The East Side Access Project Discussion (ESA)

Judging by the statements contained in the meeting reports of the LIRR Board Committee the railroad appears to be very optimistic about ridership growth on the Atlantic Branch because of the opening of Barclay Center. I can't recall having seen anything suggesting the LIRR plans to sell part of the route. Why would they want to keep the eastern half?

As for the third track project, $203 million was allocated in the 2004-2009 capital budget for it. Local opposition (state senator Jack Martins in particular has been a staunch opponent), stalled the project. LIRR then decided, rather than let the money sit, use it for other projects, including smaller projects along the main line.

[Helene] Williams said the main line improvements will deliver some of the benefits of the third track plan, including expanded capacity on the main line, without the lengthy wait for full funding and approvals.

"The third track will, of course, remain one of our larger needs . . . But we're being realistic," she said. "The funding [$1.5 billion] is not available for that project. So the challenge to the railroad has been, What can we do to make improvements along the main line short of the third track?"

Link to news article

I think it will be interesting to see if the third track project makes it into the 2014-2019 capital budget. If it doesn't....

When will tracks and interlocking equipment be installed in the new tunnels?

Hard to tell. We're still quite a distance from that kind of stuff. I wouldn't expect too much on the track or signal front until late-2017.

Where exactly are the tunnel portals for the switches just west of the 63rd street bell mouth?

Look in the quarterly report, it should say it there.

Once East Side Access opens, will weekend Far Rockaway and Hempstead trains, which currently run to/from Atlantic Avenue, get diverted to Grand Central or Penn Station?

Thomas wrote:Once East Side Access opens, will weekend Far Rockaway and Hempstead trains, which currently run to/from Atlantic Avenue, get diverted to Grand Central or Penn Station?

It is one of many options, see this.

Which project is likely to take longer to get built than the other one: East Side Access or the Gateway Project?

ESA will be done in 2019, Gateway will not be started till around that time.

I meant which project will take longer to get built from start until finish?

we are not in business of predicting future Thomas.

How many entrances will the new platforms have once East Side Access opens?

None, they will all be exits ...

This summer structural work in HAROLD interlocking will result in nine trains either being annulled or cancelled at Jamaica from July 22nd through August 16th. One of the major things being done is the installation of big concrete slabs that will later be used in the new Westbound Bypass for Amtrak trains.

There's more information, an exact listing of which trains will be adjusted, and some photos of the Westbound Bypass at this link.

lirr42 wrote:his summer structural work in HAROLD interlocking will result in nine trains either being annulled or cancelled at Jamaica from July 22nd through August 16th. One of the major things being done is the installation of big concrete slabs that will later be used in the new Westbound Bypass for Amtrak trains.

There's more information, an exact listing of which trains will be adjusted, and some photos of the Westbound Bypass at this link.

This--of course--is very good news. But is this Harold Interlocking construction being coordinated with the new tunnel box for Amtrak's Gateway Project which is about to begin construction in just a few weeks?