Backshophoss wrote: ↑Fri Aug 23, 2019 2:09 am
That's too many stops for the "Sunrise LTd",a limited stop express
Out of NYPenn,Jamaica or Hicksville for the Greenport connection(North Fork)
Babylon(local scoot connection that turns at Southampton)
Speonk(2nd chance for the Southampton scoot)
Bridgehampton
Maybe E. Hampton
Montauk (end of run)
The trick is to keep moving on the Mainline,not get tangled with LIRR locals.
From Penn,all stops are discharge,proper connections at Jamaica/Hicksville,Babylon,and Speonk.
Will need interline ticketing for the connecting trains.
Max,in this case LESS is more!
NK, RGA, BSH and Everyone:
The proposed Amtrak service should only again make the following stops:
-Jamaica (not fully necessary - the JFK Airtrain connection may be the tipping point)
-Babylon (end of electrified territory - and Patchogue/Speonk "scoots")
-Patchogue (Babylon-Patchogue terminus and largest South Shore village in central Suffolk County)
This service can stop at either one of these stations - both is not an absolute requirement.
The "big four" East End Montauk Branch stations are in order: Westhampton, Southampton, East Hampton
and Montauk...These are the highest ridership East End stations on the Montauk Branch.
There would only be seven stops total if all of these stations were served - and may end up being five
or six if decisions are made concerning serving Jamaica, Babylon and Patchogue.
From Jamaica this train should have the option of running over the Montauk Branch or Main Line/Central
Branch. Adding unnecessary stops (for this proposed train) at Mineola and Hicksville would require this
service to run by way of the Main Line and Central Branch only. For example the LIRR Friday Afternoon
Cannonball runs east on the Montauk Branch - in which express trains can make better time then the
longer Main Line/Central Branch route. With ongoing Third Track Project construction avoiding possible
congestion on the Main Line for the quicker Montauk Branch route is the way to go.
There is NO need for any stop between Babylon and Patchogue - The LIRR runs adequate (connecting)
service to intermediate stations between the two. There are connections to Fire Island ferries from three
Montauk Branch stations - Bay Shore, Sayville AND Patchogue - served by local Montauk Branch trains.
Connections from either Babylon or Patchogue should be sufficient enough to serve these stations.
With the market of this added service being the East End tourist region the "big four" stations have to be
served - which are WESTHAMPTON, SOUTHAMPTON, EAST HAMPTON and MONTAUK solely. For example
I never even considered a stop at Speonk especially with Westhampton just 2.9 miles away...
I came up with the proposed stops using the Empire Service on the Hudson Line for a comparison then
adding the big four LIRR East End stations to the total...
MACTRAXX
EXPRESS TRAIN TO NEW YORK PENN STATION-NO JAMAICA ON THIS TRAIN-PLEASE STAND CLEAR OF THE CLOSING TRAIN DOORS