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Discussion relating to the operations of MTA MetroNorth Railroad including west of Hudson operations and discussion of CtDOT sponsored rail operations such as Shore Line East and the Springfield to New Haven Hartford Line

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 #1620786  by Traingeek3629
 
Silverliner II wrote: Sun Apr 23, 2023 9:42 am I would guess any through trains from OSB or New London would still be the usual 4-car sets, but express from New Haven, with just the stops the former Stamford-extended trains did (if any), and then nonstop to 125th and GCT.
I could see 6-car sets being used. Those trains would have decent ridership and already get to 40-60% full (depends on the day) when they use a 5 car set. The most popular one is 3546, which is the one with an SLE connection.
 #1620821  by west point
 
When Amtrak was installing CAT from NHV - BOS there were a lot of bridge relocations, raseings, removals and rehabs. Wonder why this bridge or impediment got missed?
 #1620951  by ElectricTraction
 
Jeff Smith wrote: Sun Apr 23, 2023 8:30 amSeems such a waste and a hurdle that should have been avoided or known about beforehand. I suppose you could limit the 8’s to the track with the good clearance.
Both tracks probably have the issue. Also, you can't practically limit them to one of the two tracks. There's not much that you can do, as the 3rd rail shoes have to extend out to the NYC third rail, and that bridge is ridiculously tight.
Silverliner II wrote: Sun Apr 23, 2023 9:42 amI would guess any through trains from OSB or New London would still be the usual 4-car sets, but express from New Haven, with just the stops the former Stamford-extended trains did (if any), and then nonstop to 125th and GCT.
Then it's a waste of a slot at GCT. Running a 9-car set wouldn't be the worst thing if there was significant demand for GCT service from the Shore Line provided that the bridge could be modified to clear the shoes.
west point wrote: Sun Apr 23, 2023 11:48 pmWhen Amtrak was installing CAT from NHV - BOS there were a lot of bridge relocations, raseings, removals and rehabs. Wonder why this bridge or impediment got missed?
At the time, MN had an M-2/4/6 fleet that didn't have transformers for 25kV power, and didn't have ACSES to run east of Shore Line Jct, so the concept of direct service to GCT was probably not even on the table.
 #1620963  by Silverliner II
 
Traingeek3629 wrote: Sun Apr 23, 2023 1:10 pm
Silverliner II wrote: Sun Apr 23, 2023 9:42 am I would guess any through trains from OSB or New London would still be the usual 4-car sets, but express from New Haven, with just the stops the former Stamford-extended trains did (if any), and then nonstop to 125th and GCT.
I could see 6-car sets being used. Those trains would have decent ridership and already get to 40-60% full (depends on the day) when they use a 5 car set. The most popular one is 3546, which is the one with an SLE connection.
The only reason I stop at 4 cars is since the SLE platforms, as it is, can only platform 3 cars at best. No sense in running a full 8 or 9-car train all the way up for a train dedicated to ridership east of NHV.
 #1621857  by Traingeek3629
 
Currently 3542 is carrying 305 passengers (AFTER Stamford) on a 5-car set and 3546 has 510 (on an 8-car set.) Any SLE thru-runs would almost certainly need 6-car sets.
 #1622080  by Fishrrman
 
I didn't read the whole thread, so my apologies if this has been asked before.

Who is operating the M-8's now?

Is SLE service east of New Haven still crewed by Amtrak crews, or is it now someone else running them?
 #1622446  by Traingeek3629
 
Under Lamont's budget plan, SLE is going to be cut to 7 weekday and 5-6 weekend trains in each direction. Meanwhile, the Danbury Branch will maintain full service despite anemic ridership. I write this watching dead-stop traffic on 95-North in Branford as a train sails by. I'm going to Milford, and if there wasn't a three hour gap in the evening schedule, I would have taken the train. Service builds ridership.
 #1627294  by Traingeek3629
 
I saw it being "tested" last week. Pulling out of New Haven, the "next stop" signs on my train to Grand Central said "Old Saybrok" and that this is the train to New London.
 #1628080  by Westchesterrailfan
 
Despite the new reduced schedule not yet being release I changed the data on the Google trip planner and found these changes (This may not be official but the best clue we have):

***To New Haven***
  • 1627 is renumbered 1633 and runs 30 minutes later.
    1637 run 8 minutes later.
    1645 no longer operates.
    1649 (as the 8:24) no longer operates.
    1659 renumbered 1649 and operates 20 minutes later.
    1667 operates 49 minutes earlier and now originates in Old Saybrook.
    1673 (as the 2:15) no longer operates.
    1685 renumbered to 1673 and operates 22 minutes later.
    1687 operates 10 minutes earlier.
    1693 no longer operates.
    1697 operates 37 minutes later and is extended to New London
    1699 operates 50 minutes earlier and now has a Metro-North connection.
***To Old Saybrook/New London***
  • 1600 now operates 30 minutes earlier (results in no morning deadhead). - Now the earliest Shore Line East train ever departing New Haven at 4:30 PM along with being first reverse peak train to EVER stop at Madison.
    1602 operates 45 minutes earlier and runs on a schedule closer to the current schedule of 1600. (Adds Madison)
    1604 no longer operates.
    1606 operates 10 minutes earlier. (Adds Madison)
    1610 operates closer to its pre-covid schedule (An hour and 12 minutes earlier). - Terminates at Old Saybrook.
    1618 no longer operates.
    1632 operates 20 minutes later.
    1634 operates 12 minutes earlier.
    1638 no longer operates.
    1646 no longer operates.
    A new train 1668 is added departing New Haven at 7:41 PM (connection from GCT leaves at 5:41 PM)
    1652 operates one hour earlier.
 #1628081  by Westchesterrailfan
 
I put together the new schedules based on Google Maps information
Attachments:
New Shore Line East - From New Haven.png
New Shore Line East - From New Haven.png (95.93 KiB) Viewed 436 times
New Shore Line East.png
New Shore Line East.png (121.14 KiB) Viewed 436 times
 #1628085  by MattW
 
Why are they limiting service? Funding? Extremely low ridership?
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