Board a train in Long Island, bound directly for New Jersey!

In this WEBEO, I explore the possibilities of extending the Long Island Rail Road to New Jersey via Brooklyn and Staten Island. Currently, NJ and Long Island are some of the most densely populated regions in the USA, but don’t currently have a direct train service.

Given the significant interaction between the two places, a direct train line bypassing Manhattan would be a big boon to tourists and commuters alike. Under this proposal, JFK Airport will be directly connected with New Jersey, and northern Staten Island will finally get a commuter rail line to St. George for the ferry. In addition, this same line serves as a perimeter metro in Brooklyn, connecting with the R, D, N, 2, 5, A, C, J, Z, and L trains, allowing travel from east to west Brooklyn not necissate a trip to and from Manhattan.

The line starts in Jamaica, the primary hub of the Long Island Rail Road, serving JFK and nearly all LIRR branches. From there, the NJ-bound trains will travel on the old Montauk Branch of Middle Village before turning south on the Bay Ridge Branch. The trains will continue through Brooklyn and enter a 6.1mi long tunnel under the Hudson Bay, and then stop at four locales in northern Staten Island. Finally, a 1.9mi long tunnel under the Kill van Kull allows trains to continue to New Jersey and directly onto the Northeast Corridor for Trenton, Philadelphia, and beyond!

Line length = 27.6mi/44.4km
Top speed = 80mph (127 km/h)

Stations: (From LIRR mainline), Jamaica, Middle Village, East New York, Remsen Avenue, Flatbush Avenue, 14th Avenue, Bay Ridge Avenue, St. George, New Brighton, Port Richmond, Arlington, Bayway Park/Ride, (onto NE Corridor).

By: Atharv Gupte