Amtrak Empire Service (New York State)

[hs3730]

From the MARC car thread on LIRR board:

on another board it was noted that Amtrak will not be needing the MARC cab cars as sufficient P32acdm's will be modified with escape hatch .
they will all be returned within a few weeks

Does this mean that they will not push-pull into GCT and will instead use the loops?

[Railjunkie]

From what Ive heard we will use the cab cars on some trains most likely locals till the shop finishes putting in the emergency evac doors. Cab cars should be gone by late June early July. Trains that have dual modes with the evac doors will be looped.

[ryanov]

Amtrak has now fixed their website, but when I went to book a trip a couple of weeks ago for July on the Lakeshore Limited, there was a very strange train that indicated it ran from NYP to NYG as the transfer option, and I think the number was 2230 and that it left at 8:30a only -- something like that. It now correctly warns you that there's a self transfer.

[GirlOnTheTrain]

there was a very strange train that indicated it ran from NYP to NYG as the transfer option, and I think the number was 2230 and that it left at 8:30a only -- something like that. It now correctly warns you that there's a self transfer.

IRT 7th Ave to TSQ shuttle with fantastic headways - thank you for riding MTA New York City Transit, and have a great day

[Noel Weaver]

Here are a couple more tidbits: On Saturday, May 26th, there will be no equipment in GCT for the first two trains out (63 and 69) so these two trains are slated to leave from Penn Station. All of the DM's are slated to get nose doors so the MDOT cab cars will only be used as required until enough diesels are available to cover all of the trains which will probably involved part of June. Trains 48 and 49 will operated to and from Boston and trains of this size have not regularly operated on the B & A since the days of the New England States in the New York Central days. I remember riding the New England States out of Boston to Chicago in the fall of 1962 and it was a first class operation at that time in every respect. Great people, clean cars, on time all the way, great dining car with very good food, class all the way. That year my return was on the PRR and the train was terrible in every respect.
Noel Weaver

[UpperHarlemLine4ever]

No Lake Shore from New York. Typical railroad scam that they've done for years to eliminate a train. 47 years ago, Penn Central/SCL wanted to eliminate a New York to Florida train. The ICC turned down their petition. They turned around and split the train into 2 sections, New York Penn to Washington and Washinton to Florida. They didn't guarantee the connection and low and behold the Florida section would pull out as the Washington section would arrive from New York. Within a few months, the ICC granted a new petition to eliminate the train. Here you'll have people getting frustrated because of a train change and they'll say "Forget this, I'll fly." Ridership will collapse and the LSL will be gone. Anderson will have gotten his way by getting rid of another long distance train.

[Railjunkie]

No Lake Shore from New York. Typical railroad scam that they've done for years to eliminate a train. 47 years ago, Penn Central/SCL wanted to eliminate a New York to Florida train. The ICC turned down their petition. They turned around and split the train into 2 sections, New York Penn to Washington and Washinton to Florida. They didn't guarantee the connection and low and behold the Florida section would pull out as the Washington section would arrive from New York. Within a few months, the ICC granted a new petition to eliminate the train. Here you'll have people getting frustrated because of a train change and they'll say "Forget this, I'll fly." Ridership will collapse and the LSL will be gone. Anderson will have gotten his way by getting rid of another long distance train.

This was the plan long before Mr Anderson came to power. GCT no longer has the facilities to service long distance trains. Getting sheets blankets ect from Sunnyside to GCT would likely be a logistical problem. Lets see what happens in Sept.

[UpperHarlemLine4ever]

The final plans for this summer's Empire Service were just recently completed. Regardless, Anderson will have a victory when the LSL is eliminated. He wants basically only corridor trains, with the ultimate elimination of all transcontinental trains. Taxpayer money is being spent on new dining cars which may never be used and new train stations which may not have trains stopping at them.

[Rockingham Racer]

The final plans for this summer's Empire Service were just recently completed. Regardless, Anderson will have a victory when the LSL is eliminated. He wants basically only corridor trains, with the ultimate elimination of all transcontinental trains. Taxpayer money is being spent on new dining cars which may never be used and new train stations which may not have trains stopping at them.

That's not what he said. He said there's room for experiential trains, though not with much enthusiasm. He did not say which ones, and how often experiential trains should run. Now, that could be once-a-week service, as in Australia.

[Railjunkie]

The final plans for this summer's Empire Service were just recently completed. Regardless, Anderson will have a victory when the LSL is eliminated. He wants basically only corridor trains, with the ultimate elimination of all transcontinental trains. Taxpayer money is being spent on new dining cars which may never be used and new train stations which may not have trains stopping at them.

The LSL plan was set up this past winter. How might I know?? Well it effected my job... Albany wanted to run trains as far as Yonkers and return. Metro North said they couldnt handle the influx of passengers. So about 50 engineers and conductors are now qualified to GCT. This has been the plan since sometime in Feburary or March.

I for one hope the train comes back if not there will be quite a few furloughs in the Albany and Buffalo crew bases, not to count the on boars service crews..

[jhdeasy]

Do not expect to see many private cars on Amtrak in New York State this summer.

No private cars allowed south of ALB during the diversion to/from GCT, by mutual agreement of Amtrak and Metro North.

Private cars allowed on/off at ALB on only those trains that change locomotives at ALB. That means no Rutland and no Niagara Falls. Montreal, Toronto, Boston and Chicago should be okay.

[JimBoylan]

That could mean that Private Cars will only be handled on the head ends of trains if the cars are to be switched at Albany.

[Gilbert B Norman]

I for one hope the train comes back if not there will be quite a few furloughs in the Albany and Buffalo crew bases, not to count the on boars service crews..

Mr. Junkie, I'd guess some assignments have been abolished, and has that resulted in any furloughs? Did they maybe just "fatten up" the Extra Board a bit? I'd guess you have been in Engine service now long enough to be safe.

[Railjunkie]

I for one hope the train comes back if not there will be quite a few furloughs in the Albany and Buffalo crew bases, not to count the on board service crews..

Mr. Junkie, I'd guess some assignments have been abolished, and has that resulted in any furloughs? Did they maybe just "fatten up" the Extra Board a bit? I'd guess you have been in Engine service now long enough to be safe.

Ive been on two jobs that have been abolished in the past month. First a job I held for 8 years and one just finished tonight. However I have a spot to land for the summer. With this GCT stuff going on this summer there will be two boards in Albany for T&E. One for GCT and a west board for everything else. Short on one side overly full on the other.

There are two engineers set back to conductor and Ive heard of no plans on furloughs, YET.

[Amtrak706]

So here’s a question: after 48 comes in tonight for the last time, is there a plan to get the equipment up to Rensselaer somehow? Is there anything else in Sunnyside that will be stranded?