East End Service: Greenport Scoot, Montauk Line, Etc.

[gamer4616]

New Station pages as of November 13, 2017 per General Order 303

(east of Speonk)

SK2 (R-BABYLON)
WESTHAMPTON
RPK 1 (R-BABYLON)
RPK 2 (R-BABYLON)
HAMPTON BAYS
RPK 3 (R-BABYLON)
SH 1 (R-BABYLON)
SOUTHAMPTON
SH 2 (R-BABYLON)
SH 3 (R-BABYLON)
BRIDGEHAMPTON
EAST HAMPTON
AMAGANSETT
MONTAUK (R-BABYLON)

Electric Lock switches will be used at Westhampton, Bridgehampton, East Hampton, and Amagansett . Dual Control switches will be used at Hampton Bays and Southampton


With Bridgehampton not being used as an Interlocking, 2720 and 2711 will no longer meet at BH and will now have a controlled meet at SH3 at 10:57pm. As a result, 2711 will leave at 10:05pm instead of its current 10:38pm. An error lists 2711 meeting 2746 in JJD at 11:38pm. 2711 clears Y at 11:57pm and 2746 clears Y at 12:00am.

Interesting to see what schedule 2718 will have next summer as it currently is scheduled to arrive in Montauk at 10:10pm and 2711 now leaving at 10:05pm.

[berlintransit]

Thanks for the details!

As for 2718/2711 meeting at Montauk during the summer: According to your times for 2711, it has quite a lot of space between Montauk and Southampton, so would still be able to make the meet with 2720 on time even if delayed until 10:10 PM or so at Montauk (if 2718 is on time).

[gamer4616]

I forgot to mention a few things...


Greenport service is being modified effective Nov 13.

200 - Lv Ronkonkoma 3:45am Arrive Greenport 5:09am (mon-fri 5/21/18 - 8/31/18) ***
201 - Lv Greenport 5:30am Arr Ronkonkoma 6:53am
202 - Lv Ronkonkoma 7:30am Arr Greenport 8:54am ***
203 - Lv Greenport 9:43am Arr Ronkonkoma 11:06am
250 - Lv Ronkonkoma 12:42pm Arr Greenport 2:06pm
251 - Lv Greenport 2:43pm Arr Ronkonkoma 4:06pm
252 - Lv Ronkonkoma 5:21pm Arr Yaphank 5:40pm (extended to Greenport Fridays 5/25/18 - 10/5/18 and Tue 7/3/18)
253 - Lv Yaphank 6:00pm Arr Ronkonkoma 6:19pm (Will not run Fridays 5/25/18 - 10/5/18 and Tue 7/3/18) ***
256 - Lv Ronkonkoma 6:53pm Arr Greenport 8:17pm
255 - Lv Greenport 8:38pm Arr Jamaica 10:03pm (Fridays 5/25/18 - 10/5/18 and Tue 7/3/18)
257 - Lv Greenport 9:39pm Arr Ronkonkoma 11:02pm


*** No connection to/from Penn Station. Train originates/terminates in Ronkonkoma.



The only change on the weekend I see is 8707 will originate in Southampton due to the siding no longer being used at Bridgehampton.

[CentralValleyRail]

Some interesting changes indeed on the North Fork. Some of them are DEF for the better a few others will be interesting to see how current riders handle it.. (like the AM inbound service changes)

Is there a reason that they can run the Scoot REV 253 from Ronkonkoma to Jamaica but they have to run DEADHEAD 5050 from Jamaica to Ronkonkoma to then run as 256?


Also Why is the siding at Bridgehampton no longer being used?

[berlintransit]

[...]

Also Why is the siding at Bridgehampton no longer being used?

As gamer4616 pointed out abouve, the scheduled meet of trains 2711 and 2720 will be moved from Bridgehampton to Southampton in order to provide for a 'controlled meeting' at an interlocked siding. Bridgehampton siding will only have electric lock switches while Southampton siding will be fully interlocked, making the meet at the latter place much safer and faster. I expect this will allow train 2720 to arrive at Montauk up to 15 minutes earlier.

[SwingMan]

CVR, 5050 only runs on summer Fridays and is the EQ for 254, not 256.

[CentralValleyRail]

I got the numbers wrong but in theory can't they run a Friday only just like they do coming back from Greenport?

[nyandw]

New Station pages as of November 13, 2017 per General Order 303

...

What does G.O. 303 entail? Is this only a change to the station page, putting the new block signals into effect or more details? Thank you.

[Jeff Smith]

Montauk and Southampton improvements: 27east.com

Snips:

LIRR To Offer Early Morning Rush Hour Service From Southampton To Manhattan

East End residents who live closer to Southampton will no longer need to travel 21 miles to Speonk to catch a non-stop early-morning train into Penn Station.

As of May 21, the Long Island Rail Road will be offering morning rush hour service from Southampton, stopping at Hampton Bays and Westhampton Beach, before continuing to Penn Station. The train that currently originates in Speonk at 5:08 a.m. will be extended to originate from the Powell Avenue station at 4:41 a.m., arriving at Penn Station at 7:02.
...
Additionally, as part of a larger $1 billion Metro North Railroad project, Positive Train Control—a type of train protection system that controls train movements, stopping them automatically in dangerous situations—will be installed on the Montauk Branch, potentially by the end of the year, according to MTA Deputy Communications Director Aaron Donovan.

The installation of PTC will pave the way for MTA engineers to install a modernized signal system, similar to traffic lights, between Speonk and Montauk, which previously had operated under a “manual block” without signals—also known as “dark territory,” Mr. Donovan said.
...

[trainbrain]

I'm looking to do a bit of an adventure and ride the train all the way to Montauk and back. I've been on LIRR a few times but only in Queens. Normally get to the city on Metro North's Port Jervis Line. Has anyone ever ridden the Cannonball? I'd love to ride that, but it looks so crowded that it would not be an enjoyable experience. How are the other Montauk express trains in terms of crowds? 2708 looks to be almost as fast as the Cannonball and the Thursday version that runs in the Cannonball slot is actually faster.

[Amtrak7]

I'm looking to do a bit of an adventure and ride the train all the way to Montauk and back. I've been on LIRR a few times but only in Queens. Normally get to the city on Metro North's Port Jervis Line. Has anyone ever ridden the Cannonball? I'd love to ride that, but it looks so crowded that it would not be an enjoyable experience. How are the other Montauk express trains in terms of crowds? 2708 looks to be almost as fast as the Cannonball and the Thursday version that runs in the Cannonball slot is actually faster.

2708 is also extremely crowded.

2710 (the off season Cannonball) should be a nice ride, if you can find a way back.

[njtmnrrbuff]

You would definately like the ride to Montauk. The scenery is very nice, especially once you get east of Amagansett because you have the ocean on the right side when heading east and then you have the sound on the left. You pass a lot of open fields along the route, especially once you are east of Westampton. As for the Cannonball, that train gets extremely crowded especially heading east on summer Fridays and then heading west on summer Sunday nights. In general, the trains to Montauk get very crowded during the summer. The other express trains won't be all that much better especially when traveling on a Friday heading east or on Sunday heading west. Heading west on Saturday night is not too bad. I have ridden the train to Montauk a few times and it has been on Saturday making daytrips.

[MACTRAXX]

TB: Glad you asked that question...

The best way to ride the Montauk Branch in its entirety is to travel eastbound in the morning or
early afternoon and to ride back in the late afternoon or evening - with the longest days of the year
at this current time period. Seeing as much of the line during daylight hours is the key here...

Eastbound morning Montauk Branch trains are busiest on Saturdays - there are four scheduled am
7:10, 8:10, 10:10 and 12:10 pm from Jamaica. Returning westbound from Montauk at 3:30, 5:26
and 7:33pm (these seven trains run both Saturday and Sunday) along with three extra Sunday pm
runs: 4:00, 6:37(Sunday Cannonball) and 8:36pm. (Train numbers 8702,8704,8706,8710 east and
8709,8715 and 8719 west; Sunday only westbound trains are 8711, 8717 and 8721.)

Weekdays eastbound:
#2704/2794 7:49am from Penn Station (change at Babylon-8:57am) arrives Montauk 10:57 am.
#2706/2796 11:01am from Penn Station (change at Jamaica-11:25am) arrives Montauk 2:15 pm.
Weekdays westbound:
#2709 Leave Montauk 2:48pm (change at Jamaica-5:50pm) arrive Penn Station 6:21pm.
(only daylight train option - the next westbound train from Montauk is #2711 at 10:05pm)

The trouble with taking the Thursday or Friday Cannonball east is that the only return option is
the aforementioned 10:05 train westbound - unless you plan to overnight in Montauk the return
will be long after dark. (Trains #2710/2798 respectively)...The earlier getaway train #2708 in
the early afternoon (2:10pm from Jamaica arrives Montauk 4:45pm) has an even longer layover.
The nighttime return is the prime reason that I have never ridden out east on these trains...

A Sunday day trip could be taking one of the four morning eastbounds and then riding the
Sunday Cannonball west leaving Montauk at 6:37 pm. Boarding at Montauk has the advantage
of finding a good seat on board from the origin station. When I ride the C3 cars I usually will
try to sit on the left side facing forward in the upper level - depending on the Sun angle and
glare it may be better to ride backwards westbound for the best window views.

From Montauk Station the Village center is one mile south on Edgemere Road along with the
nearest ocean beachfront areas - a 20 minute walk one way or a quick taxi ride. The Point is
about five miles east of the station - Montauk Point State Park at which stands the famous
Montauk Lighthouse. There is Suffolk County Transit service available in Montauk: 10C and
S-94 routes http://www.sct-bus.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; that stops near the station and directly serves the Village
and The Point. Be sure to check SCT schedules carefully - these routes have limited services.

The best way of visiting Montauk may be by taking a LIRR escorted tour:
The Montauk Lighthouse trip is scheduled for Saturdays: July 28, August 18, September 19 and
October 6, 2018. Round trip rail fare, local motor coach bus and Lighthouse admission included.
http://web.mta.info/lirr/getaways/longi ... thouse.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The adult price of $50.50 does compare well with the Zone 14 off peak round trip of $42.50 - for
just $8 more this extra guided tour with its added services is available. It is likely well worth it...

Go "out east" and enjoy a good LIRR trip to Montauk!!! MACTRAXX

[AlKaLI]

What is train #2714 like? This is the 5:09 PM from Penn Station to Montauk on Friday nights only (usually just to Speonk).

I am in Penn Station around 5:00 PM making my way home and see a rush of passengers with suitcases for this train at well.
This train also stops at Jamaica where I've seen more people wanting to get on.

I guess this train gets very crowded to Points East.

[MACTRAXX]

Alkali: Trains 2708 (2:10pm Jamaica) 2798 (Friday Cannonball) and 2714 (5:09 pm Penn Station)
are likely the three busiest Montauk trains on a given Getaway Friday.

Even though the express and through dual mode service is appealing I would avoid having to take
either of these three trains unless there was a good reason I had to be out east by a certain time.

The problem is that these three trains are so busy on Summer Fridays it would not be worthwhile
to ride either one as a train enthusiast due to heavy crowding on board along with the potential of
having to stand and/or stay in one place for the majority of the ride not being able to move inside
a car or trying to walk to another car in what probably would be a futile attempt to find any seat.

For example #2708 would be a nice ride east in the off-season when there is less demand. This
train is scheduled to arrive in Montauk at 4:45pm and would run in daylight at most any time of
the year and arrive at/after dusk only on the shortest days of the year centering on December.

Avoiding having to use primetime "getaway" trains would be key - trave!ing at other hours with
less demand and/or crowding could help make for a better trip experience overall...MACTRAXX