The East Side Access Project Discussion (ESA)

It won’t be a shuttle-wagon indefinitely.
Maybe for a month or so.
There is something on order. However, you need to understand ESA is extremely tight clearances so it won’t be
Your traditional Car body. But I think you’ll like it for what is.
Expect an official announcement at some point in early 2023.
That’s all I know for now.

Latest talk is potentially a Dec 19/20 date now but I really don’t know. It’s changing like the temperature.

The plan to use the existing lower level of GCT was killed for a few reasons. The wide, shallow alignment required underpinning the Park Ave tunnel for several blocks, several historic buildings, and a significant portion of GCT. LIRR required a separate ticketing area and other back-of-house spaces, that took over the Lower Level. Previous assumptions were that LIRR would just use MNR spaces. The irony is that MTA is hot to combine these spaces elsewhere and large ticketing areas are obsolete.

The Third Ave option would have been the easiest from a mining standpoint, and probably better location service-wise, but LIRR to GCT was the rule of the day. Similarly, the idea of NOT using the lower level of the existing 63rd St tunnel was off the table.

Hey, thanks for elaborating on that matter for me.
Though, not using that tunnel would have been the better option. If your cutting tunnels east and west of this pre existing tube, why not just cut through ton a broader curve the whole way.

This possibly could have reduced percentage the grades too. By sending lirr in from the south?

Looks like in normal MTA fashion, ESA is delayed again.....

Looks like the FRA granted a waiver to to the LIRR under the assumptions that certain conditions are met.

The Federal Railroad Administration posted its decision this week allowing the MTA to open its long-stalled Grand Central Madison — formerly known as East Side Access — project by the end of the year, despite delays with the installation of mandated safety technology.

MTA officials have for years said the project — which aims to bring Long Island Rail Road trains into a new station beneath Grand Central Terminal — would be completed by the end of 2022. But earlier this month, officials told the Federal Railroad Administration that computerized technology to automatically prevent oversized Amtrak trains from entering one of its new East River tunnels would not be done in time, and asked the feds to waive the requirement until March.

https://gothamist.com/news/feds-grant-m ... al-madison

Also saw a story from Newsday saying that the entire project won’t be done till FEB 2023 but that trains may start rolling into the new terminal by the end of this year… Hopefully

After promising for nearly five years that the project would be finished by the end of 2022, a new report notes that construction of the LIRR's new concourse and facilities at Grand Central Terminal won't be done until February 2023. The MTA said it still plans to run trains to Grand Central by year's end.

https://www.newsday.com/long-island/tra ... 2-nk43xk2z

Anyone else notice the entire mezzanine is laid out for conversion to subway-type automatic fare collection?

That’s absolutely coming at some time in the future.
They are having a hard enough time finding help now with new prospects more concerned if they can hit a joint and go to work the next day.
How priorities in life have Changed.
Look at Brooklyn, they can do it tomorrow if they wanted to.
BTW they did have manned turnstiles in the early 1900s at ENY.
So it’s not out for place for LIRR

The LIRR took control of the East SIde Access project Friday, December 9, placing it under the jurisdiction of the FRA on that date.

Long Island Rail Road Takes Over Operational Control of Grand Central Madison
"The project continues the final stages of testing." and "The new terminal is expected to open before the end of the year."

When the LIRR begins full service to Grand Central Madison, it will introduce the largest schedule increase in LIRR history, adding 269 trains per weekday, a 41% systemwide service increase, to 936 trains per weekday from the current 667.

The new terminal will also enable the LIRR to accommodate anticipated customer demand to Manhattan when Amtrak begins a project in 2024 to rebuild its East River Tunnels to Penn Station. The project will take one of the four tunnels out of service, in sequence, over a period of three years, reducing LIRR capacity to Penn Station – capacity the LIRR will be able to maintain to Manhattan with its new tunnels to Grand Central Madison.  

For every train today, the LIRR will run 1.4 trains when the ESA opens. Evenly dividing between the two Manhattan termini gives 0.7 trains per terminus. Taking one out of the four East River tunnel bores out of service would give a capacity of 0.75 * original capacity, so that will be safe.

MNCRR9000 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 28, 2022 9:18 pm Also saw a story from Newsday saying that the entire project won’t be done till FEB 2023 but that trains may start rolling into the new terminal by the end of this year… Hopefully

After promising for nearly five years that the project would be finished by the end of 2022, a new report notes that construction of the LIRR's new concourse and facilities at Grand Central Terminal won't be done until February 2023. The MTA said it still plans to run trains to Grand Central by year's end.

https://www.newsday.com/long-island/tra ... 2-nk43xk2z

I can see this happening:

On December 31 around 11:55pm over the PA at GC.

"Last call for the 11:57pm train to Jamaica, now boarding on Track 204. Last call for the 11:57pm train to Jamaica. Making stops at Woodside and Jamaica... Last call"

The news release will say service started in 2022.

It seems to be a closely guarded secret as to the start date for revenue service.

The latest rumor is a soft opening. 8 westbound shuttles from Jamaica to Grand Central Madison in the morning rush, with 8 eastbound shuttles to Jamaica in the evening. Supposedly, starting 12/19. This would be additional service with the current schedules. Full service would be coming in February.

Of course, nothing is confirmed and everyone I've asked still has no idea when revenue service will begin.

A smart way to start service, and plenty of other time to allow additions employees get qualified on the new territory.

It’s probably too hard to get “true” data on passengers are coming from certain branches/stations.

Breaking News -- LIRR declares that December will have 62 days so they can meet their year-end deadline

Just hope that December 62nd doesn't fall on a Friday, since there will probably be signal trouble in the tunnels...