LIRR - Metro-North connections over the Hell Gate Bridge

I was not talking about Sunnyside AT ALL. Everything I've read and heard is it's a non-starter, and would hinder operations. It was dropped a long time ago.

As for transfer from GCT to LIRR, that's a positive, but a link bypassing Manhattan would be a big winner. Remember, LIRR GCT is a DEEP CAVERN; transfer would NOT be convenient.

It would be great if there was a link bypassing Manhattan. I don't want to get too far off topic though but I know that there was talk about reactivating the old Bay Ridge Branch.

njt/mnrrbuff wrote: ↑Sun May 10, 2020 11:31 pm It would be great if there was a link bypassing Manhattan. I don't want to get too far off topic though but I know that there was talk about reactivating the old Bay Ridge Branch.

There is talk about the MTA reactivating the Bay Ridge Branch for passenger service, as well as Triboro RX's proposal. Maybe there can be a passenger terminal at the end of that line and it could be used for LIRR or even Metro North service (not likely for the latter) in order to get passengers deep into Brooklyn. There is also a proposal on another discussion on the LIRR thread about something known as Trans Regional Express (T-REX) which had a few through rail lines which went straight down Manhattan, and connected Atlantic Terminal Brooklyn to Hoboken without stopping at Penn or Grand Central. One of its many proposals is that ESA could be used as a throughway to connect Long Island with the Jersey loop line, essentially going straight through manhattan without stopping at Penn.

Admin Note: copied this portion from the ESA topic in the LIRR forum to discuss a direct connection between the LIRR and MNRR to bypass Manhattan/NYP/GCT over the Hell Gate Bridge and the New Haven Line.

photobug56 wrote: ↑Tue May 05, 2020 3:52 pm SNIP

In regards to ESA allowing access from LIRR to MN without going via Penn, sure. It might save about 40 minutes a day typically. But for someone in diesel country needing to go to say White Plains, instead of being say, a 6 hour round trip via Penn, LIRR, 2 subways, maybe it's now only 5 1/4 hour round trip. We don't just need the extra capacity of the 3rd track plus ESA, we also need direct connections from LIRR to MN. Imagine, for instance, changing to a train at Jamaica that use the Hellgate Bridge to connect you to points north of the city, or at least a transfer point in the Bronx to each of the MN lines. Right now, lots of Long Islanders have to commute to North of the city, and the only way is by a 3 or 4 AM drive by car, leaving by 2 or 3PM to go home (and even that's really late for heading towards Long Island).

It would be great for Metro North/LIRR to travel on a 4th track over the Hell Gate Bridge. I doubt it would get 3rd rail, just cat wire which eliminates LIRR.

Lirr would run diesels.

Diesel electric over the Hell Gate?

My impression is the loading gauge does not accommodate this - the freight track doesn't leave clearance, right?
Why aren't the two tracks enough? Surely we are not running more than 20tph.

Why not a connection off the Bay Ridge to the LIRR? It doesn't look like too much of a stretch. Although the turn would be tight, it could be done with a flyover perhaps.