Downtown Downeaster in Portland?

Councilors pitch the idea of an Amtrak train that would roll into the city's western waterfront area.

 

By TOM BELL, Staff Writer

Portland Press Herald

April 14, 2009

 

PORTLAND — Could Amtrak trains one day roll into the city's western waterfront area and drop off passengers within walking distance of the Old Port?

 

The idea is feasible, say some city councilors, who are pitching it as a way to improve the city's transportation links and foster development on vacant land near the Casco Bay Bridge, possibly generating millions of dollars in tax revenue for Portland.

 

....

 

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=250761&ac=PHnws

Advocates eye funds for faster Downeaster

An $8 billion share of federal stimulus money will go for high-speed rail, the president announces.

By TOM BELL, Staff Writer

April 17, 2009

 

President Obama allocated $8 billion Thursday to help establish high-speed rail corridors nationwide, giving hope to rail advocates that some of that money could be used to speed up Amtrak's Downeaster train service.

 

 

http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=251331&ac=PHnws

Did you live in New England or something??  :wink:

Born and raised.  Actually spent a lot of time in Maine as a kid.

I remember. Thus my wink.

Walker posted this on Columbus Underground from the White House. 

 

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/09/04/16/A-Vision-for-High-Speed-Rail/

Interesting chart comparing the costs, distances, speeds, and population served by various international high speed rail projects, including California's.

 

http://www.infrastructurist.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/high-speed-rail-boom-1024x665.jpg

 

{Note: yes, this City Paper (Pittsburgh's version of Cleveland's Scene) is nearly 4 years old, but it echoes Cleveland's historical struggle/failure to build a Dual Hub subway up its spine, w/ Pittsburgh officials settling on the 1.5 mile (very expensive, rapidly progressing) North Shore Connector tunnel under the river many Pittsburghers say will be a waste -- can you say: RTA Waterfront Line?}

 

http://www.pittsburghcitypaper.ws/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A29152

 

SEPTEMBER 29, 2005

 

Lost Tracks

The planned T extension to the North Shore is the last surviving remnant of bigger, better plans

 

BY JULIE MICKENS

 

For years, Pittsburghers have derided the North Shore Connector "T" extension as The Little Engine That Shouldn't.

 

The engine that shouldn't just connect Downtown with the city's two new stadiums. That shouldn't cross the Allegheny River by tunneling beneath it. That shouldn't be built at all.

 

 

 

 

http://www.rtands.com/breaking_news.shtml#Feature7-4-21

 

April 20, 2009

 

GO Transit gets greener with first wind turbine

 

On April 21, GO Transit, along with Minister of Transportation Jim Bradley and other dignitaries, will officially launch the first wind turbine for a transit agency in Greater Toronto located at Lisgar GO Station as part of a showcase of green initiatives for Earth Day. This 31.1-meter-high (102-foot) wind turbine can produce about 50 kilowatts of power and will be used to generate electricity for the station.

 

http://www.railwayage.com//content/view/770/121/

 

Seattle LRT to debut July 18 

 

Seattle will join U.S. light rail transit ranks on Saturday, July 18, when Sound Transit’s 14-mile, $2.44 billion Central Link light rail service commences, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels has announced.

 

 

http://www.railwayage.com//content/view/773/121/

 

Santa Ana selects firm for streetcar planning  

 

Orange County, Calif., has generated its share of controversy in recent years involving passenger rail, particularly light rail, but Santa Ana has awarded Cordoba Corp. a contract worth up to $6 million for a two-year study of streetcar options for the city. The initial plan calls for a line linking downtown Santa Ana with downtown Garden Grove,  a distance of approximately nine miles.

 

 

 

http://www.railwayage.com//content/view/780/121/

 

Augusta, Ga., selects streetcar route 

 

While Atlanta, Georgia’s state capital, struggles to identify and agree on passenger rail expansion—Atlanta is wrestling with MARTA, regional rail, and Amtrak access issues—Augusta, Ga, appears to be moving ahead more successfully, if more modestly, selecting a specific, 2.5-mile route for an initial “light rail” (or streetcar) line serving downtown.

 

 

http://www.railwayage.com//content/view/770/121/

 

Seattle LRT to debut July 18 

 

Seattle will join U.S. light rail transit ranks on Saturday, July 18, when Sound Transit’s 14-mile, $2.44 billion Central Link light rail service commences, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels has announced.

 

The long-awaited service, under federal funding agreements, is supposed to commence on July 3, but Seattle is fearful of possible problems related to the July 4 weekend, which could tax police and other municipal services.

 

Sound Transit officials are planning for 100,000 riders July 18; the agency plans to run 14 trains with at least 28 of its 35 cars and will have live entertainment at stations. Rides will be free on the two inaugural weekend days, July 18 and 19.

 

Link initially will run between Westlake Station, at the north end of downtown Seattle, and Tukwila International Boulevard. A 1.6-mile extension to Sea-Tac Airport is scheduled to be added in December, with buses set to connect the Tukwilla station to the airport until that time.

 

Officials expect 26,000 riders a day once Link runs to the airport, though less than that between July and December, said Michael Williams, Sound Transit's light rail activation manager. Service is scheduled to run to the University of Washington in 2016, a $1.7 billion project. Sound Transit anticipates 45,000 LRT riders a day by 2020.

 

Seattle's a great city already.  LRT will make it better.

 

I'm rather surprised by the 45K rider projection by 2020.  (heck, I believe even modest rail-riding Cleveland is closing in or besting the 45K rider per day mark)...  Sounds rather conservative to me.  Seattle has all the makings of a strong rail city: compact city with geographical difficulty (hills), a narrow city situated on 2 peninsulas, moderate blight (as compared to East Coast/Midwest cities), population density with the rail line connecting an extremely robust and growing downtown (which LRT will distribute well thru via the existing metro tunnel which spans the length of Seattle's physically narrow downtown).  And for a city that doesn't yet have rapid transit, Seattle has had strong transit for years, esp the large trolleybus system and the trolleybus downtown/metro tunnel the LRT will share; along w/ being the central stop on the Tacoma-Seattle-Everett "Coaster" commuter rail line... If I were a betting man, I'd definitely take the "over" re Seattle's current transit projection.

the big bus gets a tryout on the m15 and now in the bronx

 

 

02/20/2009 12:13 PM

Extra Long Bus Is Tested In The Bronx

 

By: NY1 News

 

A new three-door, extra long bus is getting a test drive in the Bronx.

 

The bus is designed to help speed up the process of letting passengers on and off at stops.

 

video:

http://origin.ny1.com/content/news_beats/transit/94309/extra-long-bus-is-tested-in-the-bronx/Default.aspx

http://www.railwayage.com//content/view/786/121/

 

Bombardier lands TTC order for 204 streetcars

 

Montreal-based Bombardier, Inc. has been awarded a C$2.23 billion contract by the Toronto Transit Commission to produce 204 low-floor light rail vehicles for Canada’s largest city. Bombardier said it expects to deliver the first cars to TTC by 2012. TTC’s purchase is said to be the largest LRV purchase ever in North America, and includes an option for even more cars, should Toronto’s proposed “Transit City” plan be implemented.

 

Bombardier’s bid was chosen over rival Siemens Transportation, but only after months of debate and dispute over TTC’s original bid process. The contract is expected to be formally voted on Monday by the nine Toronto city council members overseeing TTC, but approval is expected.

 

No funding is yet assured from either the federal governmentor the province of Ontario, though TTC officials say they believe such assistance will be forthcoming, possibly in amounts up to C$1.4 billion.

 

Last summer Bombardier was rebuffed by TTC after the manufacturer seemingly had won an earlier bid for the agency’s contract, beating out British manufacturer TRAM Power Ltd. TTC,  however, questioned Bombardier’s earlier bid, citing design flaws, a claim Bombardier rejected. Last February Bombardier resubmitted its bid, challenged this time by Siemens.

 

TTC and Ontario province require that the new cars meet a 25% “buy Canadian” content threshold. Bombardier likely will do much of its manufacturing work at its Thunder Bay, Ont., facility, though it likely also will tap several of its European-based plants for the project.

 

 

http://www.rtands.com/breaking_news.shtml#Feature4-4-27

 

HRT to spend $5.7 million to look into more light rail

 

Hampton Roads Transit’s board authorized spending $5.7 million to study a Virginia Beach light-rail extension and possible routes to Norfolk Naval Station, The Virginian-Pilot reports.

 

HDR, an engineering firm, was hired to conduct a draft environmental impact statement on a light-rail line that would extend from the Norfolk city line at Newtown Road to the Oceanfront along the Norfolk Southern right-of-way. The Beach recently announced a preliminary agreement to buy the 10.6-mile former freight corridor for $40 million. HDR will develop cost and ridership estimates, station locations, and other details for a possible Virginia Beach connection.

 

 

And a regional/intercity rail project that's been kicking around for a few years, er, decades....

 

http://www.rtands.com/breaking_news.shtml#Feature4-4-27

 

April 23, 2009

 

Rail feasibility study under way for Scranton to New York

 

Binghamton, N.Y., just might be the key to restoring passenger rail service between the Poconos and suburban New York City, local media report. A feasibility study for connecting Binghamton with Scranton, Pa., for passenger rail is in progress, said the U.S. Senate delegations from Pennsylvania and New York. President Barack Obama endorsed the idea March 23, they said in a recent letter to the president.

 

And when you get to the Lackawanna Cutoff you ..... wait for it....cut off your Lackawanna.  Sorry, couldn't resist an old Johnny Carson gag.

 

But seriously folks... it is amazing to see the number of new or long-dormant rail projects that are bubbling up as the prospect of real money from the feds becomes a reality.

Nooz, Don't quit your day job........ 

And when you get to the Lackawanna Cutoff you ..... wait for it....cut off your Lackawanna.  Sorry, couldn't resist an old Johnny Carson gag.

 

But seriously folks... it is amazing to see the number of new or long-dormant rail projects that are bubbling up as the prospect of real money from the feds becomes a reality.

 

Unfortunately not enough in Ohio.  Sorry to be Dennis Downer.

halleleujah to the miami airport extension.  :clap:  loooong overdue.

halleleujah to the miami airport extension.  :clap:  loooong overdue.

 

that has got to be the worst Cluster f--k of an airport.  Busy as all sin, but the outside is a nightmare, giving people a transit option should improve things.

word of the day? monorailist.  :laugh: 

 

 

 

jeddah-makkah to get a monorail system:

 

More evidence Makkah project is monorail (04/20/09)

 

 

Makkah, Saudi Arabia. There is growing evidence that the Makkah Monorail project will actually turn out to be monorail technology. To date, no suppliers have been selected, but the project continues to be referred to as monorail. IBI Group of Canada developed the plan for transportation improvements in the Jeddah-Makkah area, and a recently-released video clearly shows monorail as the rail transit system (link below). As history has shown, technology can still be switched after this point in the planning process, but monorailists are still hopeful that Saudi Arabia might be on the way to developing one of the most extensive, high-profile monorail systems in the world.

 

Monorail to link Jeddah districts. Arab News, 04/15/09.

IBI Group video of Jeddah-Makkah transportation projects

 

http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=121570&d=15&m=4&y=2009

http://www.ibigroup.com/transportation/video/qt_madina_sm.html

 

 

 

meanwhile, niagara falls finally shelves their monorail dreams:

 

Niagara Falls Monorail project dies (04/21/09)

 

 

Niagara Falls, Canada. The plan for a monorail system on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls goes back to the early days of The Monorail Society. We've reported on its progress and non-progress over the years. The project has been burdened with financial, technology and partnership challenges for years. On Monday the city council decided to abandon the decades-old plan and rely upon buses. $25 million in Federal money has been on the shelf for the monorail, but will now be used elsewhere.

 

Monorail dream is dead. Niagara Falls Review, 04/21/09.

 

http://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1531949

kinda funny!  :-D

 

 

FAR WEST SIDE—The headline of an MTA press release fresh into the inbox: "ADVISORY: PHOTO OP: Archbishop Timothy Dolan to Bless the MTA's Launch Site of the 7 Line Extension Tunnel Boring Machines." The Lord is down with the 7 train? What's up now, John Rocker?! [CurbedWire Inbox]

 

 

http://curbed.com/archives/2009/04/30/curbedwire_high_line_graffiti_update_7train_blessed.php#reader_comments

http://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/652953.html

 

Updated: 04/27/09 08:22 AM

FOCUS: HIGH-SPEED RAIL

 

High-speed rail may stop short of Niagara Falls

$8 billion in stimulus will soon be on track, but it’s unlikely to reach Niagara Falls

By Jerry Zremski

NEWS WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF

 

WASHINGTON — Upstate New York is a serious contender for winning federal funding for a high-speed passenger rail line.

 

But that new train service would almost certainly fall more than 20 miles short of the region’s greatest tourist attraction, Niagara Falls.

 

The new rail line also may fall short of being built quickly if the company that controls the corridor for the track drives the same kind of hard bargain that it is driving in other states.

 

..........

CSX is absolute scum when it comes to passenger rail. They make no secret of their outright hostility to Amtrak operating on their tracks, and their dispatchers think nothing of putting slow-moving freight trains ahead of passenger trains. They get fined for it, but the fines are just another operating expense to them. Several of Amtrak's wrecks have been the result of poorly-maintained CSX tracks.

True, but their liability requirement is standard within the freight rail industry. People act like this is a horrible thing yet I'll bet they're the first one's shocked to learn the railroad actually own their rights of way.

 

What if your neighbor came over and said he wanted to build a pool in your backyard at his expense because you had room for it and he didn't? You would be very reluctant, and I suspect you would want to be indemnified against any accidents, even if you were somehow at fault. Why? Because the accident involving the pool wouldn't have happened but for the presence of the pool.

 

That "but for" provision is what the railroads are insisting on, not just CSX. So if you want to run a passenger train on any privately owned railroad property, then you will have to accept it. Otherwise the only trains you'll be running will be the ones on your basement layout.

A very elementary write-up, but you can still figure out from this piece what's being proposed...

 

http://rochestercitynewspaper.com/news/articles/2009/04/TRANSPORTATION-Fast-tracking/

 

TRANSPORTATION: Fast-tracking high-speed rail

By Tim Louis Macaluso on April 29, 2009

 

Representative Louise Slaughter is leading discussions between representatives of CSX, the New York Department of Transportation, Amtrak, and Governor David Paterson's office to put high-speed rail for upstate on a fast track.

 

The Third Track Initiative would involve constructing a passenger rail track designed to handle speeds of at least 110 miles per hour. The high-speed track would be built along two existing CSX-owned rail lines between Buffalo and Albany, with stops in Rochester, Syracuse, and Utica. Travel time from Buffalo to Albany could be shortened to about 90 minutes.

 

 

.........

SunRail service imperiled by Florida Senate vote 

 

Plans for regional passenger rail service in central Florida are in jeopardy following a Florida state Senate vote Thursday rejecting the $1.2 billion project by a 23-17 vote.

 

 

 

http://www.railwayage.com//content/view/807/121/

Funny home made commentary on the MTAs collapsing finances and imminent service cuts....

 

 

http://www.buzzfeed.com/peggy/fake-subway-advisory

True, but their liability requirement is standard within the freight rail industry. People act like this is a horrible thing yet I'll bet they're the first one's shocked to learn the railroad actually own their rights of way.

 

What if your neighbor came over and said he wanted to build a pool in your backyard at his expense because you had room for it and he didn't? You would be very reluctant, and I suspect you would want to be indemnified against any accidents, even if you were somehow at fault. Why? Because the accident involving the pool wouldn't have happened but for the presence of the pool.

 

That "but for" provision is what the railroads are insisting on, not just CSX. So if you want to run a passenger train on any privately owned railroad property, then you will have to accept it. Otherwise the only trains you'll be running will be the ones on your basement layout.

 

Probably a stupid question, but has anyone ever considered iminent domain to take a right of way from a completely uncooperative railroad?

Not stupid at all. Amtrak took over a rail line in Vermont by eminent domain in the late 1980s, but only because of deteriorating track conditions. See:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermonter (look at the historical portion)

 

Under federal law, Amtrak can use any rail line it wants. The right of way's owner cannot deny Amtrak, but there is always a catch. The law says the right of way owner must be fairly compensated. So the question is, what is fair?

 

It does seem like a tough nut to crack, though I'd be wary of throwing eminent domain around for any tracks that are major freight lines. The last thing passenger rail supporters should want is a weakened freight rail system. If you hate roads, freight rail is the only serious competition. Threatening to take their track would go to a very bad place. I don't have a problem using eminent if it isn't regularly used track and that would make passenger rail possible and efficient.

Couple noteworthy streetcar news items from around...

 

Feds approve $75 million for streetcar expansion

http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2009/04/feds_approve_75_million_for_st.html

• Feds pony up big time for streetcars for the first time.
  
• The commitment of federal dollars will allow the the Streetcar Loop Project to expand beyond its current presence on the west-side by sprawling across the Broadway Bridge into Northeast Portland. It will also spread south to the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.
  
• The line would then cross a new bridge to connect with the existing system. Construction on the 3.3-mile extension is estimated to cost about $77 million, out of a total project cost of $147 million.
  
• More info on the extension here - http://portlandstreetcar.org/pdf/loop_fact_sheet_and_map_feb09.pdf

 

 

TTC head hails decision to go ahead with Bombardier-built light-rail vehicles

http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/625680

• Toronto embracing modern rolling stock designs.
  
• Investing over $1 billion into streetcar projects.
  
• The TTC's choice won't serve just 11 existing routes, but also the seven proposed Transit City lines running to the outer reaches of the city. It has probably also blazed a trail for Mississauga, York Region and Kitchener-Waterloo, all considering light rail.

http://www.rtands.com/breaking_news.shtml#Feature4-5-4

 

May 1, 2009

 

 

Las Lunas mixed-use area near the Rail Runner station

 

The Village Council of Las Lunas, N.M., adopted a plan that would make the Los Lunas Rail Runner station the focal point of a vibrant, safe, community. The official station area plan, as it’s called, is designed to help the station and surrounding area to become a destination for both Village residents and visitors to the area. The plan calls this area to be center for the community and offer a variety of residential and retail offerings as well as public space and community amenities such as parks and bike paths.

 

 

Plus some good news and some uncertain news.....

 

http://www.rtands.com/breaking_news.shtml#Feature4-5-4

 

May 1, 2009

 

Tax increases approved for Wisconsin rail projects

 

The Wisconsin Legislature's budget committee approved a plan to use a mixture of higher sales taxes and car rental fees to pay for high speed rail and other transit projects in the two most populated parts of the state.

 

 

^ Funny part about Florida is that it has a lot of older people who are stuck with the car mentality, yet they are always getting killed on the highway because they are too old to be driving. Or they have to get someone to drive them everywhere. Inter- and intracity rail is what they need most!

:?Port Authority Transit, Pittsburgh and Allegheny county is offering three new transit plans. What do think of these proposals? Go to KDKA Radio. Click under the bus. Can we learn anything for Cleveland?

Here's the website with individual route changes...including the addition of BRT, changing the T lines from the same numbering system to Three colored lines...http://tdp.portauthority.org/paac/TheTDP/tabid/421/Default.aspx

 

There are some problems though...one of the suggestions was to completely cut a bus route/stop to one of the community college branches- which serves a sizeable amount of students with government assistance.

Iowa ramps up efforts to add intercity passenger-rail service

 

Add Iowa to the growing list of states seeking to add intercity passenger-rail service. Gov. Chet Culver recently signed into law legislation that will make it easier for Iowa to enter into agreements fostering passenger-rail growth, according to the state.

 

 

 

http://www.progressiverailroading.com/news/article.asp?id=20332

they'll be lucky to complete phase one, but anyway....2nd ave is gittin paid:

 

 

Stimulus cash for Second Ave subway

 

 

The long-delayed Second Avenue subway will receive $79 million from the economic stimulus bill passed this year, Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-Manhattan), announced today.

 

The money will be used for the first phase of the project, which includes stations at 96th, 86th and 72nd streets on Second Avenue. This section is expected to be complete by 2016.

 

The full $16 billion project, currently under construction, will run from 125th Street to Hanover Square.

 

http://weblogs.amny.com/entertainment/urbanite/blog/2009/05/stimulus_cash_for_second_ave_s_1.html

 

 

 

 

Iowa is great news. Other than Ohio and Indiana, in the 1930s Iowa had one of the nation's most extensive systems of early intercity rail, electric interurban railways, and some of their interurban lines were the last to fade away.

 

The best-known, the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City Railway Company, now operates as a diesel-powered short line hauling freight and has celebrated its 100th anniversary.

UTA gets stimulus money for Mid-Jordan line

By Matt Canham

 

The Salt Lake Tribune

 

Updated: 05/07/2009 06:37:18 PM MDT

 

Washington » The federal government is pumping $91 million in economic stimulus money into the Utah Transit Authority's planned Mid-Jordan light rail line, according to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. 

 

http://www.sltrib.com/utahpolitics/ci_12320033

 

http://www.rideuta.com/files/03MidJoFEISch02fig2-06.pdf

 

 

they'll be lucky to complete phase one, but anyway....2nd ave is gittin paid:

 

 

Stimulus cash for Second Ave subway

 

 

The long-delayed Second Avenue subway will receive $79 million from the economic stimulus bill passed this year, Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-Manhattan), announced today.

 

The money will be used for the first phase of the project, which includes stations at 96th, 86th and 72nd streets on Second Avenue. This section is expected to be complete by 2016.

 

The full $16 billion project, currently under construction, will run from 125th Street to Hanover Square.

 

http://weblogs.amny.com/entertainment/urbanite/blog/2009/05/stimulus_cash_for_second_ave_s_1.html

 

 

 

 

 

It would be nice if they'd add back in the third set of tracks.. what a dumb cut out of the project.

I'll bet you NYers are happy with this one....

 

http://www.railwayage.com//content/view/831/121/

 

Sanders resigns as MTA executive director 

 

Buffeted by budget shortfalls in both operating and capital construction budgets, Elliot G. Sander announced his resignation, effective May 22, as executive director of New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The resignation came even as Gov. David Paterson signed legislation easing the fare increases, and eliminating many proposed service cuts, for the massive system.

 

Observers say the resignation gives Gov. Paterson wide latitude in appointing a successor, with some noting the governor considered Sander not respectful enough of the political landscape. Without mentioning Sander specifically, Paterson declared, “We’re going to have a widespread cleanup andcleanout of the MTA and start getting this place working in an effective way.”

 

Sander and current MTA Chairman H. Dale Hemmerdinger were appointed by Gov. Eliot Spitzer. Still uncertain is whether Paterson will also replace Hemmerdinger, whose term of office now expires within 30 days, as mandated bythe recently signed legislation. Hemmerdinger, or a new chairman, also would assume the title of chief executive, responsible for daily oversight of the system.

They're trying.....

 

http://www.railwayage.com//content/view/828/121/

Supporters scramble to salvage SunRail  

 

Despite the Florida legislature's repeated rejection of a 61-mile central Florida regional rail service, dubbed SunRail, Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.) and the Florida Department of Transportation continue to explore ways to keep the proposal alive.

 

 

well you'd bet wrong. sander was not the problem with the mta. he is respected, but the mta's problems dwarf him. his successor won't do any better or worse.

 

***

 

how's about a little urban spelunking? something to explore for fun:

 

 

5 Abandoned Stations of the New York Subway System

 

Fri, May 8, 2009

 

http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/featured/abandoned-stations-new-york-subway/10924

 

 

^ i wonder if any of these old stations will ever be put back into use someday?  :wtf:

 

 

 

i wonder if any of these old stations will ever be put back into use someday?  :wtf:

 

Doubtful, as most of them were closed for valid reasons.

 

At the City Hall IRT station (pictured above), the platform is only long enough for 5-car trains, and the tight curve would mean dangerously large gaps between the platform edge and the center doors of each car. There are also (overblown, IMO) security concerns with the station being almost directly underneath City Hall. However, you can still (sort of) see this station. The 6 train passes through this loop after discharging passengers at the nearby Brooklyn Bridge station, and if you remain on board and look out the train windows, you'll be able to see parts of it. Occasionally there is talk about giving the station over to the Transit Museum and re-opening it to the public, even though it wouldn't be in passenger service.

 

As for the lower level of the 42nd Street station mentioned in the article, that area is being demolished so that the #7 train can be extended westward to the Javits Center.

 

There are several abandoned sections of the subway that weren't mentioned in the article. The section with the greatest likelihood of being restored to passenger service is the unused express tracks on the F train in Brooklyn, including abandoned lower level platforms at Bergen Street. With that portion of Brooklyn seeing more development and the F train suffering from overcrowding, I think it's only a matter of time before the express tracks are put into service.

i wonder if any of these old stations will ever be put back into use someday?  :wtf:

 

Doubtful, as most of them were closed for valid reasons.

 

At the City Hall IRT station (pictured above), the platform is only long enough for 5-car trains, and the tight curve would mean dangerously large gaps between the platform edge and the center doors of each car. There are also (overblown, IMO) security concerns with the station being almost directly underneath City Hall. However, you can still (sort of) see this station. The 6 train passes through this loop after discharging passengers at the nearby Brooklyn Bridge station, and if you remain on board and look out the train windows, you'll be able to see parts of it. Occasionally there is talk about giving the station over to the Transit Museum and re-opening it to the public, even though it wouldn't be in passenger service.

 

As for the lower level of the 42nd Street station mentioned in the article, that area is being demolished so that the #7 train can be extended westward to the Javits Center.

 

There are several abandoned sections of the subway that weren't mentioned in the article. The section with the greatest likelihood of being restored to passenger service is the unused express tracks on the F train in Brooklyn, including abandoned lower level platforms at Bergen Street. With that portion of Brooklyn seeing more development and the F train suffering from overcrowding, I think it's only a matter of time before the express tracks are put into service.

 

Ive been on the lower level 42 platform as its been used for movies. in the past.  Ghost had a ton of scenes filmed there.

 

I've also been on the lower level of the Bergen Street station.  The have been times when the F train actually stopped there.  I think it was used intermittenly for a month when there was a huge fire at the bergen st. switching station.  that station controls the F/G.

 

As LIG states there are tons of stations, like worth street (6), myrtle st(b/d), 81(1), City Hall (n/r local) another platform used for movies., 9 Ave BK lower level at fourth ave that connected to a shuttle on the F Line.

 

 

Minnesota rail plan foresees HSR, freight reroute 

 

Add Rochester, Minn., officials to the list of those seeking federal stimulus funding to advance high speed rail plans and, in the process, possibly reroute freight rail traffic. The plan is supported by a powerful local political force, the famed Mayo Clinic.

 

 

 

http://www.railwayage.com//content/view/848/121/