iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Intesar Alam @intesaralam.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Well looks like after however many years they finally re opened the other staircase to tracks 18 & 19 in the Main Concourse.

The east staircase to tracks 18 & 19 reopened in the main concourse, at Penn Station.

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Intesar Alam @intesaralam.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

I didn’t realize I can take the #wmata red line shuttle to 42nd street

Yellow Mercedes Tourliner Yankee line bus turning on to Madison Ave from 42nd Street

On the side of the Tourliner bus a WMATA Metro sticker with a big M and the word “Metro” underneath.

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Intesar Alam @intesaralam.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Does anyone remember the last time the #LIRR has fully ad wrapped trains?

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Intesar Alam @intesaralam.bsky.social · 01/06/2026

Looks like the #MTA is brewing something for the #kincks

Subway entrance by the corner of 34th street and 8th being painted in orange and blue, with the green orbs turned into half basket balls

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Intesar Alam @intesaralam.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

The #LIRR #Strike situation at Flushing as a reverse peak commuters are waiting on a line twice the length of the bus due to LIRR riders having to take the bus over the train today.

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Intesar Alam @intesaralam.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Lastly most 3rd party mapping apps including Transit and Apple Maps are clearly showing that trains are suspended and won’t provide directions using the LIRR except… GOOGLE.

Transit showing a caution ⚠️ symbol and all LIRR departures to signify trains aren’t running.

Apple Maps showing service is suspended on the LIRR when trying to see departures.

Google Maps showing all upcoming scheduled departures despite there being no service. There is a little banner on top that says modified service and that service is suspended before being cut off. That alert with the scheduled departures showing does not do a good job of showing people there’s a system wide suspension.

Google Maps showing directions using the LIRR despite there being no trains actually running. Instead they opt to show a little alert that doesn’t even tell you there’s no service.

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Intesar Alam @intesaralam.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

At Grand Central it looks like the LIRR shut down for the night and they forgot to reopen it, unless you a bit of a psycho like me and only use the entrance at 47th St and Madison Av. That entrance seems to be the only entrance that makes it clear that there is a strike.

The esclators at One Vanderbilt curtained off, with a departure board next to it displaying a generic sign letting people how to get information.

Entrance on the lower level of Grand Central gated off

Entrances at 47th street locked with signs posted

Th 2 signs posted on the door at 47th street displaying “LIRR strike in effect LIRR service is suspended” and “ENTRANCE
CLOSED NO TRAINS”

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Intesar Alam @intesaralam.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Multiple sections of Penn Station are closed off, but that hasn’t stopped people from coming in despite the picketing going on at the main entrance. Traffic on the street is brutal with multiple planned closures exacerbating the issue.

Central corridor gated closed with the entrance to tracks 20 and 21 barricaded with the departure board displaying “no passengers”

Bottom of the Esclators at 33rd street where there are still plenty of people, most of whom are eat at concourses restaurants, passengers for Amtrak or NJT, or are unaware that service has been shut down.

Picketing taking place at the 33rd St and 7th Ave entrance

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Intesar Alam @intesaralam.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

#LIRR Strike 2026 photo dump. The situation at Penn Station is pretty clear no trains all LIRR tracks have been assigned dummy trains to say no passengers.

Main destination board at Penn Station displaying in high text Service Suspended.

Vertical departure board displaying “No Passengers” on tracks 14-21

Main Ticket office at Penn Station barricaded with signs saying “LIRR Strike” and “There is no Long Island Railroad service at this time”

Doors to tracks 18 and 19 shut and barricaded

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Intesar Alam @intesaralam.bsky.social · 02/05/2026

Watching what I believe could be the last 3 #Spirit flights landing in Dallas right now. It feels a bit sad to see the go especially since I never got the opportunity to try them. Wishing for the best for all affected employees and stranded passengers.

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Intesar Alam @intesaralam.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

It’s the first time Ive seen a @nytransitmuseum.bsky.social museum bus on 42nd street since the pandemic. I miss the winters when they would run on the M42.

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Intesar Alam @intesaralam.bsky.social · 17/04/2026

KFC deserves an award for this one 😂

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Intesar Alam @intesaralam.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

Just spotted a former DC circulator bus operating as a shuttle on 34th street. Didn’t catch the operator though.

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Intesar Alam @intesaralam.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

I was pretty disappointed with the meal service, my lactose intolerant meal somehow turned into a Hindu meal and then a gluten free meal. After telling them what I ordered I received meal with tougher and butter. They fixed it after I noticed them again and swapped it out for apple sauce.

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Intesar Alam @intesaralam.bsky.social · 29/03/2026

I usually tried to avoid United but JetBlue’s partnership with them eliminated their SEA to JFK flight. I guess it’s finally time to see what United is like.

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Intesar Alam @intesaralam.bsky.social · 29/03/2026

I love Sound Transit open door policy on express buses, it’s nice to be able to opt for a MCI or Alexander Dennis for a short downtown trip. Especially when you don’t want to wait for a local bus.

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Intesar Alam @intesaralam.bsky.social · 29/03/2026

I didn’t get to do achieve the goals I wanted complete today because of how busy it was, but that’s ok, I’m happy to see a city so enthusiastic about a historical new transit project which will forever transform how people commute here.

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Intesar Alam @intesaralam.bsky.social · 28/03/2026

4 hours after opening the station there is still a line at Judkins Park Station #CrosslakeConnection

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Intesar Alam @intesaralam.bsky.social · 28/03/2026

I got the stamps but can I get back to Judkins before they run out of hats???

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Intesar Alam @intesaralam.bsky.social · 28/03/2026

I probably should gotten here earlier the line is massive. Will I make it on the first train? Stay tuned.

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Intesar Alam @intesaralam.bsky.social · 28/03/2026

Seattle has been pretty good to me today. I’m definitely excited for @sound-transit.bsky.social Crosslake Connection opening day event tomorrow.

On the upper deck of the 510 from Everett to Seattle traveling south on I5 just before Mountlake Terrace following behind 515 underneath the 2 line train.

Orca spotted while riding the Seattle Bremerton Ferry on the Puget Sound

Sailing past the Kitsap Fast Ferry and the WSDOT ferry behind it. With downtown Seattle and the Space Needle in view.

A Sound Transit Route 545 bus being substituted with a King County Metro Branded DE60LFR. Instead of a normal Sound Transit branded bus.

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Intesar Alam @intesaralam.bsky.social · 21/03/2026

#Metrocard is now joining the same fate as Tokens as the MTA begins to remove metrocard readers from turnstiles across the system. We’re nearing the end of the phase out of Metrocards in general.

The big cover is the location of where the MetroCard reader used to be. The small cover is the location of where tokens used to to be accepted to enter through the turnstile.

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Intesar Alam @intesaralam.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

I won’t be able to afford a house with the current state of how things are, but I can definitely afford the trip to the land of the trains.

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Intesar Alam @intesaralam.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

Looks like the #LIRR did a pretty good job clearing out platforms this time around, much better than what was seen during the last big storm time. Trains are running on a weekend schedule, with some branches suspended, so they’re much busier than normal.

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Intesar Alam @intesaralam.bsky.social · 14/02/2026

Also some Amtrak themed Valentine’s Day cards 💙

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Intesar Alam @intesaralam.bsky.social · 14/02/2026

Taking a trip over the old portal bridge today, most likely my last time over this bridge before it gets cut over to the new one. It’s definitely exciting to see this new bridge complete.

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Intesar Alam @intesaralam.bsky.social · 04/02/2026

Well I wanting expecting to see this today in the broadway line

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Intesar Alam @intesaralam.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

Never have I ever seen bus traffic backed up as much as it is here. Looks like if anyone takes a #MTA bus that goes through downtown #Flushing they should expect massive delays.

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Intesar Alam @intesaralam.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

Apparently the new entrance at 47th Street for #GrandCentral has opened up, but I’m not sure when. It should help relieve overcrowding on the current entrance at the old JP Morgan building.

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Intesar Alam @intesaralam.bsky.social · 04/01/2026

“Oh no metro cards are gone,” as I use one to get on the bus.

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Intesar Alam @intesaralam.bsky.social · 02/01/2026

Looks like the MTA updated the UI for service alerts on buses, looks a lot better than what we had before.

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Intesar Alam @intesaralam.bsky.social · 21/12/2025

So the #LIRR added a new penny press machine at the GCM waiting room, it costs one penny to use.

4 penny designs from Top to bottom
- LIRR Service Grand Central Madison
- Opening day Grand Central Madison February 27th 2023
- MTA Dashing Dollie (Dashing commuter)
- MTA Dashing Dan (Dashing commuter)

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Intesar Alam @intesaralam.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

Got a surprise #wmata mystery train, where it goes? Nobody knows (It was a green line train to Branch Av)

Departure board at Gallery Place

1. ? - 6 cars - Train - Arriving
3. Green - 6 cars - Branch Av - 7 minutes

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Intesar Alam @intesaralam.bsky.social · 28/11/2025

‪Finally an up close look at the #LIRR holiday train, but it probably would look better at night. ‬

M9 train wrapped up with string lights at a station platform

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Intesar Alam @intesaralam.bsky.social · 25/11/2025

Unable to take a photo but the #LIRR seems to have gotten its own #holidaytrain this year. It’s looks similar to the Metro North one from last year. Here’s a reference picture of the Metro North one.

Holiday train on 11/25/25 on train 1511 from Huntington to Penn with the consists from west to east 9187-9188-9005-9006-9165-9166-9059-9060.

Metro North Holiday train. M8 decorated in string lights.

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Intesar Alam @intesaralam.bsky.social · 08/11/2025

I wonder how many people who are willing to upgrade to go first class are too stubborn to use anything but public transit at their destination. I have to fall under some minority of a minority.

First class dining on Acela. Located on a 1x1 table seat with 2 seats facing each other. On the table sit a tray with 2 drinks right behind it. From left to right croissant, granola bar, cranberry cocktail, a plate of assorted fruit with a tiny bowl of oat meal in the middle, and a bottle of sparkling water.

2 Gillig DART buses at Wilmington Transit Center, at lane B the one in the left is parked. The one on the right is arriving from a trip on line 2.

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Intesar Alam @intesaralam.bsky.social · 11/10/2025

Wait this is big! Planes and train working together makes traveling easier for everyone. I hope Amtrak can do that same with their airport stations too.

Announcing Brightline × JetBlue on one ticket.

ONE ITINERARY.
ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES.

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Intesar Alam @intesaralam.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

Can’t really say I’m confident about the bus substitution plan if the LIRR strike goes through, the 7 is one of the busiest subways lines in Queens and Howard Beach is after the split on the A, while also being the busier of the 2 branches.

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Intesar Alam @intesaralam.bsky.social · 28/08/2025

Looks like my Acela-bration comes to an end, safe travels to Boston.

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Intesar Alam @intesaralam.bsky.social · 28/08/2025

Testing out the Wifi on #amtrak next gen #acela and looks like it’s good enough you can game on it now. It was a challenge to connect but it is possible and I got a couple games in.

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Intesar Alam @intesaralam.bsky.social · 28/08/2025

Coming back looks of fan fare just like this morning.

Next gen Acela on the left previous gen Acela on the right

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Intesar Alam @intesaralam.bsky.social · 28/08/2025

Had to get off early to make sure I had time to catch my southbound but I’m glad I did, I love the new cabin.

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Intesar Alam @intesaralam.bsky.social · 28/08/2025

Unfortunately the train got stuck at the first stop BWI due to a door issue. We’re back on the move now.

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Intesar Alam @intesaralam.bsky.social · 28/08/2025

Riding the first train out of DC today

Next Gen Acela at WAS station departed at 6:50

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Intesar Alam @intesaralam.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

Looks like I’m getting an early sneak peak into the future of @amtrak.com #acela

2 Amtrak next gen Avelia Liberty train sets at Penn Station on the same platform. On the closer side we have the nose of one unit and on the further we have the an open door to car 3 of the other unit.

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Intesar Alam @intesaralam.bsky.social · 26/08/2025

Looks like people are packing on #LIRR trains to go US Open. Public transit is crucial for special events like this. It’s a shame our neighbors down south didn’t get the message.

10:21 Train to Port Washington from Penn Station completely full with visitors headed to the us Open. All seats and standing space in the aisles are occupied.

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