Tag Archives: rail travel

Gizmodo reports: NYC’s East Side Access Project continues apace, and these recent images, taken last month by MTA photographer Rehema Trimiew, show a whole new view of the mind-boggling underground caverns now being constructed beneath Manhattan. From raw walls of exposed geology to this, the space is finally taking on the look and feel of architecture. The titanic yellow facility—its …

A Grand Central-bound Metro-North train filled with returning holiday travelers derailed this morning in the Bronx.  Emergency responders report at least four deaths and dozens of injuries. The train appeared to be going “a lot faster” than usual as it approached the tricky curve coming into Spuyten Duyvil station, passenger Frank Tatulli told WABC-TV. “It [the train] left them [tracks] …

Commuters may face weeks of difficulty in getting to New York City after Friday’s train collision, which left dozens injured. Metro-North’s New Haven Line service east of Fairfield — and Amtrak’s service between New York and Boston — was suspended in the wake of the crash, and authorities said it could take two weeks or more before service resumes. The …

Last night two Metro-North commuter trains collided near Fairfield, Connecticut after a southbound train derailed at 60mph.  Dozens were injured, five critically. The derailed train apparently clipped the front of the oncoming train then scraped along its side, officials said. About 700 people were thrown about the two trains when they collided, said MTA spokesman Aaron Donovan. “It wasn’t a …

I’ve blogged quite a bit about the construction of the Second Avenue Subway here on the Upper East Side, but haven’t said much about the project to connect Long Island Railroad to Grand Central Terminal. Buried 16 stories beneath Grand Central Terminal a new commuter rail is being blasted and tunneled out of solid bedrock as part of an audacious …

This afternoon major airlines announced the cancellation of over 1000 flights in advance of the arrival of tomorrow’s nor’easter. Already, as of 2:45 p.m. ET on Thursday, more than 1,000 U.S. flights have been canceled for Friday, according to FlightAware. The bulk of that total comes at Northeast airports that are likely to see severe weather. Among those is Newark …

I hopped off the subway at 42nd Street tonight to go upstairs and see the goings-on for Grand Central Terminal’s 100th birthday. If you embiggen the photo, you might be able to tell there’s a stage on the far side of the clock, but it was really too crowded to hang around.  Notice the big 1-0-0 in the windows.  That’s …

Grand Central Terminal celebrates its 100th anniversary on February 1st with lots of events, including “1913 pricing” at some of the restaurants and shops. There will be appearances by Cynthia Nixon, Melissa Manchester, and Caroline Kennedy, whose mother is widely credited with helping save Grand Central from the wrecking ball.  (Ugh, Penn Station.) Representatives of the Vanderbilt family are also …

My second-favorite train station after Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station.

Launched in China, of course. It used to take the best part of 24 hours to travel by train from Beijing to the southern boomtown of Guangzhou. But as of Wednesday, when the world’s longest high-speed rail line opened for business, the 1,428-mile journey has been cut to a mere eight hours. The trains travel at an average speed of …

Boats and probably a whole lot of other debris.

Amtrak says that last night it began testing trains at 165mph on the northeast corridor. Two test locations — from Perryville, Md., to Wilmington, Del., and from Trenton to New Brunswick, N.J. — currently have a speed limit of 135 mph. The two others — in Rhode Island from Westerly to Cranston and in Massachusetts from South Attleboro to Readville …

The New York Times reports today on the Second Avenue subway, whose excavation explosions still rattle my apartment daily after almost two years of work. In Manhattan, where street traffic tends to stall, only one subway runs the length of the East Side. Every weekday, 1.3 million passengers — more than are carried in 24 hours by the transit systems …

(Via Towleroad)

Saturday is the annual Mooning of the Amtrak. Train passengers can expect an eyeful Saturday as bare bottoms converge along the tracks at Camino Capistrano for the annual Mooning of the Amtrak. In recent years, the rowdy atmosphere surrounding the event has quieted down with an increased police presence, parking restrictions and ordinances against urination, defecation and drinking alcohol in …

Long Island Railroad is testing a quiet car program similar to Amtrak’s long-running policy. No loud talking and no audible electronic devices will be allowed in the designated cars. Conductors will give “Shh” cards to passengers who do not comply with the rules but the program will be voluntary. Announcements will remind customers of the location of the quiet carriages, …

The Port Jervis line of Metro-North, which shuttles commuters between Grand Central Penn Station and upstate New York, may be closed for months due to track damage from Hurricane Irene. Second Avenue Sagas reports: Outside of the city, the storm has been devastating. So far, 40 people have died from it, and that total is expected to rise. The property …

Dutch rail officials call it a “transfer accelerator,” but they concede that the slide on the right of the above stairs is meant to make commuting more playful. I’d totally use it. Video at the link.