Any updates on JFK airtrain?
 

When I was last there this past summer, a couple of people I talked to at the rental car counter said they were being told November-at least for the circle portion within the airport that will replace the buses and take you from the terminals to the rental cars at Federal Circle. Any updates as to start dates?

Two cars collided in a test on the 9th of October, but they are saying that won't delay them from starting service in 2003. It will delay me from getting on it.


They are still saying November, so they have 27 days left.

Wow. Didnt hear about that collision. Was it in the news anywhere?

Maybe theyll be ready by 2004.

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?n...d=506450&rfi=6

Not the only train incident to have hit Airtrain during testing; they had a fatal collision in September 2002 while testing that put the project back 9 months or so.

Why is this thing such a cluster-& http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...m/thumbsup.gif#?

How long have they been trying to get this thing running?

I believe the Sept 02 testing was supposed to be the final set of testing before they put paying fools on it, so it's over a year late now.

I'll believe it when I see it. The news reports still seem to be saying by the end of the year, but if service is really going to start within the next several weeks, why isn't the Port Authority Web site littered with announcements? (Lord knows it was when AirTrain Newark was getting ready to open.) AirTrain JFK actually has its own dedicated Web site as well, which looks like it was checked off of some PR person's to-do list at the beginning of the project ("Let's see... Posters, Town Hall meetings, Web site, ...") and never updated since. Even the last press release is several months old. Given all the delays so far, you'd think the Port Authority would be eager to get the word out if actual passenger service really was imminent.

Something is rotten in Howard Beach.

I think the first press release is 1998-and it indicated up and running by 2002. It really is a cluster @#*&* isn't it. You would think the least they could do is update their website more than once a year.

At the very least they should be trying to get the airport circle portion going- I think it would be so much more reliable than some of the buses (i've waited over a half hour for a National car bus).

Incompetence always seems to have a home at the port authority.. With this many accidents during testing, this is starting to look like a major design flaw..

Not that It'll prevent me using it.. but heaven help the Port authority if it ever breaks.. We're a litigious lot around here http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

In August and September, and maybe still, they were running it around on autopilot with empty cars continuously. What a waste of money this thing is turning out be.

d

The Port Authority's website mentions nothing about this. Don't hold your breath. I also agree with Doppy's sentiment about how all of this is a waste of money. The darn train, once it runs, won't even go to Manhattan....

I haven't seen this mentioned on FT yet, so I thought I'd post it.

The NY times had an article yesterday saying the Port Authority planned to have airtrain working by the holidays. (I was in JFK over Thanksgiving and it was still running on autopilot with no passengers.)

Anyway the article is here: http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/30/nyregion/30TRAI.html

They still hope to connect direct to Manhattan one day. (Like in 10 years.)

It's funny, in many of the stories they are saying things like "On track for the end of the year" and "We are still saying by the end of the year"

Hello!!! Just a few weeks ago you were saying November.

This thing is just a money pit waiting to really do some damage.

The JFK Jet Train
of course, it is going to be free to use, isn't it?