I had the new schedule in my hand two weeks before it was to be effected. The fact was that the PM rush left almost no room for any freight movements from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm in either direction. That's what killed the schedule; it was just very ambiguous. We will work with NJT, but to simply give our main line over to them for an hour and a half while van trains like 25K, 191, 190 and 174 sit is unacceptable to NS and CSX; and after all, those are our parents and they have the last say. That said, I was ready to move those new trains, and in fact was told the day before that the schedule was not going to be in effect. I do believe that NS and CSX told NJT if they want more trains, they need to pony up for the third track, even though that "new" track to be built would most likely be freight-only.
When the double-track project is complete, I don't think you're going to get more trains overnight. The fact of the matter is that you only added ten miles of double track; the railroad still brings you to two single-track main lines. Until NS and CSX make improvements to their single-track mains (NS' main is better than CSX's), there will still be gridlock on Conrail.
Regarding Staten Island: Eventually, there should be a new van train to/from Staten Island on CSX, but for the River Line (West Shore). The NYC Department of Sanitation has been busier than they originally anticipated. My opinion is that there should be a unit train started for this operation, but it's just not busy enough for this yet.