Passenger Trains > NJ Transit plus LIRR to the Meadowlands?

Why can't NJ Transit and the Long Island Rail Road operate a train from Ronkoma etc to Secaucus for football games and major concerts?

NJ Transit has had a several years relationship with MetroNorth to host football and concert trains from New Haven line points to Secaucus, where passengers board the shuttle to the stadium. The system has worked pretty well over the years, and formed the belief that NJ Transit could handle the (extremely faulty) NFL super bowl estimates.

My question - with the 4500 dula mode enginess on the property, why can't NJ Transit and Long Island Rail Road run a similar service? The 4500s could use overhead electric as far as they need it, then run on diesel power to Jamaica or a more easterly point of origin.

(The game day trains involve a dead head move on NJT to New York Penn, where MetroNorth etc takes the train to New Haven or Stamford. The train unloads at the upper level in Secaucus, and people take the lower level trains to Secaucus.)

The cut-over between D and E mode requires a 2 minute stop. That will not be allowed in the Harold Interlocking area.
NJT equipment are also not equipped with LIRR speed codes and pulse codes.

The MN service is down to one train with typically 200 people on board. It is hardly a commercial success.
LIRR does fine with thru-ticketing. People will not arrange their day around one train from 1 branch out of 9.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 09/18/14 11:57 by joemvcnj.

also those travelling from LIRR points are already on trains to NY Penn, where they have the full range of connections on NJT to the Meadowlands.

A direct train to Penn Station would be more useful, to eliminate the second transfer at Secaucus.

abyler Wrote:
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> A direct train to Penn Station would be more
> useful, to eliminate the second transfer at
> Secaucus.


Direct from the stadium to NY, right?

Physically impossible.

joemvcnj Wrote:
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> Physically impossible.

not impossible but surely impractical ie from Stadium through Sec to West End connect to M&E to Harrison reverse up Midtown direct connector on corridor to Penn. I would rather switch seats way quicker.
Also will NJT doubles fit in the east river tunnels?

"NJT doubles" ? DO you mean the multi-levels ? Of course they do. They go to Sunnyside every day, and have been on the Football trains to New Haven. The LIRR C-3 cars have a bigger roof profile. They won't make it through the Hudson River tunnels.