White Plains Station "Rebirth"

[excitebike]

As the March Mileposts headlines, White Plains is getting a significant makeover "rebirth":
http://web.mta.info/mnr/wp-reno/wp-reno.html
Unfortunately, it doesn't look like much in terms of capacity improvements will be done, and the station will continue to suffer from narrow platform widths towards the middle, where most people stand.
One interesting improvement is the lengthening of both the center and side platforms from their current 11-car lengths to 12 cars. Does anyone know why White Plains didn't originally get 12-car high platforms like all the other stations from Mt Vernon West to North White Plains? It's not like there wasn't room.

[truck6018]

Where does it say it's getting 12 car platforms? Currently they only hold 10 cars.

[Backshophoss]

As part of Phase 3 of the rebuild both the island and the side platform will be extended from the north end(toward N. White Plains)

[Kurt]

Sounds like lipstick on a pig.

[PC1100]

Does anyone know why White Plains didn't originally get 12-car high platforms like all the other stations from Mt Vernon West to North White Plains?

I don't believe the construction of the current White Plains station (completed in 1987, except the side platform which was later) was part of the same project that involved the reconstruction of the high level platforms at the other stations between Mt. Vernon West and North White Plains, which were done roughly between 1988 and 1990. As I understand it the White Plains station was reconstructed as part of a widening of Hamilton Avenue, whereas the others were done to replace the original 1971 asphalt surface high levels. White Plains did not have those as they were destroyed in a fire in 1972. I believe the replacements were cement construction in the style of the Hudson Line and Harlem Line stations in the Bronx. Does anyone know how many cars the original 1971 high level platforms held on the Mt. Vernon West-NWP section of the Harlem? Maybe it was constructed to be consistent with those platform lengths? One thing I always found interesting was that until a few years ago the White Plains station had platform signs affixed to the exterior walls of the station that were in the style of the old Penn Central/Conrail era, even though it was built after 1983.

[UpperHarlemLine4ever]

Nothing in any of the articles about the station mentions a 3rd track, which is sorely needed. Also the cost for this overhaul is $92 million. The entire Upper Harlem electrification project in 1984 cost $82 million (grant it, that is 1984 dollars, would be $121 million today)

[Backshophoss]

If there was room for a 3rd track,it was used for the high level platforms at White Plains .

[UpperHarlemLine4ever]

The original White Plains station was designed for 4 tracks as was the entire Harlem Line all the way to North White Plains. It was never done as a few things like WWI and financial issues came into the picture. The new station is super wide and if designed properly could easily accomodate 3 tracks.

[Ridgefielder]

The original White Plains station was designed for 4 tracks as was the entire Harlem Line all the way to North White Plains. It was never done as a few things like WWI and financial issues came into the picture. The new station is super wide and if designed properly could easily accomodate 3 tracks.

That's not strictly true. Parts were-- notably through Bronxville, and between Hartsdale and White Plains. But the stretch through downtown Scarsdale, including the station, is double-track with no extra room under the structures.

Would the new station really be able to accommodate more tracks, though? I didn't think there was enough room on the viaduct over Main St. and Hamilton Ave.

[UpperHarlemLine4ever]

If you look at old, old photos of Scarsdale, the northbound platform was moved out from the station wall. People had to walk on what I would call ramps to get to the platform. Remember the parkway wasn't there when the electrification took place. But lets not digress, there is room at White Plains for a 3rd track. It would take work to happen but it could be done AND a 3rd track id despirately needed, not just some outrageously expensive "renovations".

[UpperHarlemLine4ever]

56087a7548b4604c8fb8eb3e37dc503f--train-stations-circa.jpg (82.77 KiB) Viewed 6455 times

Here is one of several photos that shows the ramp and the gap incidentally the southbound platform was cement and the northbound was wooden slats.

[UpperHarlemLine4ever]

Scarsdale+front+side-020.jpg (666.07 KiB) Viewed 6451 times

Here is another.

[Backshophoss]

The Hamilton Ave bridge replacement is 2 track only,that project is what killed off the original NYC built White Plains station in a bid
to revitalize Downtown White Plains,by then the flashy skyscraper buildings in uptown had moved the city center north of Downtown.

[UpperHarlemLine4ever]

$92 million to rehab a station that will do nothing to increase capacity or improve service. Meanwhile in 1984 $82 million to electrify, add electrical substations and build some 12 or 13 high level platforms and thereby improve service.

[johndmuller]

The Harlem line is already three tracked up to Crestwood and continuing that on thru North White Plains would be beneficial to operations - allowing the diesels to run separate from the electrics in the peak direction through all the electric territory (at least some, if not all the diesels spend the off-peak at GCT, so there wouldn't be much if any impact on the off-peak traffic anyway). Electric expresses could of course share this track if desired.

Construction-wise, it seems that the space is there in the ROW all way from Crestwood to North White Plains. A few bridges for the 3rd track would be needed and some overpasses might need work if the third track cannot be made to miss their support pillars. The hassles would involve the stations, particularly White Plains, which hopefully is at least being future-proofed to the extent that stuff just now being added doesn't become part of the problem when adding a third (&/or fourth) track.

The Scarsdale station has some parking encroaching on the ROW in the space needed for a third track (and island platform), but not a large percentage of the available parking (which could itself be expanded). Hartsdale already has space between the existing tracks wide enough for another track, allowing the center track to pass through without platforming. If the option to service passengers from the third track was desired, the northbound platform could be shifted over to become an island platform instead.

North White Plains already can platform three tracks.

The White Plains station would need the most work. Both widening (at least somewhat) and double decking (to platform 3 or 4 tracks) appear feasible, although the package would have to include bridge modifications over the 2 main streets and the Bronx River. It looks entirely doable - hopefully none of this current project makes it any harder.