Head End,
thanks. glad to know the dementia has not yet kicked in
but even with split service why not use the main tracks for the main city services
and have the "less common" ie diesel drop off or pickup use 4 and 5 or if really really crowded then the new platform F
statistically i am guessing that there are far more opportunities for cross platform transfers between trains on electric lines (ie penn GCT and Brooklyn which as i recall is used a lot by folks in lower manhattan) than there are for cross platform transfers for a smaller number of diesel runs
i think (my opinion only) that by keeping say 1 GCT 2 Penn 3 FBA and the few diesels on 4-5
far fewer people would be inconvenienced by an up and over trek than would be if all FBA is over on platform F
and even with ESA - can it be that there are absolutely zero trains that could not run thru to FBA at least in rush hours??
in non rush they could have the FBA shuttles leave from 3
and if there was a diesel connection - maybe there would be room for that behind the FBA shuttle on 3
(in non rush or weekends are not many trains shorter? so like at huntington maybe two trains could use 3)
just my rambling thoughts......