GRAND CENTRAL MADISON |
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East Side Access Opening Day - Wednesday January 25th, 2023 | |||
Grand Central Madison Open for Business - Railway Age January 26, 2023 Contributing Editor, David Peter Alan
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For more than a century, LIRR riders have had West Side access to Penn Station, as well as service to Atlantic Terminal in downtown Brooklyn, which replaced a much-larger one roughly a half-century ago. Giving Long Islanders East Side access is not a new idea; a plan was developed in the 1950s and proposed in 1963. Construction began in 1969 on the 63rd Street Tunnel, a two-over-two tube that was built to house tracks for the subway on the upper level and for the LIRR on the lower. Construction was stalled when the city became caught up in a fiscal crisis in the mid-1970s. The tunnel was eventually completed after decades of delays, and the subway system’s F-Train began running on its upper level in 2001. Now, 22 years later, the lower level finally has LIRR revenue trains running in it. Non-revenue trains began running on January 11, 2023
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![]() Grand Central Madison LIRR ticket office 1/26/2023 Photo: Marc A. Hermann/MTA |
![]() Grand Central Madison art work 1/26/2023 Photo: Marc A. Hermann/MTA |
![]() Grand Central Madison art work 1/26/2023 Photo: Marc A. Hermann/MTA |
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Grand Central Madison Inaugural Ride - January 25, 2023 | |||
![]() East Side Access Opening Day timetable board over the Jamaica platform showing the 10:45am departure to Grand Central Madison |
![]() Opening Day ticket to Grand Central Madison (GSM) from Jamaica 1/25/2023 Attendee/Collection: Dave Morrison |
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![]() Yet to be filled rack for the new Grand Central Madison timetables
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![]() Jamaica Departure Board - First train to Grand Central 10:45am Photo: The LIRR Today |
![]() Grand Central Madison display board ![]()
Photos: Dave Morrison, unless noted. |
![]() Grand Central Madison (GSM) 180 ft. long escalator |
![]() Grand Central Direct 2023 drumhead |
![]() GSM First train outbound departed at 11:46am |
![]() Collector Kelly Curry |
![]() Janno Lieber - MTA Board Chairman at Jamaica Station |
![]() Westbound Conductor Antonio Hutchinson |
![]() Westbound Engineer John Zabniak |
![]() First Train Engineer John Ponee |
![]() First Train Conductor Lindsey Lyons |
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Grand Central Madison Opening Day Timetable for 1/25/20223 ONLY. The first train was 9013, departing Jamaica at 10:45am, arriving Grand Central at 11:07am. - Courtesy of Kevin Wong |
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![]() First LIRR Passenger train to Grand Central Madison - Newsday 1/26/2023 |
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![]() M9 #9188 arrival at GSM platform level 1/27/2023 Photos/Archive: Kevin Wong ![]() |
![]() GSM - LIRR ticket office 1/27/2023 Photo: Kevin Wong |
![]() GSM future Ticket Vending Machine 1/31/2023 Photo: Everett Bajkowski |
![]() GSM Corridor 1/31/2023 Photo: Everett Bajkowski |
![]() M7 #7492 Video surveillance sign 1/31/2023 Photo: Everett Bajkowski |
![]() ![]() Grand Central Madison (GSM) LIRR access 180 ft. long escalators 1/31/2023 Photos/Archive: Everett Bajkowski |
![]() M7 #7761 arrival at GSM LIRR platform level 1/27/2023 Photo: Jake Rothman |
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Grand Central - City Terminal Zone Branch Timetable - Grand Central Madison to Jamaica Direct Shuttle Service 1/26/2023 | |||
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![]() Madison Concourse Photo/Archive: Tom Alf |
![]() LIRR Escalators Photo/Archive: Tom Alf |
![]() LIRR Madison passage view S to GCT 2/03/2023 Photo/Archive: John Ciesla |
![]() LIRR Mezzanine 2/03/2023 Photo/Archive: John Ciesla |
![]() "Water's Way" by Kiki Smith 2/03/2023 Photo/Archive: John Ciesla |
![]() "The Sound" by Kiki Smith 2/03/2023 Photo/Archive: John Ciesla |
![]() "The Presence" by Kiki Smith 2/03/2023 Photo/Archive: John Ciesla |
![]() "The Spring" by Kiki Smith 2/03/2023 Photo/Archive: John Ciesla |
![]() LIRR Destination Board 2/03/2023 Photo/Archive: John Ciesla |
![]() Ticket Mineola to GSM 2/03/2023 Photo/Archive: John Ciesla |
![]() Grand Central Madison TVMs - 2/18/2023 Photo/Archive: Craig Lignelli |
![]() Grand Central Station - 2/18/2023 Photo/Archive: Craig Lignelli |
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GSM - Shuttle Service at Woodside | |||
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Jamaica to Grand Central shuttle trains. Started on Wednesday, January 25, this operation will end after next Sunday, February 26, when General Order 102 goes into effect with the full schedule to Grand Central. M7 #7279 (Bombardier
Transportation, 6/2004) comes to a stop at Woodside station with train #9633
(Jamaica-Grand Central) in this view SE. Info/Photo/Archive: Jeff Erlitz - 2/19/2023
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M7 7130 (Bombardier Transportation, 6/2003) leads train #9634 (Grand Central-Jamaica) just west of Woodside station in a view northwest with Signal Bridge 30 spanning the six-track right-of-way. This train was one of the alternating all-local trips. The other trips operate express between Grand Central and Jamaica. These Safetran color-light automatic block signals replaced traditional position light signals as part of the reconfiguration of Harold Interlocking for East Side Access. Consist: 7130-7129+7288-7287+7774-7773+7408-7407 Info/Photo/Archive: Jeff Erlitz - 2/19/2023 |
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The same train about to pass under Signal Bridge 30 west of the station. Note that the white arrow is lit under the signal’s number plate, denoting this train is lined at Harold for the Grand Central Branch. Note also that there are arrows for Main Line Track 4 (on the left) and Port Washington Branch Track 1, even though there are no wayside signals here for those two tracks. The home signals at Harold also have these arrow indicators. For whatever reason, they felt this “advance” warning was warranted. The eastbound home signals at Harold have had similar arrow indicators (denoting a route established to the Port Washington Branch) ever since WIN Tower burned way back in March 1977! Those signals do not have an advance warning like these here do. Info/Photo/Archive: Jeff Erlitz - 2/19/2023 |
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M7 7407 (Bombardier
Transportation, 4/2005) leads all-stops local train #9637 (Jamaica-Grand
Central) under Woodside Avenue and into Woodside station in this view
southeast. Wood Interlocking, which is not on Main Line Tracks 1 and 3 here,
was initially placed in service on 3/21/1988 but only on the Port Washington
Branch on the left. The home signals on the signal bridge here, and the
single crossover you see Consist: 7407-7408+7773-7774+7287-7288+7129-7130 Info/Photo/Archive: Jeff Erlitz - 2/19/2023 |
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Note: EQ Trains are equipment trains designated as Q in the timetable. These are non-revenue passenger moves to reposition the train into the location it’s needed for service or to the yard/servicing facility. |
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