Monday, July 1, 2013

MTA Is At It Again

A press release from the MTA explains that already abused train riders are promised more punishment starting today. The MTA, who has no problem taxing Westchester County for more funds they will surely mismanage, is planning on doing required track work during the summer months. They recently announced that they were adding off-peak trains to address increased ridership. Next year we’re sure they ask for a fare increase saying they needed to do upgrades and that bill is due.

ABG has maintained that instead of increasing off-peak trains, they should increase the current trains by one car and add more peak trains. That would address the real issue of congestion and over-crowding. Another thing should be the upgrading of equipment, during night hours when the trains are not running, which would improve on-time performance.

This proposed work will basically affect all surrounding areas that have MTA track. Since the work has begun today, many who are reading this post may be doing it from either a platform while wondering where there train is, or, while on the train wondering while they are moving so slowly. You may recall we posted previously that ABG’s belief of why the MTA added trains during off-peak was to improve their on-time arrival numbers. A smart move from this mismanaged and poorly performing “public” entity.

So, Metro-North will cancel three local morning peak trains, two on the New Haven Line and one on the Harlem Line, for nine weeks beginning Monday, July 1. Other scheduling alterations will also be made. Here’s what you can expect:

Harlem Line:
The 8:03 a.m. local train from Mount Vernon West to Grand Central Terminal will not operate. Several other trains will make additional stops at Bronx stations to accommodate riders of this train, up to 15 minutes earlier than the train not operating.
Nine other morning peak trains will be adjusted up to three minutes, or travel time will be up to four minutes slower to make additional stops to accommodate customers of the train not operating.
Three afternoon peak trains will be adjusted up to three minutes.
Travel time of two inbound off-peak trains will be up to three minutes slower.

New Haven Line:
The 7:35 a.m. train from Port Chester, due at Grand Central Terminal at 8:18 a.m., will be combined with the 7:09 a.m. from New Canaan, resulting in a two-minute longer ride for the New Canaan train’s customers.
The 8:30 a.m. train from New Rochelle, due at Grand Central Terminal at 9:05 a.m., will not operate. Customers who ride this train may take the 8:15 a.m. from New Rochelle or the 8:08 a.m. train from Stamford instead.
One a.m. peak train will operate three minutes earlier and one minute slower.
Seven afternoon peak trains will be adjusted by one or two minutes, and one additional p.m. peak train will operate six minutes later but four minutes faster.
One inbound off-peak train will operate two minutes later, and travel time will be one minute slower for two other inbound off-peak trains.

Hudson Line:
One AM Peak train, the 9 a.m. departing from Croton Harmon, will operate two minutes later at all of its stops.
Travel time for two other morning peak trains will be one minute slower.

Several evening and late night trains will see their schedules adjusted up to 22 minutes earlier or later, seven days per week, to accommodate the next phase of the New York State stations rehabilitation project from Larchmont through Harrison.

The canceled trains should resume their regular schedule run time beginning after Labor Day. Track work includes drainage improvements, tie replacements, fencing repairs and general cleanup. A two-year, approximately $11 million drainage project will also begin during this time between Melrose and Woodlawn.

ABG wishes our readers forced to ride the MTA trains well.

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