Not necessarily. There will be less direct service leaving from Penn during rush hour once the new schedules go into effect. Most people will want to get one of the direct trains to their destination without having to transfer at Jamaica so more demand for those trains. Also trains will be shorter as in no more 12 cars due to not enough equipment to service both Grand Central and Penn until new train cars are delivered. I think those who still need to use Penn will be unhappy once the full service changes go into effect next month but Im hopeful it wont be that bad.

Agreed, the mad dash you describe is here to stay and a uniquely Penn Station problem. It is just too cramped to have it any other way in that bitch ass basement. That's the magic of Grand Central - it's built to circulate people a million times better. To hell with these whiny arguments about how deep the tracks are at GCT. Sure it's a pity but I'm moving on with my life.

If somehow they could fundamentally spread things out better at Penn, that would be pretty dope. I see the way they've blown out the area that used to be McDonald's on the 7th Ave side of Penn though and I'm starting to wonder if they're trying to make that more of an open space. I think there is a case for some low key optimism for what they're trying to do at Penn Station, just this one's opinion.