Penn Station New York — Trans-Hudson Capacity Analysis
Interactive workbook modeling slot ledgers, platform throughput, and dwell-time levers for terminal vs. through-running operations. Primary target: 48 trains per hour (TPH) in the peak direction. Evidence base: FRA 2024 Feasibility Report, 2021 Master Plan White Paper, 2015 Amtrak Gateway Tech Memo, & ARC Project Archives.
TPH ≥ 48 (Primary Target)
TPH 36–47 (Partial)
TPH < 36 (Below Threshold)
Through-Running Mode
Terminal Mode
| Scenario | Design Label | Mode | Active Enhancements | Trunks H/E | Tracks/Dir S / I / M |
Dwell (min) Sub / Int / Met |
T-Reocc (min) Sub / Int / Met |
Platform TPH/Dir |
Interlocking TPH/Dir |
Tunnel TPH/Dir |
Binding Constraint |
Hudson Peak TPH |
2-Way TPH |
Pass ≥48 1-Way |
Pass ≥18 1-Way |
Pass ≥36 2-Way |
Cost ($B) |
Cost/TPH ($B) |
|---|
Active Scenario — Click Any Row to Edit
BL — Baseline Terminal
Hudson Peak Throughput by Scenario (trains per hour, peak direction)
Red dashed line = 48 TPH primary target. Scenarios meeting target highlighted in green.
Capacity Constraint Comparison — Active Scenario
Platform, interlocking, and tunnel capacity per direction
Terminal vs. Through-Running: Binding Constraint Analysis
Why through-running eliminates the interlocking conflict bottleneck
Platform Reoccupancy Times by Service Type (active scenario)
Total time a platform track is occupied per train movement (dwell + non-dwell + reversal penalty)
Per-Track TPH by Service Type — All Scenarios
Suburban / Intercity / Metro throughput per allocated track
Dwell Time Decomposition — How Terminal Operations Create the Bottleneck
Dwell (dark) + Non-dwell (mid) + Reversal Penalty (light red) = Total Reoccupancy. Through-running eliminates the reversal component entirely.
Total Capital Cost by Scenario ($B)
Includes station works, interlocking, signals, turnback infrastructure, and interoperability. Excludes broader network investments (Raritan Valley electrification, Hell Gate expansion, etc.) which are debated as prerequisites.
Cost-Efficiency: Capital Cost per TPH Delivered ($B / TPH)
Lower is better. Through-running scenarios consistently outperform equivalent terminal investment.
Cost vs. Capacity Scatter — Each Point is a Scenario
Ideal scenarios are in the upper-left (high TPH, low cost). Green = Pass ≥48 TPH. Yellow = 36–47 TPH. Red = below 36 TPH.
Core Operational & Infrastructure Assumptions — Sourced to FRA & ARC Project Archives
| Parameter Key | Value | Unit | Description | Evidence | PDF Page |
|---|
Evidence Base — Document Sources & Quotes
| Evidence ID | Source | Page / Table | Pattern / Finding | Short Quote |
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Model Formulas
| Output Field | Formula | Description |
|---|