Lance

Hopefully this isn't the start of a trend with these converted sets.

Running local.

@Grand Concourse: The problems with waiting until the 62s reach retirement age are 1) Flushing riders will have to wait at least another decade for better service; 2) the signals along the Flushing line would likely have to be replaced twice, the first time with traditional signals and again for CBTC; and 3) 2025 is a nominal date for retirement of those cars. We all know how the MTA is when dealing with schedules. We're still waiting for replacements for the nearly 50 year old 32s, so what's to say the replacements for the 62s won't arrive until some time after 2025?

They cut the back to 57 St because there was literally nowhere else for those trains to terminate. The Hillside branch was inaccessible due to the broken rail, trains were either running via the to/from Jamaica Center or turning on the express tracks at 71 Av and the lay up tracks east of 71 Av were out of service for the weekend due to planned construction. It was either cut the line back to the nearest unaffected terminal or keep running trains into the Queens Blvd mess. They picked the logical option in this instance.

However, cutting the back to a Manhattan-Brooklyn or worse, a Manhattan-only line (with the Brooklyn portion served by the extended 4th Avenue shuttle) is not an ideal solution long-term. Riders who want the local stations would cram onto the and the would pick up all the (E)'s express ridership along with its own riders. Then there's the fact that you're basically cutting service in half from 57 St-7 Av to Queens Plaza. I get that you're frustrated with the problems that continuously plague the line, but removing it from Queens Blvd, where it's needed just as much as it is along 4th Avenue, is a disaster waiting to happen. If your idea is to bring better or more frequent service to 4th Avenue, perhaps that could be solved by running the local during the weekends. It's not an ideal solution either, but it's much less damaging than cutting the off Queens Blvd.

You guys are funny if you think the MTA is going to be dropping $$$ on stuff that is not essential for a CBTC conversion.

How about stuff that's essential for making the trains run? Those buckling brakes issues cannot be good for these trains long-term.

That doesn't solve the issue at hand; it just creates another one. This time on Queens Blvd. If your "idea" to fix the slow trains on 4th Avenue is to cut the from Queens Blvd and run the local as a replacement, I'm sorry, but that's a terrible idea. You're reducing service on Queens Blvd by a wide margin and shafting riders of half of the express service on the line.

Also, the only reason why service is set up as it is on weekdays with the split service is because DeKalb junction through the Bridge cannot handle five different lines. If it could, Canal St (tunnel platform) through Jay St (4th Avenue platform) would be closed entirely throughout the duration of the Montague closure.

You know what's actually starting to annoy me?

 

People ACTUALLY thinking that the converted cars would have gotten something more than the installation of CBTC.

 

People complaining on how all the NTTs look the same. Without even knowing the reasons. Even though the reason is only three words.

Concerning the first, I'd think they'd at least get a cleaning. I mean, they were sitting idle with mechanical problems for months. How hard would it have been to get a crew with some sponges and a mop and tidy up the damn thing?

Also, I really wanted them to fix the damn brakes on those cars. When they were on the 6, it was like riding an untamed horse with all the buckling the train does trying to stop.

Regarding your second point, I really don't care about the train's looks. I mean I really can't stand those periwinkle seats that keep permeating the entire fleet of cars from the new techs to the older trains, but that's a minor gripe I have. After all, look at the history of the subway cars. Most orders made within the same decade or so looked pretty much the same with maybe a few cosmetic differences. It's a maintenance thing. Similar designs keep the costs down on parts.

Just curious, how would running the Court to 95th section have helped you in Manhattan anyhow? Besides, if the Court St->95 St portion of the was running, that would mean the 71 Av (179 St in this instance) to Whitehall St would also be running and that portion would still be affected by the broken rail problem on Hillside Av.

Finally, it's all cleared up on Queens Blvd.

Work at the layup tracks after 71 Av.

07:48 Update:

- Broadway Express, Brighton Local - Ditmars Blvd to Brighton Beach

- express between 59 St-Columbus Circle and Canal St

- Broadway Express, West End Express - 57 St-7 Av to Coney Island

- Central Park West Express - 205 St to 34 St-Herald Sq

- 8 Av Local - Jamaica-179 St to Coney Island

/ - local between Myrtle Av and Marcy Av

- Nassau St Local (Limited Service) - Metropolitan Av to Chambers St or Essex St

Posted: 01/15/2014 6:26AM

Due to a water main break at W 4 St-Washington Square, the following service changes are in effect:

There is no train service in both directions between Bedford Pk Blvd and DeKalb Av.

Northbound trains are rerouted over the line from DeKalb Av to Astoria-Ditmars Blvd.

There is no train service in both directions between Dekalb Av and 34 St-Herald Square.

trains are running on the line between W 4 St-Washington Square and Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Av in both directions.

There is no train service between 36 St (Qns) and Essex St.

Metropolitan Av bound trains are running on the line from 36 St (Qns) to 34 St-Herald Sq.

Allow additional travel time.

Wait, I'm confuzzled. Is the M turning at Chambers St or are they seriously trying to send 6th Ave trains through this mess? If the idea is to keep service running on 63rd Street, reroute the damn R through there. There's no need to exacerbate the problem and add to the delays by sending another line through W 4 St lower.

Does anyone else think the r188 will ever be on a line other than the

Nothing's impossible, but it's highly unlikely they'll make an appearance on another line unless something catastrophic happens to the equipment on the line in question.

They've been working well enough to be used on the 42nd Street shuttle for years and well enough to expand onto trains on the 6 and 7 lines occasionally. I think it speaks well for its continued existence. I do see this as a beginning of a trend that sees more trains wrapped like this. On the subject of the train being out of service to be wrapped, I believe it's done when the train is out of service for maintenance anyway so it's not sitting idle for that much longer. I could be wrong though.

Whatever the situation is, it may be just south of the switches for southbound trains to cross over to the Culver line, thus, not affecting the . Though I wouldn't doubt there are some serious delays on the Brooklyn-bound trains due to the residual effects.

Is service to Essex starting already?

Only during Queens Blvd FASTRACKs as of now. The last few trains bound for 71 Av terminate at Essex St.

Just like everything else, these trains, switches and signals cannot handle this extreme cold. As for the extended local service, trains are being stored on the express tracks, out of the frigid elements. At least during the evening and late night hours that is.

Kings Highway can be a viable terminal, they did it with the and the after Hurricane Sandy.

Because trains couldn't turn at Brighton Beach due to a power outage. It's not a viable permanent terminal with another line running through service past it.

With the R179 and eventually the R211, I don't think the would want to spend the money (little as it would be comparatively) to put in signs on the 68s for that reason alone. If they stay on 3 lines where the signs never have to be changed, they're not going to want to spend the money.

Why would they , they only run on the and and the and almost never change routes.

Remember, there are at least another ten years left in the 62s and 68s so I wouldn't rule out the possibility of the upgrade. Besides, the idea was not to simply replace the rollsigns with electronic signage. It's also to upgrade the on-board communications system and its components to something that won't face obsolescence in a few years.

Too bad there isn't something more automated/computerized.  As a train enters the last stop, all displays reset.   Probably, way too technical and expensive, but hey in a year or two it will be CBTC.

 

I'll say this... the system is getting more and more technical and maybe it's not a bad thing, but when something malfuctions it will be a big mess.   For instance, Metrocard Vending Machines... they sometimes don't take change or don't take cash period, and there is no clerk around.

It's probably possible, though it'd have to be hard coded it or something. I'm not sure of the specifics obviously as this isn't my area of expertise.

UPDATE: The Crosstown FASTRACK has been cancelled for its first two scheduled nights. Most likely due to the extremely cold temperatures predicted.

http://web.mta.info/nyct/service/fastrack_G.htm

Well, this one sneaked in:

No trains between Parkside Av and 57 St-7 Av

trains and free shuttle buses provide alternate service
Weekend, 11:45 PM Fri to 5 AM Mon, Jan 17 - 20

service operates between Stillwell Av and Parkside Av.

buses operate between Parkside Av and Atlantic Av-Barclays Ctr,
     making stops at Prospect Park and 7 Av.

Thats so stupid...just leave the sets in order...

They need some OCD.

It really doesn't matter. The same thing happens with various other trains, including the 142s and 160s. There's nothing gained by keeping the entire train(s) out of service if one particular set is being serviced.

Just to tackle some of these ideas:

The Rockaway Park branch does not need full time service. Maybe during beach season, you can get away with running a few more direct trains, but other than that, you're running empty trains.

The return of the '01-'10 and the reversion of the back to Nassau Street are non-starters, as are the return of the pre-2001 and routes. Riders love the current and would probably fight tooth and nail to keep it and with the way the and are set up now, all south Brooklyn routes have full-time service.

What's with these ideas to extend lines to Jamaica Center? It should be common knowledge that Parsons/Archer cannot handle the full load of the . Sending more trains and other lines there would just exacerbate that problem.

Also, what's so wrong with Jamaica skip-stop that everyone wants to 86 it? Unlike Upper Broadway skip-stop which failed to serve its riders properly, Jamaica skip-stop actually works quite well.

Finally folks, say it with me now: "LEFFERTS RIDERS DON'T WANT THE LOCAL!!!"

This isn't meant to be an attack on anyone. I'm just responding to some of the ideas that jump out at me.

The exterior signs do indeed display the diamond for express runs, but for whatever reason, it's not working on the interior signs. It's possibly a glitch in the programming.