconds waiting for the mid-platform-signal to clear. 

In my experience they'll usually start with express-on-the-local service adjustments, but once the conga line forms, better to have everyone stop everywhere. 

An incident at 23rd Street can affect the at any time... If drivers are told to slow down in the area.

Or if locals are diverted to the express - or if there's simply a problem with the express tracks in that location and it's actually the expresses diverted to the local. Bottom line, problem on a trunk, local or express, all the services on that trunk are likely to be effected even if only marginally. 

- There are these weird orange spray paint marks every 5 or so feet on the yellow warning stripe of the Manhattan bound platform at Bay Ridge Avenue and a mark that reads "77 (triangle)" directly in front of the conductor board. Anyone know what their for?

I'll go out on a limb and assume that the orange paint has something to do with installation of rumble strips on the platform edge. The ADA requires them. Orange paint is commonly used to mark positions of measurements taken by surveyors and engineers. The Orange triangle is likely the origin of their survey or measurements. 

It might also be replacement of the platform slabs if they're in bad shape.

There's a capital program project to that effect:

Like one of the commuters said, the NYC Subway has become a "zoo". Its almost impossible to ride the trains in peace without having constant disruptions and bull****. This is why I feel bad for the younger generation of kids who are exposed to this type of garbage. Welcome to the MTA people.

^I couldn't agree more.

 

You got crazy ladies screaming at the top of their lungs at nothing, to subway performers, to subway fights, to crazy people...

 

Shall I go on?

It's still better than the 80's. 

Though I think there ought to be increased enforcement of the no performers on trains rule. 

The train is very slow local throughout its entire route. I wonder if there is a way the MTA can speed up its route because it crawls and goes like 10-15mph in the tunnels at times and that just adds up. I got on the at 9:19pm at 14th street and didn't get to Forest Hills-71 Ave until 10:15pm. Only good part is that we zoomed right into Forest Hills instead of waiting at 67th or in the tunnel for a train to leave the station.

Theoretically the R train that leaves 14th st at 9:18 gets to forest hills at 9:57, so your train was subject to some sort of 20 minute delay. 

Was this over the weekend? Service was slow over the weekend because all services were local. 

If it was a weekday, might I suggest walking 1600 feet west of union square and getting on the F at 14th? The savings of the express run more than offset the walk.

Why is it that sometimes, especially on elevated lines, you see extra rails in the trackbed?

Those are called "Guard Rails". 

In the event of a derailment, they help mitigate the effects by keeping the derailed wheels fairly close to the running rails. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guard_rails_(railroad)

As you might imagine these are important on the elevated lines, to attempt and prevent the train from skipping right off the elevated structure and into nearby buildings if it derails. 

They're also used heavily in sharp curves. I once found a document illustrating the different manners of construction required for different radii of turns, but I cant seem to find it again. 

internal use only. Not public

Well that seems silly. A visual walkthrough of exactly how to make some of the system's more byzantine transfers would be a boon to those who aren't as familiar with the system as some of us are here. 

its being done for the entire system

Do you know where the 360's will end up? is it google maps or something else

Didn't think this was worth making a new topic:
 
Caught this happening at 59st/Columbus Circle last week. You might not recognize that black box on the tripod, but I did. That's an nctech iStar 360 degree camera. 
 
Not sure who's doing the capturing, but SOMEONE is going to have google-street-view style imagery of the interior of subway stations soon, it would seem.

This will not affect the Holiday Train. A few years ago, the C train terminated at Second Avenue while the Holiday train was running and everything worked out fine.

 

 

...

 

 

As far as operations planning is concerned, the Vintage Train will just serve as one of the additional sets running out of 2nd Avenue.

 

I agree they can still fit in the holiday train - It's very popular and I doubt they'd scrap it. 

I'm not sure it will "just serve as one of the additional sets" though. The train usually spends a fair amount of time at 2nd ave between runs. I'm not sure they could or would want to turn it around as fast as they'd turn your average F train around. 

Still - if we're assuming they're running the extra F trains to supplement the missing D trains on 6th ave - we can safely assume they won't be adding more than 6tph. A solo track at 2nd ave can easily turn 6tph. The holiday train is only one run in each direction every 90 minutes. 

They could make it two trains by adding the Triplexes. Broadway would be an alternative if 6th isn't available.

I highly doubt they'd run two holiday trains. Theoretically it could run on broadway I suppose - Only 12tph running through the 60 st tube that that would be the only bottleneck. I wonder if they'd fumigate and turn at canal or run it all the way down to whitehall. 

Anyone else wonder about/know why the R46s have a LONG ISLAND RR rollsign program?

For what it's worth, I know the R44's were speed-tested along the LIRR mainline and got up to 77mph. This was before the LIRR third rail was converted to 750vdc though. I wonder if, when the rollsigns were ordered, there was thought of consolidating the fleets to one car class. 

Lord knows the commuter rail riders would have gone bonkers over this though. 

Yeah, they usually report that the issue is at the closest station. No sense wasting characters on something more precise.

According to Twitter, "an electrical connector" fell off the train.

Seen a couple guys ride outside the back of a train last week. Since then I've been wondering, what is the protocol for when things like this are spotted by MTA workers ?

They'll radio it to RCC who notifies NYPD transit. RCC might have them hold, unknown if the crew can or would hold on their own volition.

Come to think of it, trains can terminate at 96th street on weekends if they need a northern terminal and don't want to send it to 71st Ave

that is what Wallyhorse has been saying, and I agree with that, although it would be better to have it terminate at 71st Ave, however there are service changes on weekends, which would prevent it from terminating there.

While the benefit of weekend M service to 71/Continental is pretty huge, I don't know if there's much to be gained by sending it up to 96. It would seem to me that if track work prevents it from going all the way to queens you're better off just sending it to essex or chambers like they do now. The 3 stops along 6th ave that would get extra service probably don't need the help, whereas the R is consistently well above loading guidelines during daytime weekend hours in queens. Maybe the 2nd avenue stops could use the help, but until they're open we won't know that.  

Delays Posted: 09/17/2015 12:03PM

Due to signal problems at Queens Plaza, , , and trains are running with delays in both directions.

Allow additional travel time

 

Two days in a row, that warning has been up since 8AM. I saw the alert when I checked the MTA site while on the bus. I decided to take the today (and yesterday). A friend warned me via text yesterday because they were stuck on the train for almost 2 hours!

The alert first went up Closer to 7am

For what it's worth, I didn't have a single problem on the M this morning at about 7:50. In fact, one of the most trouble-free trips on the line. Still on time at the rock at 8:20

Nor did I hear any problems on the scanner.

Signal problems at Lex on the BMT Bway line still ongoing as of 5:10pm

That's 2 straight days of rush hour woes for the line. Not fun getting to Astoria - especially when the EFMR are all gummed up during rush hour as well until september. 

What I don't understand is why they didn't just order them all as 5 car sets. There's nothing preventing the C from running 10 car trains.

I know it doesn't need to, and I know the 5 car sets would be more expensive - but this would afford them far greater versatility going forward. 

Sure, keep a couple 4 car sets on the order to replace the 42's on the J/Z. But the rest of them... 

 

Due to a rail condition at Chambers St, the following service changes are in effect:

There is no  train service between Chambers St and South Ferry in both directions.

Some southbound  trains terminate at Times Sq-42 St.

Southbound  trains are running express from 14 St to Chambers St.

 Free shuttle buses are running between 14 St and South Ferry in both directions making  station stops.

 and  trains are running local between 34 St-Penn Station and Chambers St in both directions.

 

 

 trains are running on the  line between Canal St and DeKalb Av in both directions.

Expect delays on  and  trains.

Did somebody say "Monday afternoon FUBAR?" Note also the Broadway line changes at the bottom.

 

Same thing they were pulling this morning during the rush. Took me 2 hours to get to work, It'll probably take me 2 hours to get home. 

Whatever went wrong with the track maintenance from this weekend must be a doozy. 

Service Change

Posted: 08/24/2015 6:21AM

Due to track maintenance between 14 St and Chambers St the following service changes are in effect:

Southbound 1 trains will terminate at 14 St.

(Shuttle?) Bus service is available from 14 St to South Ferry.

2 and 3 trains are running local between 34 St-Penn Station and Chambers St in both directions.

Some 2 trains will operate on the 5 line from 149 St-Grand Concourse to Nevins St.

Expect delays in 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 train service.

Northbound 1 trains are running express from 14 St to 34 St-Penn Station.

Allow additional travel time.

 

WTF. Since when did they do this type of thing on a weekday, and unplanned at that? Wonder how the bus thing is going to go, even though there is still local service from 14th Street to Chambers St.

 

EDIT: Shuttle buses only run Chambers St-South Ferry.

Looks like the trackwork ran from the weekend ran late.

Nightmare getting to work. 9:45 there was almost a 30 minute gap in uptown 1 service. They were running some express local, but that doesn't help me getting to 116 st. 

And naturally, the first train that actually comes through goes on an express run after 96. 50 minutes late to work. 

Gotta be kidding me with this stuff. 

Bruh...

 

The R188 is LITERALLY an R142A with CBTC capabilities. There's no difference between the two.

I was like "Wait, Am i missing something?" 

Well, just to be a jerk about it, The R188 has the 160's door closing chime.

 

So there's a difference, even if it is a matter of programming.

But in this case we're talking about PHYSICAL differences, no? In which case the "CBTC Hump" of the 188 is the only physical difference besides "new train smell"

Meanwhile...

So word is the is goin to Forest Hills, the is going to Jamaica with the , the to Astoria, the via the T, and the to Bay Pkwy. The will stay full express along the whole entire Culver Line, and the will serve the QBL Local and go to 9th Av, Bklyn or Kings Hwy with the and then via the .

It's all true! They also secretly tested the R160 in 1998. I have proof.

Even a video!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nR2sZsiE_M

I also own the entire subway system and will happily sell it to you for just $100. Cash only please. 

Nope. The never used slants nor R68s and its last days it used R46s and R160s. I actually took pictures of the line during its last days.

quick a-googlin suggests it at least happened. 

Although - according to THIS VERY FORUM

It was taken in 2001,they put R40's to test out the line before they started the line in Dec of that year.

http://www.nyctransitforums.com/forums/topic/35401-r40-v-train/

Sooooo, basically everyone's right. R40\ did run on the V but also didn't run on the V. Fascinating. 

The is good the has shuttle buses running to Jamaica center and Kew Gardens. It is not so slow which is good. The problem is the on Saturday I waited 22 minutes for the to come. On weekdays it's a combination of the running normal to it showing up late. Sometimes two or three (M)'s can come before one .

This past weekend it was an all-trains-local scenario and that often gives the R the shaft. 

3 m trains before an R? which direction? I almost universally see the opposite - though most of the time these days I take the N/Q even though it's a little further from me. 

As a matter of fact, I take back what I said (my agreement with RtrainBlues)...Short turning trains isn't the answer. Yes, but neither is track work and lowering the headways the answer either. Why can't the just save all of this track-work for overnights/weekends?

That would be the ideal, yes. From the various news reports that I've found, it claims that the reason for the service cuts is as follows: 

Yes, there is work happening on the N/B exp track (D4) that requires a 24/7 10mph speed restriction. I don't know what kind of work would require that 24/7 and not just overnights but perhaps someone with more knowledge can chime in. 

Anyway, that means reduced capacity for E/F with some going via local (D2) which requires cutting service on local. 

For what it's worth, they did specifically time this cut to coincide with traditionally the lowest ridership of the year. 

That doesn't mean anyone is happy about it. Personally, I plan to avoid it entirely as it's an 11 minute walk from my house to the M/R and an 18 minute walk to the N/Q. 

Better to have a known extra 7 minutes than an unknown extra ???