LIRR Mineola Blvd bridge

halmallon wrote:

>Does anyone know if there is a website with details of the new LIRR Mineola
>Blvd bridge being built in Mineola, LI? As it gets closer to completion, it
>looks odd. There are support structures built right onto the platform (I assume
>the platforms will be extended in the other direction); plus one in the middle
>of an arch. Is it being built with the future possibility of a 3rd track being
>run between Bellerose and Hicksville in mind?
>
>
Yes to your last sentence

Joe Versaggi <JOEMVCNJ@att.net> wrote:
> halmallon wrote:
> >Is it being built with the future possibility of a 3rd track being
> >run between Bellerose and Hicksville in mind?
> >
> Yes to your last sentence

It looks like that's the reason they put a bridge support pillar
through the eastbound platform -- so they could add a third track to
the south, making the current eastbound platform an island platform.

-Apr

halmallon wrote:

>To me that doesn't make much sense. I thought the whole point of the third
>track was to make reverse commuting easier. Wouldn't it be better to have a
>middle track surrounded on both sides by the east bound and west bound tracks?
>If the current eastbound track becomes an island platform, any non-stopping
>trains running thru Mineola will have to slow down while going thru the station
>(or anybody on that island platform runs the risk of getting knocked over by
>the wind gust). Without the island platform, wouldn't the trains not have to
>slow down?
>
>
I though the plan was to have 2 island platforms which would also
facilitate Oyster Bay trains to run off peak as shuttles into the middle
track.

Joe Versaggi <JOEMVCNJ@att.net> wrote:
> halmallon wrote:
> >If the current eastbound track becomes an island platform, any non-stopping
> >trains running thru Mineola will have to slow down while going thru the station
> >(or anybody on that island platform runs the risk of getting knocked over by
> >the wind gust).

Head over to any station on the Babylon Line at any time of the day or
week, and you'll see express trains blasting through stations on
platform tracks without slowing down.

Also, I can't think of any better reverse commute destination on Long
Island than Mineola, since it has lots of office buildings within
walking distance of the station, and a good network of reasonably
frequent bus routes.

> I though the plan was to have 2 island platforms which would also
> facilitate Oyster Bay trains to run off peak as shuttles into the middle
> track.

Why not run turn Oyster Bay shuttles around on the northernmost track
so they wouldn't conflict with through westbound trains which could
use the middle track? Or is the goal to avoid making passengers cross
over from the other island platform?

-Apr