N6 Limited

That’s fine, but it was frustrating during the first phase of CBTC installation where they’d run the local while all 3 lines were running local. Not only were trains already delayed due to slow speed orders, the orders led to congestion with three trains running local, and THEN then they’d have trains blocking “northbound” and trains while fumigating at 71st Ave, and “Southbound” and trains blocked by trains at 71st Ave dwelling before their run. So NOW they want to turn trains at Queens Plaza after making every excuse possible the last time.

Oh, NOW they want to terminate trains at Queens Plaza when there’s all local service.

Well that’s the thing, why are there so many “Surprised” commuters?

Speaking of which, why did the IRT turn off onto E98th st, and not down Pitkin Ave as seen on original extension plans?

It appears that they’re using track 2 at Jamaica for many of the westbound trains, at least during the midday. While westbound services from the Branches tend to alternate between Penn and GCM, in Jamaica it’s seemingly random.

I checked the options on the TVM. When you select “Combo Ticket” you can only select “one way”, no round trip option. You choose your Origin Station, and then you’re only allowed to select Grand Central as a Destination. Then it asks how many you want. So, if your initial trip is cheaper, buy two tickets. If not, Buy a one way from each railroad. I didn’t purchase one since they have to be used the same day, so I don’t know how they look.

With that being said, it’s possible that NYC DOT is also encouraging the removal of stops so they don’t have to upkeep them, and they can be out of the way for their vision zero plans. Less stops, less concrete pads, more space for citi bike, bike lanes, pedestrian medians, more parking meter revenue, etc.

MTA and TrainTime is indicating that the LIRR schedule changes at midnight.

They’ve been ambiguous with OMNY implementation on the Railroads. They’ve mentioned an OMNY app, but that’s about it. I think it would help if an OMNY card could be used as a payment method to purchase tickets at TVMs (if for example someone has commuter benefits tied to their OMNY card since some do not have nfc cards). Perhaps that could invoke transfer discounts between railroads and bus/subway.

What if they installed CBTC? Do you know what the speed restriction is on that curve?

I agree. That didn’t happen, but it was conjured up by you. I was just giving an example. You wanted examples and I gave examples, I mentioned nothing about costs. Yes, The first subway stopped every quarter mile, then platforms were extended and stations were closed because they were “too close” and newer subway lines were built further apart.

IIRC, NYCT does not do night time track work on ELs.

It would be interesting if the MTA used open gangway cars on the Shuttle line when the has trackwork between Prospect Park and points north. This way they could run direct service to Franklin Ave without shuttle buses, etc. Do the NTTs have the ability to isolate which cars or specific doors to operate the doors for? That’s an interesting idea.

Grand Central Madison Press Conference regarding full service on 2/27/2023. https://www.youtube.com/live/wklhhuvWbKI

Since theres a push to improve transit in the region, are there plans to re-open the Woodhaven Station on the Atlantic Line and/or create a Woodhaven Blvd Station on the Main Line?

NICE also has APCs. I'm sure MTA has ridership pattern information from Mertocard data and GPS, including dwell times. One could argue that those lightly used stops weren’t worth keeping if it barely made a difference to remove that many stops. Sure the n4 and n6 example means something, if that weren’t the case, the SBS’s riderships wouldn’t have increased after replacing the limiteds, B44, Q44, Bx12, B46, et. The stops the N4 and N6 have in Queens are basically the Rush route stops in the Draft. As for local bus coverage. The argument that many make is that people rely on the bus because of areas without subway service,“transit deserts”. However, subway stops are not every two blocks and many have to walk 10 mins or more to a subway station. I’m not sure how lack of a subway line means that bus stops should be every two blocks. Bus stop, Pole, sign(s), Ride a Guide, Snow removal, etc

Isn't each stop removed one less stop to maintain, to keep in the system for GTFS, for the B/O to have look out for, etc? The N4, N6, etc. make better progress in Queens (and Nassau) with stops removed.

Would it make sense to have single island platforms at Electric end stations like Huntington to allow cross platform transfers and ease diesel shuttle services?

I also forgot that once you get to the Mezz level you have to take stairs down to the platforms.

Wasn’t 168th St closed recently to install new elevators? I’m curious how they’re going to do 86th St as well as the plans for Broadway Junction, will they just do ramps for the platforms and elevators to the El’s?

Train time tells you if a combo ticket is a cheaper option for your trip, so that’s helpful. From how it’s worded, the combo ticket won’t list destination stations. It will have something like “Origin Station to Grand Central + Combo”. This way they don’t have to program a bunch of station pairs. I see potential barriers to always getting the cheaper ticket. 1) Origin station can only be purchased from the origin RR. 2) Round trips may be printed on the same ticket/eticket, so if you try to do Great Neck to New Haven from New Haven, you won’t be able to purchase from a Metro North TVM. On TrainTime, the origin station will be LIRR Great Neck, so the MNRR Conductor / Ticket Scanner probably wouldn’t accept a one way ticket. As for Round Trip Tickets, Combo Tickets must be used in the same day like City Tickets, so a Round Trip would be wasteful if you could only utilize a one way trip out of it. How do Round Trips work on Train Time? Does it give you two separate tickets to activate? Or does it have you activate the same ticket twice?

Sorry about that, I meant 160th Street and Liberty Ave.

They appear to be planning up to 5 lines, according to https://www.ridemini.com. The zone mentioned, not already included in line #1, consists of East Meadow/Bellmore/Wantagh.

On 168th Street near Liberty Ave, there appears to be subway grates.

This really shouldn’t be an issue where they have a bus command center and GPS tracking of all buses. Pretty much, and when they were actually starting to have tangible service improvements, Cuomo runs Byford away... The MTA has to not only provide service, but improve intermodal transfers via timing and consideration. Especially, later in the evenings when the buses and trains run less frequently. They know where all the trains and buses are, they can’t hold for connections during certain times? (Especially terminal stations). Some buses have even longer than 20 min headway at times. I’ve also seen conductors quick to close the doors in the station when someone is running to the train when theres a gap in service for the next train. The conductor/T.O. should be aware of the train ahead and behind them to make supporting customer service decisions. If the doors are open and a train is coming in across the platform, and the next train behind you is in 15 mins, you may want to hold the doors to allow transfers. If you had heavy QBL trackwork delays and you have bunched or trains arriving at Jamaica Center/179th st, could they hold the buses for a few mins?