Planned Subway Service Changes

[Far rockaway]

On 10/20/2023 at 8:41 PM, Lawrence St said:

That seems like a disaster waiting to happen. 

Instead of doing all that, have the  run to 96th St using fleet from the , and have the  run to Forest Hills using fleet from the . That  shuttle is also completely useless.

Why not just shut the  train down from astroia ditmars blvd to 57st-7th av instead of spliting it into two service. Is 39th ave really an ideal setup for shuttle buses to lineup.

[darkstar8983]

2 hours ago, Far rockaway said:

Why not just shut the  train down from astroia ditmars blvd to 57st-7th av instead of spliting it into two service. Is 39th ave really an ideal setup for shuttle buses to lineup.

Two comments (one directly to this) and one to a previous post:

 

1. Yes at this point, the  should only run from Times Sq-42 St to Coney Island, like it has run in previous GOs. The  will make the local stop at 49 St along with the  and the  will run normally. Running an isolated Astoria Shuttle that doesn't connect to anything doesn't help, but I'm sure the reason they're running it is because there aren't enough shuttle buses in the world to cover the full Astoria section of the  AND the majority of the  line. Remember that the  in addition to its usual Long Island City shuttle bus, the Queens Blvd / Roosevelt Av section of the  from 74 St Broadway to Queensboro Plaza is also out. You already have 3 shuttle bus routes running:

a. the 39 Av  to 36 St  shuttle bus

b. the 74 St-Broadway to Queens Plaza  shuttle bus

c. the Vernon/Jackson to Queens Plaza shuttle bus for the .

 

2. No service increases for Queens Blvd service during this weekend, and even if on paper it were proposed, it will be as useful as that  train was this past weekend (one train per hour). Remember that there's that 2-hour period where the  go local between Queens Plaza and 71 Av to allow work trains to move in and out of the 63 St tunnel. And even if that tunnel work is suspended for the Queensboro Plaza work, not enough train crews to run that service. Remember that the original proposal was to run the  via Queens Blvd, so that way the were express and the were local, but several issues prevented that:

a. 63 St tunnel work, restricting service to the local tracks anyways.

b. world-wide pandemic that has left a gap in available crews, so even if all other conditions optimal, you don't have the manpower to run the service.

c. CBTC on Queens Blvd and the need to supply the  with compatible rolling stock for the GO, meaning parking all the R68s in Coney Island Yard for that weekend and pulling out all spare R160s, then to only put them back in Jamaica Yard before the start of the next rush hour.

Edited October 25, 2023 by darkstar8983

[Chris89292]

48 minutes ago, darkstar8983 said:

Two comments (one directly to this) and one to a previous post:

 

1. Yes at this point, the  should only run from Times Sq-42 St to Coney Island, like it has run in previous GOs. The  will make the local stop at 49 St along with the  and the  will run normally. Running an isolated Astoria Shuttle that doesn't connect to anything doesn't help, but I'm sure the reason they're running it is because there aren't enough shuttle buses in the world to cover the full Astoria section of the  AND the majority of the  line. Remember that the  in addition to its usual Long Island City shuttle bus, the Queens Blvd / Roosevelt Av section of the  from 74 St Broadway to Queensboro Plaza is also out. You already have 3 shuttle bus routes running:

a. the 39 Av  to 36 St  shuttle bus

b. the 74 St-Broadway to Queens Plaza  shuttle bus

c. the Vernon/Jackson to Queens Plaza shuttle bus for the .

 

2. No service increases for Queens Blvd service during this weekend, and even if on paper it were proposed, it will be as useful as that  train was this past weekend (one train per hour). Remember that there's that 2-hour period where the  go local between Queens Plaza and 71 Av to allow work trains to move in and out of the 63 St tunnel. And even if that tunnel work is suspended for the Queensboro Plaza work, not enough train crews to run that service. Remember that the original proposal was to run the  via Queens Blvd, so that way the were express and the were local, but several issues prevented that:

a. 63 St tunnel work, restricting service to the local tracks anyways.

b. world-wide pandemic that has left a gap in available crews, so even if all other conditions optimal, you don't have the manpower to run the service.

c. CBTC on Queens Blvd and the need to supply the  with compatible rolling stock for the GO, meaning parking all the R68s in Coney Island Yard for that weekend and pulling out all spare R160s, then to only put them back in Jamaica Yard before the start of the next rush hour.

If the work is only being done at Queensboro plaza, why not just split the  in 2 services, one from Main Street to 74th street and the other from Hudson yards to hunters point avenue, why is this not possible….. my guess could be lack of yard access, but they could just send a few 188 sets to the south end of 34th street on the track storage, before work begins 

[Lawrence St]

18 hours ago, Chris89292 said:

If the work is only being done at Queensboro plaza, why not just split the  in 2 services, one from Main Street to 74th street and the other from Hudson yards to hunters point avenue, why is this not possible….. my guess could be lack of yard access, but they could just send a few 188 sets to the south end of 34th street on the track storage, before work begins 

Because there are multiple G.O's happening on the  at once.

Another reason why they should have held off on doing everything at once, because they just single handily screwed over all of Queens for this weekend only.

[Wallyhorse]

19 hours ago, darkstar8983 said:

b. world-wide pandemic that has left a gap in available crews, so even if all other conditions optimal, you don't have the manpower to run the service.

That pandemic caused many older workers (not just in transit) to retire en masse, some of whom retired up to 15 years before they originally had to because either they had long COVID and never recovered enough to return to work or feared getting COVID even if fully vaccinated.  That doesn't even take into account how many workers DIED from COVID, and some of those who retired were forced to due to long COVID.  We will be continuing to deal with the ripple effects of that pandemic for years to come. 

[RestrictOnTheHanger]

Press release

https://new.mta.info/press-release/mta-announces-weekend-services-changes-during-accessibility-upgrades-queens

 

trains will not operate between 34st - Hudson Yards and 74 St- Broadway.  trains will operate between Main St and 74 St-Broadway every eight minutes during weekend peaks. 
•  trains will be rerouted to operate between 96 St/2 Av and Stillwell Av  shuttle train will operate between Astoria-Ditmars Blvd and 39 Av every 12 minutes during the day. 

•  trains will operate every eight minutes instead of every 12 minutes between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m., a 50 percent increase to normal weekend service. 
• Overnight (E) trains will be rerouted via the (R) from Queens Plaza to 34 St-Herald Sq. 
• 42 St shuttle trains will operate all night between Times Square-42 St and Grand Central-42 St.

Between 12:01 a.m. on Saturday and 4:00 a.m. on Monday for the following weekends, these service changes will be in effect.

• Saturday, Nov. 18 – Monday, Nov. 20 
• Saturday, Jan. 6 – Monday, Jan. 8 
• Saturday, Jan. 13 – Monday, Jan. 15 
• Saturday, Jan. 20 – Monday, Jan. 22 
• Saturday, Jan. 27 – Monday, Jan. 29 
• Saturday, March 9 – Monday, March 11 
• Saturday, March 16 – Monday, March 18 
• Saturday, April 6 – Monday, April 8
 
Free shuttle buses will operate between: 
• 74 St-Broadway and Queens Plaza  
• Queens Plaza and Vernon Blvd-Jackson Av  
• 39 Av and Queens Plaza (There will also be a free walking transfer between the two stations.)  
• 34 St-Hudson Yards and Times Sq-42 St (Overnights only.) 
 

The Long Island Rail Road will cross honor MetroCard and OMNY for trips between Flushing, Mets-Willets Pt, Woodside on all trains and Penn Station or Grand Central Madison.

Edited October 27, 2023 by RestrictOnTheHanger

[slantfan4281]

I noticed there was a service change on the  where they suspended service north of Kings Highway and ran a shuttle between Kings Highway and CI. I'd imagine they wouldn't do this today, given the runtime length and confusion, but IIRC didn't they run through run the  via CI to Kings Highway at some point around 20 years ago under a similar GO? Any reason why they would have done that rather than split it into the shuttle segment like they do now?

[Lawrence St]

5 hours ago, RestrictOnTheHanger said:

Press release

https://new.mta.info/press-release/mta-announces-weekend-services-changes-during-accessibility-upgrades-queens

 

trains will not operate between 34st - Hudson Yards and 74 St- Broadway.  trains will operate between Main St and 74 St-Broadway every eight minutes during weekend peaks. 
•  trains will be rerouted to operate between 96 St/2 Av and Stillwell Av  shuttle train will operate between Astoria-Ditmars Blvd and 39 Av every 12 minutes during the day. 

•  trains will operate every eight minutes instead of every 12 minutes between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m., a 50 percent increase to normal weekend service. 
• Overnight (E) trains will be rerouted via the (R) from Queens Plaza to 34 St-Herald Sq. 
• 42 St shuttle trains will operate all night between Times Square-42 St and Grand Central-42 St.

Between 12:01 a.m. on Saturday and 4:00 a.m. on Monday for the following weekends, these service changes will be in effect.

• Saturday, Nov. 18 – Monday, Nov. 20 
• Saturday, Jan. 6 – Monday, Jan. 8 
• Saturday, Jan. 13 – Monday, Jan. 15 
• Saturday, Jan. 20 – Monday, Jan. 22 
• Saturday, Jan. 27 – Monday, Jan. 29 
• Saturday, March 9 – Monday, March 11 
• Saturday, March 16 – Monday, March 18 
• Saturday, April 6 – Monday, April 8
 
Free shuttle buses will operate between: 
• 74 St-Broadway and Queens Plaza  
• Queens Plaza and Vernon Blvd-Jackson Av  
• 39 Av and Queens Plaza (There will also be a free walking transfer between the two stations.)  
• 34 St-Hudson Yards and Times Sq-42 St (Overnights only.) 
 

The Long Island Rail Road will cross honor MetroCard and OMNY for trips between Flushing, Mets-Willets Pt, Woodside on all trains and Penn Station or Grand Central Madison.

I'm lost, why is the running on Broadway in the first place? If it's to provide service along 59th St, that's a very stupid idea. 

[MJHmarc]

5 minutes ago, Lawrence St said:

I'm lost, why is the running on Broadway in the first place? If it's to provide service along 59th St, that's a very stupid idea. 

Because the R doesn’t run overnight but overnight service is needed without the 7 or N so the E will cover it. 

[Lawrence St]

15 minutes ago, MJHmarc said:

Because the R doesn’t run overnight but overnight service is needed without the 7 or N so the E will cover it. 

Wouldn’t it make more sense to just run the  to Queens Plaza?

[RestrictOnTheHanger]

25 minutes ago, Lawrence St said:

Wouldn’t it make more sense to just run the  to Queens Plaza?

Probably easier to turn a train at 34th vs Queens plaza. Less conflicts and switching

[Calvin]

This weekend and next weekend:  trains are Shuttle trains. One is in Brooklyn from Coney Island and to/from Kings Highway. And another is between 34 St-Herald Square and 96 St/2 Av. 

Alternatives traveling from or to Manhattan and Brooklyn,  , or the  going to/from Brooklyn College-Flatbush Av and by Express buses (BM1 and BM4: up to Avenue J, BM3: up to Sheepshead Bay) 

[CyclonicTrainLookout]

 service will be suspended and replaced by free shuttle buses between Crescent St and Broadway Junction due to urgent track repairs during midday hours this Wednesday and Thursday, Nov 15-16.

 

Additionally during late night hours this whole week, Jamaica-bound  will run over the and  will run over the  to/from 34-Herald Sq also due to urgent track repairs.  will stop at 14 and 23 Sts during this time.

[Wallyhorse]

5 hours ago, CyclonicTrainLookout said:

 service will be suspended and replaced by free shuttle buses between Crescent St and Broadway Junction due to urgent track repairs during midday hours this Wednesday and Thursday, Nov 15-16.

 

Additionally during late night hours this whole week, Jamaica-bound  will run over the and  will run over the  to/from 34-Herald Sq also due to urgent track repairs.  will stop at 14 and 23 Sts during this time.

I presume work in the 53rd Street tunnel or between there and QP?

[4P3607]

Check out the first weekend of December 1st to 4th... suspended the entire weekend, no Jay - Utica just like planned a few months ago before incliment weather and flooding resulted in that being cancelled at the time.

(Apologies if it was already mentioned, I went back a few pages and didn't see anything about this)

[Wallyhorse]

3 hours ago, 4P3607 said:

Check out the first weekend of December 1st to 4th... suspended the entire weekend, no Jay - Utica just like planned a few months ago before incliment weather and flooding resulted in that being cancelled at the time.

(Apologies if it was already mentioned, I went back a few pages and didn't see anything about this)

This is where if the is 8-car trains, I would look to have it run 168-Broadway Junction on the  where it would be an alternative to transferring from the to the at 14th and back to the at Broadway Junction.   

[JustTheSIR]

On 11/14/2023 at 1:20 AM, Wallyhorse said:

This is where if the is 8-car trains, I would look to have it run 168-Broadway Junction on the  where it would be an alternative to transferring from the to the at 14th and back to the at Broadway Junction.   

How?

[Wallyhorse]

8 hours ago, JustTheSIR said:

How?

It would go south of West 4 to the 6th Avenue line (there are switches between the local tracks), stopping at Broadway-Lafayette on the .  From there, it would operate via the to Essex-Delancey and then via the to Broadway Junction.  

[Kamen Rider]

2 hours ago, Wallyhorse said:

It would go south of West 4 to the 6th Avenue line (there are switches between the local tracks), stopping at Broadway-Lafayette on the .  From there, it would operate via the to Essex-Delancey and then via the to Broadway Junction.  

better question would be WHY?

I checked. That's not in the computers. 

The C has 480 foot long trains, because the shop at 207, for reasons beyond any mere mortal understanding, can't take 600 foot ones. 

[Wallyhorse]

25 minutes ago, Kamen Rider said:

better question would be WHY?

As noted, having the in a GO like this operate to Broadway Junction on the would give those wanting to head to Queens and JFK in particular would be able to do it as a two-seat ride instead of three on the   that includes a shuttle bus.  As the is 480' trains, it can be done.  Also, anyone who was going to Broadway Junction would in that scenario would be able to do it from CPW as a one-seat ride instead of the usual two. 

[Danavigata]

13 hours ago, Wallyhorse said:

As noted, having the in a GO like this operate to Broadway Junction on the would give those wanting to head to Queens and JFK in particular would be able to do it as a two-seat ride instead of three on the   that includes a shuttle bus.  As the is 480' trains, it can be done.  Also, anyone who was going to Broadway Junction would in that scenario would be able to do it from CPW as a one-seat ride instead of the usual two. 

I don’t hate this at all! I would actually welcome it 

[darkstar8983]

39 minutes ago, Danavigata said:

I don’t hate this at all! I would actually welcome it 

It sounds practical and remember that we had the  to 145 St GO (when the entire Broadway/7 Av Line was closed from 137 St to Atlantic Av-Barclays Center) and the  to 168 St GO (when the 8 Av Line from 59 St-Columbus Circle to Jay St-MetroTech was closed), both of which happened when the  was still running to 96 St/2 Av on weekends and evenings due to the  train project. So running some form of a  service from 168 St to West 4  St, then via the  to Myrtle Av-Broadway, then ending at Broadway Jct on the  line is possible. Maybe this could be coupled with a "No  train between Essex St and Broad St GO", or a "No  between Broadway Junction and Crescent St/ Jamaica Center GO"

[Chris89292]

Does anyone know why the  can’t run in 2 sections, especially tomorrow, where service can still be served between Manhattan and queens between 34th Steeet and Hunters point Avenue, if this pattern is possible during heavy snow storm conditions, then why isn’t it implemented as a GO service?

[Kamen Rider]

27 minutes ago, Chris89292 said:

Does anyone know why the  can’t run in 2 sections, especially tomorrow, where service can still be served between Manhattan and queens between 34th Steeet and Hunters point Avenue, if this pattern is possible during heavy snow storm conditions, then why isn’t it implemented as a GO service?

Because of what we call “Piggybacking”, other work is being done.

 

also with above ground winter storm shutdowns, we don’t always turn the trains around there, many do continue outside.
 

that’s just where we kick everyone off.

[Kamen Rider]

On 11/15/2023 at 8:11 PM, Wallyhorse said:

As noted, having the in a GO like this operate to Broadway Junction on the would give those wanting to head to Queens and JFK in particular would be able to do it as a two-seat ride instead of three on the   that includes a shuttle bus.  As the is 480' trains, it can be done.  Also, anyone who was going to Broadway Junction would in that scenario would be able to do it from CPW as a one-seat ride instead of the usual two. 

If they want JFK, take the E…