At the Second Avenue - Houston Street station on the F line, the Nostalgia Train ends another round trip, soon to wait for another journey uptown. At each end of the trips, there is usually a pause for picture taking. ( Photo: Ralph Spielman) Time Travel, Anyone? Nostalgia Train Rides Every Sunday in December All aboard! The vintage subway nostalgia train, featuring cars with rattan seats, incandescent light bulbs, paddle fans,... News 25 Nov 2025 | 09:49
Visitors to Pier 26 in Tribeca check out the Seneca Chief replica on October 26. On the same date 200 years earlier, the original Seneca Queen completed its journey from the Buffalo through the brand new Eire Canal to Manhattan, marking a new era in the city as a thriving hub of commerce. ( Photo: Ralph Spielman) Seneca Chief Ends 500+ Mile Journey to NYC to Mark 200th Anniversary of Erie Canal October 26, 1825 was the dawn of a new era for New York and at that time, the 24-state United States when a small canal boat... News 27 Oct 2025 | 09:40
A grim-faced Governor Kathy Hochul (at mic), flanked by NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch (left) and MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Leiber (second from right), demanding that Homeland Security disburse the $34 million earmarked for counterterrorism in the MTA. Of the 21 applicants for the funds, the MTA was the only one that the feds held back. ( Photo: MTA) Hochul Demands Trump Admin Restore $34 Million in Anti-Terror Funds for the MTA Tense and unsmiling, Governor Kathy Hochul spoke at a 25-minute MTA press conference on Oct. 9, calling on Kristi Noem’s... News 12 Oct 2025 | 11:18
Passing through the Port Chester station on Metro-North’s tracks, Amtrak’s Boston-bound NextGen Acela train 2170 shows off its distinctive colors and brand-new equipment. ( Photo: Ralph Spielman ) Taking a 160-mph Ride on Amtrak’s New High-Speed Train All aboard! This writer was on a preview ride from New York to Providence, RI, on Aug. 27, part of the VIP train trip between... News 08 Sep 2025 | 12:18
Shrimp, and of course oysters, are a featured offering at the new Tracks Raw Bar, which just opened in Grand Central Madison, the first and so far only restaurant in the 2-1/2-year-old station that is a quarter mile below street level. ( Photo: Ralph Spielman) Long-Awaited Tracks Raw Bar and Grill Will Be an Oasis for Hungry and Thirsty LIRR Riders Malpeques on the way to Massapequa Park? Oysters to Oyster Bay? Maybe a lobster roll to Lynbrook? Waiting for your departure... News 03 Sep 2025 | 07:32
As Amtrak Train 2154 arrived at Penn Station at 9:53am on Aug. 28,2025, history had been made. Nine years after a federal budget authorization, eight years since the first new high-speed trains were manufactured, and five years of testing, the first train to carry paying passengers had arrived in NYC. ( Photo: Ralph Spielman ) New Hi-Speed Acela Trains Hit Speeds of 160 MPH Rail transport history was made on Aug. 28 when two new higher-speed NextGen Acelas met at 10am at Penn Station/Moynihan... News 29 Aug 2025 | 06:37
Driverless taxis are being tested in Manhattan and Brooklyn through the end of September by the Waymo subsidiary of Google. For testing, though, the “driverless” cars must have someone in the driver’s seat. ( Photo: Ralph Spielman) Self-Driving Taxis Being Tested by Google in Manhattan until End of Sept. The Waymo division of Google wants to automate your shared vehicle ride in Manhattan; and the company is coming a little... News 26 Aug 2025 | 12:32
Artist’s rendering of the 125th Street entrance to the Second Avenue Subway. ( Photo: MTA) MTA Inks Contract to take 2nd Avenue Subway Farther Uptown Major work on the long-awaited expansion of the Second Avenue Subway is set to begin preliminary work next month after the... News 21 Aug 2025 | 07:53
With the 4, 5, and 6 facing disruptions, the MTA is directing riders to take N, Q, R, W. S, 2, 3 and 7 trains to reach their various destinations. ( Photo: MTA) Another Weekend of Subway Chaos Due to Track Work on 4, 5, and 6 Lines For the second weekend in a row, subway riders taking downtown 4, 5 and 6 line trains will face chaos as the busy Grand Central... News 18 Aug 2025 | 02:24
“Transit keeps the NYC economy moving,” noted MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber at the July 2025 MTA board meeting. ( Photo: Ralph Spielman) MTA Plans to Hike Subway and Bus Fares to $3 on Jan. 1 The MTA pulled back the curtain on its long-discussed rate hikes on July 30 and revealed that it will seek to boost subway... News 31 Jul 2025 | 06:01
After a curtain malfunction, Phil Rosenthal (center, flanked by John Bedolis, the Somebody Feed Phil producer, left, and Richard Rosenthal, Phil’s brother, who is the showrunner and executive producer) answered questions from the diverse audience on June 17 at the 92NY. They all sat on the edge of the stage, unfazed when the curtain failed to rise. ( Photo: Ralph Spielman) Curtain Fails to Rise but Phil Rosenthal Brings Down the House in 92NY Set A curtain malfunction did not dampen spirits during Phil Rosenthal’s recent hilarious appearance at the 92Y. Creator of the... News 27 Jun 2025 | 04:44
Bruce Caulfield, Principal Owner of Tracks Raw Bar and Grill at Grand Central Madison address media representatives at a press conference about the summer activities at Grand Central. Already 8 months behind schedule, the delayed opening of the first GCM retail space should be next month. ( Photo: Ralph Spielman) Tracks at Grand Central Madison—When Is It Opening? When Grand Central Madison finally opened to the public in February of 2023, the modern terminal space, which gives Long... Food & Drink 20 Jun 2025 | 05:17
Under the new 2025-2029 MTA Capital Program, 150 more stations will have new anti-fare evasion turnstiles like this one at the Times Square Station, with fins and paddles. ( Photo: Ralph Spielman) Congestion Pricing Nets MTA $215.7 Million; Lieber Says Big Rail Improvements Ahead “Congestion pricing isn’t just surviving, it’s thriving,” noted MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber, after the Metropolitan Transportation... News 06 Jun 2025 | 07:51
A congestion-pricing tolling device looms over Third Avenue at 60th Street for now, but will it remain? US DOT Secretary Sean Duffy wants it removed immediately, as the MTA and NY State are relying on the courts to make sure it remains. Whatever decision is made should come relatively soon. ( Photo: Ralph Spielman) Deadline Passes and Congestion Pricing Tolls Keep on Clicking . . . For Now The third federal deadline to take down the congestion-pricing tolls has passed and still the tolls remain. It could come... News 23 May 2025 | 07:27
The Robert F. Kennedy-Triborough Bridge on the UES is one of seven bridges and tunnels operated by the MTA that will install construction-zone cameras if the proms is approved by the MTA board. ( Photo: Ralph Spielman ) MTA Bridges and Tunnels May Add Cameras to Catch Speeders in Construction Zones Summer is coming up in a few weeks and the fines that have been levied for speeding in construction zones over the past years... News 16 May 2025 | 04:49
