It's amazing to have heard this more than 10 years ago, but let's see if it really happens: NEW YORK POST ARTICLE: February 7, 2003 -- President Bush gave the East Side Access project a thumbs up yesterday - recommending it get funding from Congress this year. The project, which would give Long Island Rail Road riders access into Grand Central Terminal, would cost $5.27 billion and is slated for completion in 2011. The plan is expected to be reviewed when Congress considers a transportation package later this year. Gov. Pataki said getting money for the project would be a "positive step forward" for the city's economy. East Side Access would eventually shuttle more than 50,000 LIRR commuters into Grand Central each day. Clemente Lisi NY POST
LIRR goes to the lower level of PennStation. Amtrak from the old NYC down the Hudson line also goes into PennStation. They leave the main line at Spuyten Dyvul (spelling) and down the old west side line and through a new connection to Penn Station. No more ATK in Grand Central.
Both you guys are right. Gil, Amtrak no longer serves GCT, only the Metro North RR operates from GCT. Empire Corridor Amtrak trains along the Hudson come down right past my house under Riverside Park and into Penn Station. Fitz, the LIRR has always used Penn Station, and will continue to. The old General Post Office on 8th Ave. will eventually become Amtrak's new home, leaving Penn Station for the LIRR and NJT trains. That's not a big deal since many tracks exist there under all those buildings now. What I can't figure out is how they will get the LIRR into GCT. That's on 42nd St. on the East Side while Penn Station is on 32nd St. on the West Side. The #7 subway line from Queens serves GCT, but that's only one track in and one out. There is no way to displace the 97 trillion people who ride the 7 line every day!!!!!!! But, like I mentioned, this project was thought up quite a while ago. It's not something new.
Johnny - When I was with FRA inspecting the west side line the Penn Central people used to drive into the park and there were locked gates you could enter and climb down a ladder to the track to check the signals. I don't see how LIRR is going to get to GCT but is should be quite a project. The tracks leaving GCT go north but there are loop tracks on both levels at the south end they use to turn trains so that may be the way they come in.
As JT says, this has been the talking stage for a long time. I hope it will finally move forward. Now, how about getting a few Metro North trains to Penn Station? [ 08. February 2003, 16:40: Message edited by: Peirce ]
GiL, it's a wonder at all if this money will be spent wisely........... Peirce, (you know this already!) in Hoboken on NJT, Metro North runs the Port Jervis train so sometimes their cars get into a nice mixed consist! Wouldn't it be interesting to see MNRR cars heading out to Montauk while LIRR cars run up along the Hudson Line!!!!!!! But.......with the talk of merging those lines together anyway without this GCT thing........it could happen until all the cars are reletterd for whatever they may call the whole thing. Then......we loose the LIRR name forever.......
JT - It will be a while before you see that. The LIRR cars use an over running third rail while Metro North use an under running third rail. In addition the COnn DOT cars change from shoes to pantagraph around New Rochelle. The LIRR and Metro North cars are only equipped for third rail.
