by Commuter X
Is spending $5M worth it to renovate a station that is heavily used one day per year?
Railroad Forums
Moderator: Liquidcamphor
Handtamp wrote:There has to be more to it.Do you have any information that the NYRA intends on using Belmont for other large events?
Spending 5+ million dollars on track improvements, 2 new high level 10 car platforms, associated building and 3rd rail work for 1 large event, and other smaller events doesn't seem like a great investment.
However, upgrading the infrastructure with the intention of hauling larger crowds on a consistent basis from a new facility seems like a wise investment.
We shall see.
GooStats wrote:I am making my first trip to Belmont on Saturday, so I have some questions:You won't make the 7:33PM train. We barely made the 8:33PM train out of QV.. Granted we hung around a while but the crowds just to get off the premises can take close to 30 minutes.
1. With Hempstead Branch service being reduced, do you think I can get out of the racetrack area quickly enough to make the 7:33 PM out of Queens Village?
2. Somebody already bought me a round trip ticket from NYP- Jamaica. Could I use that at Queens Village (yes I know City Ticket is much cheaper)?
Thank you for any and all help.
MACTRAXX wrote:3 - Good observation about adding westbound trains to serve QV on this Saturday evening of the Belmont Stakes - with a portion of race attendees opting to get on trains there the LIRR should have extra trains stopping there between 6 and 9 PM to back up the regular hourly Hempstead Branch service...It's not hourly. They cut Hempstead service to every two hours that day.
Commuter X wrote:Is spending $5M worth it to renovate a station that is heavily used one day per year?Welllll -- there is a plan afoot to build a soccer stadium at Belmont for the Cosmos. How 'bout that, sportsfans?
alchemist wrote:Don't hold your breath in the land of NIMBY and BANANACommuter X wrote:Is spending $5M worth it to renovate a station that is heavily used one day per year?Welllll -- there is a plan afoot to build a soccer stadium at Belmont for the Cosmos. How 'bout that, sportsfans?
New Service Plan
While the design, demolition and reconstruction continued apace, Nowakowski and his transportation team devised a new service plan to speed trains in and out of Belmont Park Station, where, until now, inbound and outbound trains shared one track leading to Jamaica Station. To better handle the surge of fans leaving en masse after the Belmont Stakes, the LIRR will position empty trains along one track of the nearby Hempstead Branch, using a connecting spur to move them into Belmont Park Station for loading at the same time that fully loaded are leaving for Jamaica.
In prior years, the Railroad used only the west leg of the track configuration known as the Belmont Wye, which allowed just one train in or out of the station at a time, requiring trains to await track space to enter and exit Belmont. As a result of this improvement, which employs both east and west legs of the Wye, regular Hempstead Branch service will be reduced from hourly to every two hours from 3 p.m. until about 10 p.m. on Belmont Stakes Day. Still, Nowakowski said it will not be possible to transport everyone from Belmont at the same time and the wait is still likely to take two hours or more.
“We are working hard to do better,” he added. “All we can we request of customers is their understanding and patience.”
The renewal of Belmont Park Station, which was completed in just five months, was buttressed by a $1 million investment by the New York Racing Association (NYRA) to restore the covered bridge that connects the station to the racetrack. The LIRR’s investment was $4 million.
Christopher Kay, CEO and President of the New York State Racing Association said, “For nearly a year, the New York Racing Association and the Long Island Rail Road have worked together in a true collaborative partnership for all fans traveling to beautiful Belmont Park. Today, the seeds of those efforts stand in full bloom, with the opening of this new, modernized Belmont Station. I would like to personally recognize and thank President Patrick Nowakowski, as well as all of the men and women who tirelessly worked to make today’s grand opening possible.”
MACTRAXX wrote:CVR:
1 - I would allow a 30 minute walk to QV and depending when the Belmont Stakes race gets underway -
I would leave BP as soon as possible and not linger after the race if you want to catch the 7:33 PM train
westbound from QV and getting out of the parking areas and out to Hempstead Turnpike on foot would
be the key here - if AP wins the race fans may linger longer and would help your cause...
2 - Going to Bellerose - which is a Zone 4 station - would present a fare problem because not only would
City Tickets not be available or valid here the fare is higher - $8.25 off peak one way - and with a Zone 3
off peak one way you would have to pay a step up charge to ride that extra stop...
3 - Good observation about adding westbound trains to serve QV on this Saturday evening of the Belmont
Stakes - with a portion of race attendees opting to get on trains there the LIRR should have extra trains
stopping there between 6 and 9 PM to back up the regular hourly Hempstead Branch service...
4 - If you plan on traveling to Queens Village and use the $4.25 City Ticket keep in mind that these must
be purchased and are valid only on the date of sale and can not be bought in advance...These tickets are
available beginning at 12:01 AM and are valid until 4 AM of the following day...If not you can pay $14.50
for a Zone 3 off peak round trip to QV - this would be $6 more then two City Tickets would cost but no
doubt would be better then paying the $13 off peak one way on board penalty charge...
Another thought would be using the NYP ticket office - instead of using a TVM - on Saturday in which one
can specifically ask for the "City Ticket to Queens Village" and purchase two for $8.50 for a round trip...
That's my thoughts here - MACTRAXX