Metro-North to surpass LIRR to become nation's busiest rail lineo

[mark1447]

STAMFORD -- After more than three decades of gradual growth, Metro-North Railroad's total ridership is expected to surpass that of the Long Island Railroad in 2012 to become the nation's busiest rail line.

 

"It's good news that as we improve commuter service with new cars and other improvements that ridership has gone up," said Joseph McGee, vice president of public policy for the Fairfield County Business Council. "It confirms the fact that if you invest in and improve rail transportation, people will ride trains."

 

A higher than expected ridership growth of 2.1 percent on the New Haven Line from January through May helped Metro-North log 32.7 million passenger trips, beating Long Island Rail Road's total of 32.2 million trips during the same period, according to figures prepared for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board in July.

 

Long Island Railroad's 32.2 million trips represented a drop of 1.5 percent from the same period in 2010, according to the figures. Long Island Rail Road has long held the title as the busiest commuter rail line in North America.

 

"Metro-North's consistent growth goes hand in hand with steady improvements in service, both in frequency, efficiency, and reliability," Metro-North spokeswoman Marjorie Anders said. "With an on-time performance of 98 percent, our customers know they can rely on Metro-North."

 

Read more: http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/local/article/Metro-North-to-surpass-LIRR-to-become-nation-s-2171338.php#ixzz1Y3axD9MT

[Shortline Bus]

Thus another proof/reason IMO why Metro North needs 24/7 service. They need to run trains 'short trip' to Stamford, White Plains and Croton Harmon at least on Friday and Saturday nights between 2-5am.

 

Not to mention 1)run 30-minute service between New Haven & Stamford off peak (weekday middays 10am-2pm & saturday/sundays 8am-8pm)2)restore 'super express' Hudson Line weekday evenings to Poughkeepsie at least until 10pm.

[Nexis4Jersey]

When NJT completes a few expansions it will hit the number # 1 Spot , the MNRR will probably hold the number 2 spot. The Reason why the MNRR will hold the Number 2 spot over the LIRR is due to the fact that Westchester and CT are increasing the usage around stations which means less parking and more dense living. NJ is doing the same , But gains for now are small and mostly on the LRT network. However once the New expansions are completed hopefully later this decade that will shift from mostly LRT gains to Regional Rail gains.

[lilbluefoxie]

one thing metro north does right is, it is set up well for reverse commuting. All 3 lines serve major cities at both ends, NEw York City on the south end of course, the hudson line has Poughkipsee, the harlem line has White Plains, the new haven line has Stamford and New Haven. One thing you will find with the LIRR is that the eastern ends of the lines are often sleepy towns. None of the LIRR branches serve the commercial centers of Suffolk county. Melville, Hauppauge, Islandia, and Commack have no train station, the nearest ones being miles away. Other major centers like Riverhead have a bad joke of rail service. Nassau is slightly better, with Mineola getting a centrally located train station, same as Rockville Centre, and Valley Stream. However the Nassau Hub area lacks a train station and a large segment of Nassau County along the Hempstead Turnpike Corridor has no rail service as the line was ripped up in the 1940s to build Levittown.

 

The station oriented development is happening in some places already. Westbury has luxury apartments by the station for example. Im pretty sure between Lynbrook or Rockville centre, one of them has a similar arrangement, I dont remember exactly. Malverne and West Hempstead have the potential to be redeveloped similarly but they will need to restore proper service on that branch for it to happen.

[Joel Up Front]

Rockville Centre is the town with luxury apartments near the station. Ride a Babylon train and look towards the town itself, you'll see them and the billboards adveritising their location.

[Shortline Bus]

Rockville Centre is the town with luxury apartments near the station. Ride a Babylon train and look towards the town itself, you'll see them and the billboards adveritising their location.

 

 

Not just the LIRR with major stations in Nassau/Western Suffolk. They are also now 'new' luxury apartments/condos that have been or in process of being bulit that I know of at Metro North stations as well. They include the following which are all within a 10-15 minute walk. Yonkers, White Plains, Stamford, Bridgeport, New Haven, Beacon and Poughkeepsie.

Maybe someone else knows of a few more condos/luxury apartments being bulit at other MNRR stations as well.

[checkmatechamp13]

Not just the LIRR with major stations in Nassau/Western Suffolk. They are also now 'new' luxury apartments/condos that have been or in process of being bulit that I know of at Metro North stations as well. They include the following which are all within a 10-15 minute walk. Yonkers, White Plains, Stamford, Bridgeport, New Haven, Beacon and Poughkeepsie.

Maybe someone else knows of a few more condos/luxury apartments being bulit at other MNRR stations as well.

 

That's what we're discussing, though: The fact that the MNRR has more development around the stations that's helping it fuel the higher ridership.