SUBWAY - Random Thoughts Topic

[Bosco]

3 hours ago, Lance said:

It was probably cheaper when it was designed back in 2005. That's one of the drawbacks to large orders like the R160 or the upcoming R211, the inability to change the components mid-order as the technology becomes cheaper or goes in a different direction than it was when the order was created.

Plus, the FIND was one of the first spec changes.  The R160s originally were supposed to have the same strip maps as the R142/R143.  Back in the early 2000s, screen technology wasn't as cheap as it is now.  Prices only fell through the floor a few years ago.

[Union Tpke]

The On the Go Kiosks at Kew Gardens were turned on today.

Edited October 31, 2017 by Union Tpke

[paulrivera]

Earlier I was riding a northbound  past Fordham and I saw a  also heading north on the middle track (no it wasn’t an extended Burnside drop; it was 6pm and the Burnside drops start after 6:30)

The  had more riders on it by far. Thats why all the  experiments have failed: too many people use the local stops to make it worthwhile.

[CTK246]

38 minutes ago, paulrivera said:

Earlier I was riding a northbound  past Fordham and I saw a  also heading north on the middle track (no it wasn’t an extended Burnside drop; it was 6pm and the Burnside drops start after 6:30)

The  had more riders on it by far. Thats why all the  experiments have failed: too many people use the local stops to make it worthwhile.

Whatever happened to the express pilot?

[RestrictOnTheHanger]

On 10/29/2017 at 1:58 PM, N6 Limited said:

On the downtown express track at W4th street the T/O punches a button, but there are no switches until Canal St, where they punch again, so whats the point?

I'm curious about that too. Is it part of the W4 interlocking modernization?

[MHV9218]

You can actually skip that punch and just do Canal. Not supposed to, but not essential either. Happens a fair amount, as T/Os often overrun that box a little bit. I think it's the opposite of modernization, just a relic. 

Edited November 1, 2017 by MHV9218

[Bosco]

15 hours ago, CTK246 said:

Whatever happened to the express pilot?

1. The local stations that the  would bypass, especially around Prospect Park, have relatively high ridership.
2. The MTA is waiting until the Culver Rehab is done to even consider it.

[N6 Limited]

20 hours ago, Union Tpke said:

The On the Go Kiosks at Kew Gardens were turned on today.

What's that?

 

42 minutes ago, Bosco said:

1. The local stations that the  would bypass, especially around Prospect Park, have relatively high ridership.
2. The MTA is waiting until the Culver Rehab is done to even consider it.

This is why Bergen Lower level should re-open to provide a connection before the crosstown diverge.

[AdonisDimaggio]

3 minutes ago, N6 Limited said:

What's that?

That electronic screen where you can check the subway map, delayed trains, etc.

[N6 Limited]

3 minutes ago, AdonisDimaggio said:

That electronic screen where you can check the subway map, delayed trains, etc.

Ohh, I'm so used to them being in Manhattan stations I didn't know there was an official name.

[LGA Link N Train]

I have a random Question, depending on the branch line, is it possible to move capacity over from a trunk line into a branch. Take the Rockaway Beach Branch and QBL as an example 

[LGA Link N Train]

21 hours ago, Union Tpke said:

The On the Go Kiosks at Kew Gardens were turned on today.

I saw Kiosks at my home station at Rego Park 

[RR503]

45 minutes ago, LGA Link N train said:

I have a random Question, depending on the branch line, is it possible to move capacity over from a trunk line into a branch. Take the Rockaway Beach Branch and QBL as an example 

I don’t think I understand what you’re asking. Are you asking if you can add trains onto a branch from a main? If so, yes, of course you can  — if you couldn’t there would be no branching in our subway. 

If you’re asking if that is politically feasible, it depends/is complicated. In the RBB’s case, I’d think it’d be possible. 

[LGA Link N Train]

59 minutes ago, RR503 said:

I don’t think I understand what you’re asking. Are you asking if you can add trains onto a branch from a main? If so, yes, of course you can  — if you couldn’t there would be no branching in our subway. 

If you’re asking if that is politically feasible, it depends/is complicated. In the RBB’s case, I’d think it’d be possible. 

Ok thanks

[N6 Limited]

1 hour ago, RR503 said:

I don’t think I understand what you’re asking. Are you asking if you can add trains onto a branch from a main? If so, yes, of course you can  — if you couldn’t there would be no branching in our subway. 

If you’re asking if that is politically feasible, it depends/is complicated. In the RBB’s case, I’d think it’d be possible. 

It would be Ideal, from the standpoint that conga lines would be reduced if one of the locals branches off to Far Rockaway.

I wonder if there was track work on the QBL and all service was local if they could terminate the local trains at Howard Beach or something so that the  and  could run through unimpeded.

[N6 Limited]

So last night the  was running express, while the  was terminating at 34th St and so they had trains waiting for the  to clear before being able to proceed. Why don't they just switch the to the local track at 14th street until 34th street so that it's not held up?

[RR503]

13 minutes ago, N6 Limited said:

So last night the  was running express, while the  was terminating at 34th St and so they had trains waiting for the  to clear before being able to proceed. Why don't they just switch the to the local track at 14th street until 34th street so that it's not held up?

As circular as this sounds, because the  was running express. It usually goes local 96-Chambers but there was obviously some GO that had them going exp. 

[RR503]

29 minutes ago, N6 Limited said:

It would be Ideal, from the standpoint that conga lines would be reduced if one of the locals branches off to Far Rockaway.

I wonder if there was track work on the QBL and all service was local if they could terminate the local trains at Howard Beach or something so that the  and  could run through unimpeded.

What would happen to 67 ave? 

[N6 Limited]

1 hour ago, RR503 said:

As circular as this sounds, because the  was running express. It usually goes local 96-Chambers but there was obviously some GO that had them going exp. 

Interesting. The was still running local so it would have been nice if they could've switched tracks for a few stations for customer service purposes.

1 hour ago, RR503 said:

What would happen to 67 ave? 

It would get served by moving  and  trains, as opposed to a steady stream of chronically delayed trains because of terminating  service one station away while thru trains are running on the same track.

-----------------------------------------------

Speaking of which, if train traffic and track work are causing (synergistic) delays, why don't they increase headway and just tell people that service has been reduced to mitigate congestion and heavy delays in track work areas?

[RR503]

Interesting about the  — idk then. Maybe someone else will comment. 

...doink! I did not read your post fully. My apologies. Yes, then the  could be sent to Howard beach, the only issue being that it wouldn’t allow trains to head directly to Jamaica yard once terminated, and in terms of maintaining service, is farther away so would lengthen headways. 

Given that weekend/late night service is already atrocious, I think it’d be better to rationalize flagging rules, no? The fact trains have to crawl at 10 for about a quarter mile on all adjacent tracks seems arcane... there must be some sort of happy medium between what we have and what existed before. 

Edited November 1, 2017 by RR503

[N6 Limited]

16 minutes ago, RR503 said:

Interesting about the  — idk then. Maybe someone else will comment. 

...doink! I did not read your post fully. My apologies. Yes, then the  could be sent to Howard beach, the only issue being that it wouldn’t allow trains to head directly to Jamaica yard once terminated, and in terms of maintaining service, is farther away so would lengthen headways. 

Given that weekend/late night service is already atrocious, I think it’d be better to rationalize flagging rules, no? The fact trains have to crawl at 10 for about a quarter mile on all adjacent tracks seems arcane... there must be some sort of happy medium between what we have and what existed before. 

Yes Flagging rules need to be addressed. I think they started putting up barriers between tracks but they barely use them. Also they need to extend  service to 179th, or terminate them at Queens Plaza when all trains are using the same track.

[AdonisDimaggio]

Terminating at Queens Plaza might be a good idea. It does not seem like Forest Hills needs the extra  trains.  This will save you trains that you can put on the  for 96 St. Otherwise you can have them ready for the   when the  shutdown starts.

[RR503]

Terminating the  there normally is a terrible idea. You'd clog the interlocking with  trains snaking across 2 lanes of traffic to access the middle layup track. This is why the  was cut back -- too damn inefficient. 

[N6 Limited]

4 minutes ago, RR503 said:

Terminating the  there normally is a terrible idea. You'd clog the interlocking with  trains snaking across 2 lanes of traffic to access the middle layup track. This is why the  was cut back -- too damn inefficient. 

Normally, it's not a good idea, but during QBL track work it's great.  trains pull in on the local track at Queens plaza, it only has to cross the express track to get to the middle layup track. This should not be a problem on weekends where all Jamaica bound service uses one track.

 

31 minutes ago, AdonisDimaggio said:

Terminating at Queens Plaza might be a good idea. It does not seem like Forest Hills needs the extra  trains.  This will save you trains that you can put on the  for 96 St. Otherwise you can have them ready for the   when the  shutdown starts.

Forest Hills does not need the trains when the  and  run local. Both services run frequently enough that they provide sufficient service by themselves when both are running local. No need to add the  to clog up the tracks at Forest Hills while terminating.

[MysteriousBtrain]

Here's how I would handle service:

 

Normal between Forest Hills and Bay Ridge. Rush hours, add more than one train via Second Av. Add enough service so it can be marked on the map as an "extension" like the   and .