FRA Study Lifts Penn Station Capacity to 30-32 Trains an Hour With 33% Gain
Updated
Updated · New York Daily News · Jul 16
FRA Study Lifts Penn Station Capacity to 30-32 Trains an Hour With 33% Gain
3 articles · Updated · New York Daily News · Jul 16
Summary
24 trains an hour at Penn Station could rise to 30-32 under a new Federal Railroad Administration service-optimization study, one of the first federal outlines of track-level operating gains in the redesign.
33% higher throughput would come largely from cutting train dwell times by moving passengers faster, with the report citing crowded platforms, queues at stairs and elevators, clutter and weak signage as bottlenecks.
Three southern platforms — 1, 2 and 3 — should be extended westward, the study said, alongside more stairs, escalators and elevators to boost circulation, safety, accessibility and concourse capacity.
2035 is the target opening for Gateway's new Hudson River tunnel, with all four tubes expected in service by 2038; a second study phase due in 2028 will examine broader rail changes and possible NJ Transit-LIRR through-running.