Empire Service to GCT Summer 2017

[brianpmcdonnell17]

http://www.lohud.com/story/news/transit/2017/05/18/amtrak-grand-central/328515001/

Metro-North now has officially stated that Amtrak will use GCT for 3 daily trains in each direction during part of the summer, although the exact train numbers were not specified. The article also stated that MNRR guide crews will be used over this portion of the route.

 

[PVD]

And now the whiteboard olympics can officially begin....

What creates the longest work windows?

Will MNRR provide power, or will AMTRAK convert a few P32 to underunning and keep them on the center tracks (no rear door on P32, no nose hatch for exit on Amtrak version no clearance to escape in emergency on outer tracks)

Which trains connect the most passengers to the South, LD and NEC?

Restocking of cafe issues for certain trains....

 

[jis]

My guess is that no train that requires cafe restocking will go to GCT. They will be three ALB - New York - ALB links.

 

[Dutchrailnut]

restocking a cafe car takes at most a push card with 20 or so boxes , its not like they restock a friggin ocean liner.

 

[Thirdrail7]

And now the whiteboard olympics can officially begin....

What creates the longest work windows?

Will MNRR provide power, or will AMTRAK convert a few P32 to underunning and keep them on the center tracks (no rear door on P32, no nose hatch for exit on Amtrak version no clearance to escape in emergency on outer tracks)

Which trains connect the most passengers to the South, LD and NEC?

Restocking of cafe issues for certain trains....

It is not likely the last three in or out would use GCT. Two of the three are long distance trains that run off peak. They also turn for early morning departures which again, means they aren't in the thick of it. What you are "probably" going to see are manipulations so trains that run exclusively between ALB-NYP-ALB will go to GCT (with the possible Friday exception of Ethan Allen) so they don't dwell or tie up the tracks to SSYD. That includes trains like 233,235,230,236 (etc.)

There is an important junction between the 9th Ave and 10th Ave signal bridges that allows access to the higher tracks and lower tracks from the North River tunnels. When work begins on those tracks, not only will you lose access to certain station tracks, you will lose the ability to get from one side of the station to the other. In operational terms, if a train enters from the south tube of the North River tunnels, that train will not be able to leave the station in the north tube. It will HAVE to leave in the south tube. The same goes for the north tube. If a train enters from the north tube, it will only be able to access the north tube. If you fill up the station, you will have to wait for things to clear before you can send in more trains, which will result in single tracking in some cases or flip flopping the current of traffic in the tunnels to loosen up the station.

This is compounded by something no one seems to mention. For the last few weeks, they are taking one of the East River tunnels out of service between 10am and roughly 2pm for midday repairs. This reduces capacity heading east and hinders looping trains. This seriously impacts the Empire trains as they would have to "swing" on the east end of the station to access Line 3 so the train can be looped. This is why some of the midday Albany trains were running pull/pull (so they can turn in the station) and this is why it may be easier to just run the service to GCT. With leads out, you can't have a train hogging a track for hours. Another thing on the table is a possible 63/69 combo (on 63's schedule) so there is more space in NYP when tracks are not accessible.

As for the routing, I believe the pending arrangement calls for trains to operate 1 and/or 2 track (center) to GCT. Upon arrival, the train will loop. After completion, they will shut down the diesel until a few minutes prior to departure.

 

[jis]

restocking a cafe car takes at most a push card with 20 or so boxes , its not like they restock a friggin ocean liner.

Yup. The issue usually is getting the said cafe cart to the right place. Of course such can be done. But when there are a bunch of possible trains to choose from that do not require such ... you know the KISS principle, don't you?

 

[PVD]

The process of stocking the car isn't the problem, it is where the cart and boxes come from. The contractors who provide stocking services will not provide the service without getting paid to establish temporary facilities. Right now it's SSYD or bust.

 

[jis]

The process of stocking the car isn't the problem, it is where the cart and boxes come from. The contractors who provide stocking services will not provide the service without getting paid to establish temporary facilities. Right now it's SSYD or bust.

Aren't Acelas restocked at NYP? Or have they discontinued that practice?

 

[PVD]

I'm not sure, there certainly was one historically I think they still do. With some of them originating there, it makes sense. But that doesn't help the GCT situation.

 

[Triley]

Regionals are loaded in the yard, and partially stripped in the station. Can not speak to the Acelas, but yes there is an on-site commissary, that's all that matters. However...this all is irrelevant as we are talking about GCT, which Aramark does not service. Regardless, it's already been said that it's going to be trains with no cafe car, so what's the point of worrying about it anyway?

 

[jis]

Regionals are loaded in the yard, and partially stripped in the station. Can not speak to the Acelas, but yes there is an on-site commissary, that's all that matters. However...this all is irrelevant as we are talking about GCT, which Aramark does not service. Regardless, it's already been said that it's going to be trains with no cafe car, so what's the point of worrying about it anyway?

This is AU. Here we sometimes even worry about what could happen if trains traveled faster than the speed of light too. LOL

 

[railiner]

The process of stocking the car isn't the problem, it is where the cart and boxes come from. The contractors who provide stocking services will not provide the service without getting paid to establish temporary facilities. Right now it's SSYD or bust.

Aren't Acelas restocked at NYP? Or have they discontinued that practice?

I don't know how things are done now, but NYP used to have its own commissary, and NYG also had a mini-commissary, when the Empire Service was based there.

In addition, Amtrak operated its own commissary truck, between SSYD and the other two locations, to supply them. I suppose they still have that, and it could be sent over to GCT if necessary...most likely, it would not be, if trains were fully stocked in Albany for the round trip.

 

[PVD]

I thought they closed Albany more than 10 years ago, and were talking a year or so ago about re opening a restock center, did that actually happen? It is a vastly different landscape since the Amtrak at GCT days, first Gate Gourmet and now Aramark handle the commissaries, it is not just an Amtrak operation. But as others have pointed out, it is likely to be non food serving trains in the mix, so it likely won't matter.

 

[railiner]

I thought they closed Albany more than 10 years ago, and were talking a year or so ago about re opening a restock center, did that actually happen? It is a vastly different landscape since the Amtrak at GCT days, first Gate Gourmet and now Aramark handle the commissaries, it is not just an Amtrak operation. But as others have pointed out, it is likely to be non food serving trains in the mix, so it likely won't matter.

Boy am I behind the times...23 years since I left....

 

[jis]

Right. No Commissary at Albany, and no train that requires cafe stocking will be running to Grand Central. So problem solved.

 

[PRR 60]

End of 2017 discussion.