Gateway Tunnel Funding Approved

I heard something awhile back that said the NJ transit trains form Bergen and Rockland can go straight in to PENN. Is this correct?

 

 

rat

Ratpak - I don't believe that's true. Trains on that line use diesels. Have to change at Secaucus for NJ Transit service to Penn, or at Hoboken for other ways in.

David

NJ Transit has dual-mode engines that run on either the overhead catenary or diesel-electric power.

Not being familiar with the track configuration, I don't think Bergen & Rockland trains have a direct connection to the NEC at Secaucus. Gateway may change that.

 

Yes, thanks for the correction/clarification on dual-mode, Chris. I think you're right about lack of connection at Secaucus for Bergen/Main Line trains. Hope this time the tunnel(s) actually get built.

 

EDIT: I should have said something like lack of "direct connection," or "shared platform." 

 

David

The Bergen trains do stop at Secaucus.

 

rat

They do. But they are, roughly speaking, north-south, and NEC tracks are east-west. And the platforms are on different levels.

David

Hey maybe they will rebuild Penn station.

There is a proposal by Schumer to build a loop so that the West-of-Hudson NY trains could go into Penn directly, but I suspect that will not come to pass due to funding.

 

I'm curious as to what the plans are for the track level are. The number of platforms has to be a concern for future expansion. It was a mess last night with the evening commute, Rangers fans coming to MSG, and Jets fans going out to the Meadowlands...

 

The 2 lines cross each other, at separated grade, just west of Tonnele Avenue and just west of the western entrance to the trans-Hudson tunnel.  Relatively speaking, a loop with grades and flyovers would be feasible and not involve extensive use of eminent domain.  It would affect wetlands.

Here is the official press release from NY's Gov. Cuomo:

“Building this new tunnel is absolutely critical to the long-term vitality of New York and the entire northeast region. We have been working to break the federal logjam and get the federal funding that this massive undertaking requires, and for the first time, with this agreement, our partners in Washington are putting real dollars – not just loans – on the table. New York and New Jersey’s offer to pay for 50 percent of the project was meant to provoke federal action, and I also thank Senator Schumer and Senator Booker for their support in accomplishing that goal. As soon as the federal government delivers the funding we will proceed – because our shovels are ready.”

 

Tom

considering a former NJ Governor and 2 US senators backed the grossly ill-conceived final version of the ARC tunnel project, solely to score political points, shows how far this project has moved forward towards a sane logical conclusion.

 

it was Sen. Schumer that was able to get the tunnel box built under NY's west side development project for the future Gateway tunnels to pass through

 

politically speaking, there is light at the end of that tunnel. imagine that.

 

 

 

As I understand it, part of the tunnel project will include construction of a loop track at Secaucus to allow Bergen/Port Jervis trains access to the new tunnels.

 

Can anyone tell me if the new Tappan Zee highway bridge includes rail access to the Metro North Hudson Line, or was that idea quashed ?

Kent,

  Unfortunately, there is no access to Metro-North in the new Tappen Zee Bridge project. The cost was considered to be too high.

 

Here is a link to the story:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01...ross-the-hudson.html

 

Tom 

Kent,

I'll be very interested in the engineering for that loop track. In John Cunningham's book: History of Railroads in NJ he describes the great difficulty early 19th century railroads had getting solid roadbeds across the meadows. Apparently the bogs are very deep, where even 80' long pilings did not make solid ground.

Of course the loop would be located much closer to Bergen rock.

 

For that much work in a wetland, the EPA is bound to put up as many roadblocks as possible. I wonder where the "remediation" wetland will be created ?