Passenger Trains > "Cab Ride" on JFK's Air train

Haven't seen much if anything about the JFK Air Train here on TO.  The Air Train is an autonomous light rail system that links the LIRR's Jamaica station and the MTA's Howard Beach station with the various terminals at John F. Kennedy International airport in Queens, NY.   It's a fairly impressive system, and is super convenient for anyone travelling to JFK from almost any place in NYC or Long Island.  

Anywho, here's a cell phone video taken yesterday from the "cab", starting at the Federal Circle Station (mainly rental car places) and ending at the LIRR Jamaica station.  We pass several "trains" headed towards the airport,  travel down the median of the Van Wyck Expressway ("nobody beats the Van Wyck"), and end up getting glimpses of Jamaica Station and the recently built high-rises surrounding the station.

Hope you enjoy.

Rob Benkovitz
West Palm Beach, FL

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Very nice. Meanwhile the saga at LGA continues. The former JFK Ramada Plaza a/k/a Heartbreak Hotel at the beginning of the video has been vacant for almost 12 years now. 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/22/21 08:35 by ctillnc.

Great video. When I rode on it last I noticed they had severely cut down the speed through curves as a result of the lead bogies hunting (moving side to side) quite noticeably. I believe a turn I had once gone through at 35mph quite uncomfortably was closer to 15mph.

At Jamaica, you caught an LIRR M-9 consist, as well as the new Platform F for eventual Brooklyn shuttle trains. 

I had no idea this even existed. Looks very similar to the system in use at Frankfurt Flughaffen. 

Train29 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I had no idea this even existed. Looks very
> similar to the system in use at Frankfurt
> Flughaffen. 

I think it is based on Vancouver and Toronto.  
The fare goes from $7.75 to $8 next year. The Q10 bus costs $2.75 with free transfers crossing 3 trunk el or subway lines.

joemvcnj Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Train29 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I had no idea this even existed. Looks very
> > similar to the system in use at Frankfurt
> > Flughaffen. 
>
> I think it is based on Vancouver and Toronto.  

Yes - it uses linear-induction motor-powered cars (you can see the aluminum induction strip between the rails), purportedly based upon the Vancouver Skytrain design.

Nice ride!

Thanks for sharing

Cool video.  I've also taking it in the dark which was great watching the stopped traffic on the Van Wyck.  

Good video, best seat in the house.  I think I'd call it "heavy rail" with those speeds and line construction.

Andy

joemvcnj Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Train29 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I had no idea this even existed. Looks very
> > similar to the system in use at Frankfurt
> > Flughaffen. 
>
> I think it is based on Vancouver and Toronto.  
> The fare goes from $7.75 to $8 next year. The Q10
> bus costs $2.75 with free transfers crossing 3
> trunk el or subway lines.

Wow!  In late 2013, I believe I paid just over $5.
 

Nice video.
Cab rides are the best.
-j

That's pretty neat!

I remember where I was today 58 years ago today and I know a few of you do also. Relates with this post in a way.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/22/21 19:11 by steamloco.

steamloco Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I remember where I was today 58 years ago today
> and I know a few of you do also. Relates with this
> post in a way. 
    
I was in a large sewing factory, 600 sewing machines operating, noisy, and all the machines suddenly stopped. Silence. WTF?
Thanks for vid and audio, rbenko.
 

rbenko Wrote:
> Yes - it uses linear-induction motor-powered cars
> (you can see the aluminum induction strip between
> the rails), purportedly based upon the Vancouver
> Skytrain design.

I also see what looks like third-rail along the entire line.  In addition to linear-induction, could cars with conventional electric motors also use this line?

Jckaufman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> rbenko Wrote:
> > Yes - it uses linear-induction motor-powered
> cars
> > (you can see the aluminum induction strip
> between
> > the rails), purportedly based upon the
> Vancouver
> > Skytrain design.
>
> I also see what looks like third-rail along the
> entire line.  In addition to linear-induction,
> could cars with conventional electric motors also
> use this line?

No. It has to be linear induction propelled trains. 

I found this on Google maps a while back. Thanks for the ride, very interesting.
Gonut

Thanks for the positive feedback everyone - glad people enjoyed it.  Not a very scenic ride, but still kind of interesting to us foamers.

Anyone get the "nobody beats the Van Wyck" reference?

What happened to the Carey Coach?  I took that LGA to JFK and from both into the city a lot.