Point fingers all you want…us commuters have one finger we’d like to point.
There was an AP article in the media discussing the about prioritization between NJ Transit and Amtrak trains: NJ Transit, Amtrak at odds on delays
Here was a bit more in depth analysis at The Record: NJ Transit, Amtrak disagree over who’s to blame for delays
After reading this it is quite clear that our woes as commuters will not be clearing up anytime soon. With two organizations competing for one physical space, there will ALWAYS be someone who loses out. Everyone tries for these win-win situations but as we all know, no matter how much both parties are winning, someone wins more. Always remember that. I’ve been reading and living through this issue ever since I started commuting. Has it gotten worse over the past few years? I don’t think so. Does that mean that it’s gotten any better? I doubt it. It feels the same. Day in and day out. Do I think that NJ Transit makes announcements about uncontrollable Amtrak problems a bit too much? Absolutely yes. I realize that NJ Transit on the NEC and into NY Penn operates on Amtrak tracks. Don’t sugar coat excuses when I pay $263 a month to NJ Transit - not to Amtrak. I am NJ Transit’s customer, not Amtrak’s. If there is a switching problem, don’t try and make me feel better by saying it’s Amtrak’s switch problem because at the end of the day, it doesn’t do anything for you. Just say there’s a switch problem. I’m already going to be delayed/late. You’ve already communicated there’s a problem. We appreciate that. Do not, however, play the “this problem is not our fault” card and tell us it’s Amtrak’s switch problem. It’s a switch problem on the tracks that my monthly pass takes me. That’s your problem. Nothing more, nothing less.
Oh, and this comment is for David Michaels who wrote the second article above. You say “In most cases, the delays are marginal — about 12 minutes or less.” Most of us ride the train 30-60 minutes I’d say. Your marginal delays are 20-40%. Hey David, how about you give me a marginal part of your salary? Would you say that percentage is marginal then?
Tags: Amtrak, delays, NJ Transit, train
January 1st, 2007 at 5:41 pm
it’s funny to read this post since even thought i don’t commute on the ne corridor, i encounter this type of finger pointing and apathy in my line of work as well. it seems that somewhere alone the line it became ok to blame the other guy like it’s going to make it better. well, it’s not. as an open plea to anyone who reads this, please join me in starting 2007 off right by taking responsibility for your actions and even if it isn’t your fault, don’t say if it is or it isn’t - simply apologize and move on. i too am tired of everyone saying it’s not me. well if it’s not you, then who is it? it has to be somebody!? happy new year to all of you and make 07 the year of personal responsibility!
January 1st, 2007 at 8:10 pm
Amen subdivisions. I’ll let you know when blame starts flying ‘cross the tracks
January 2nd, 2007 at 9:58 am
See additional comments here under the Transithell.com Forum -
http://www.transithell.com/forum/index.php?topic=23.0
January 2nd, 2007 at 5:29 pm
[…] From the Transithell.com site, you can file this under the heading of “it only hurts when I laugh:” Point fingers all you want…us commuters have one finger we’d like to point. […]
January 4th, 2007 at 5:12 am
here’s a good example. it almost looks like branded transit locations. i’ll talk to amtrak to see if I can get my name on the bridge then njt can blame the transithell bridge. it would make more sense.
Jan 04, 2007 07:51:35 AM
Due to earlier Amtrak bridge problems, trains in/out of New York are subject to 15-30 minute delays.
January 16th, 2007 at 11:35 am
At least it’s not always Amtrak they blame!
“Due to an earlier disabled Trailways bus, all service to and from New York PABT is operating 20 to 30 minutes late. “
June 1st, 2007 at 8:54 pm
amtrak owns the Northeast Corridor. NJT leases operating rights. all signals, switches, etc., are amtrak owned, operated, and maintained. any failure of any of those devices is ultimately in amtrak’s hands. of course with delays to MY passengers…
June 20th, 2007 at 11:40 pm
now i’m waiting for the response in which someone says…..yeah but i still pay for a monthly pass. if nj transit did not lease the ne corridor you would be forced to deal with amtrak on a more personal level and that is a nightmare. you would also have to double the price for your monthly pass. stop complaining. you could always drive to work
August 2nd, 2007 at 9:47 pm
[…] I’m at a loss for words right about now. Say what you want about NJ Transit and how they blame Amtrak for everything under the sun that happens. I won’t complain about that anymore because I’ve done my share of complaining on this subject (Point fingers all you want…us commuters have one finger we’d like to point). […]
August 3rd, 2007 at 9:38 am
Fire on Amtrak: possible cause of delays at NY Penn
Fire on Amtrak Express Train from N.Y. to Philly Causes Disruptions
NEW YORK (AP) — A fire on an Amtrak express train running between New York City and Philadelphia caused major disruptions at rush hour Thursday.
http://www.1010wins.com/pages/753825.php?contentType=4&contentId=749921
August 3rd, 2007 at 5:10 pm
I share your pain.
I share your pain, and that of all commuters of Thursday night’s commute.
I posted the NEWS: “Fire on Amtrak” first thing this morning, after I read your commuting ordeal. I thought I better not use the user name of Toofunny to make light of your pain. I hope you all recover from your commuting ordeal.
I have yet to understand, that if indeed, there was a fire on Amtrak based on the news report, (now I am not (ass)uming anything), why did the NJT announcements not convey that to the waiting commuters at Penn Station – something to the effect that the details on the delays were sketchy, “we think there is a fire on Amtrak” but are in the midst of gathering information.
Is there some vow of silence between Amtrak and NJT managements?
Who is responsible for this fiasco, NJT, Washington, Trenton, Amtrak? I am pointing fingers at all of them and saving the middle finger for myself….
Communication might just as well be a four letter word anywhere these days.
What chances do we have, if we can’t have voting machines that we can trust. We need to be able to elect the people who have our interests at heart, to make the right decisions for us, in the areas that count, and certainly passenger railway transportation is one of them.
The current state of voting machines:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/28/us/28vote.html?ex=1343275200&en=bf26ea23c38c8df9&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss
August 7th, 2007 at 1:20 pm
LIRR platform gap: history, timeline, measures to fix…
This is related to pointing fingers (sort of) on a different transit line…..
History on how the gap problem started on the LIRR, then more videos and clips further if you are interested in next link below.
How the gap problem all started
Root lies in first stations
BY JENNIFER MALONEY | Newsday Staff Writer
January 19, 2007
“In the 1830s, as the newly incorporated LIRR expanded to Hicksville and Farmingdale, it used whatever land local officials made available to build stations, said LIRR spokeswoman Susan McGowan.
Forty percent of the LIRR’s stations were built on curved sections of track.
“It may have started 150 years ago as a little, tiny platform where a conductor came down and put a box on the ground …”
http://www.newsday.com/news/specials/nyg-liprob0119,0,7852846.story?coll=ny_news_local_photos_util_2
MORE READ, videos etc.
http://www.newsday.com/news/specials/nyg-gap-sg,0,6256927.storygallery?coll=ny_news_specials_util_2
March 3rd, 2009 at 10:42 pm
“In transit” hell from train to train, from morning to morning…
When the train landed on track 3 this morning, it was disembarking hell but nothing compared to what some people experienced. Why don’t they do something about this 8:24 a.m. RVL that lands on Track A or some aberration like track 3 where people are already packed in there like sardines at the best of times, and more so on cold days (can’t blame them), waiting for another train. Now let’s add another train load of people to such a restricted space. You get the picture?
I fxxking hate my commute since my train lands on track A every morning.
Do you know that there is a garbage bin and a recycling bin RIGHT by the doors to the stairs into the station? Why do these brainy managers not wake up and get these shit out of the way? How about simple station management to allow for the free flow of passengers. Duh? Everyday these bins slow down the exit of passengers from the platform and get the irate people pushing through to make their connections! Ultimately I have got to put an end to this stressful commute. New Jersey Transit has decided to land their rush hour trains on the worse platforms ever, in the morning. Track 5 was bearable with several exits into the station. Now it’s the shxxts.
_______________________________________
When train 6606 becomes plain and simple Train 666 for some. A Rider’s perspective and the song and dance inconvenience excuse from NJT.
“Regrettably, some customers who were on the first disabled train, train 6606, were also on the other two trains that became disabled and incurred an even greater delay, arriving in New York more than two hours after train 6606 was scheduled to arrive.”
http://briansullivan.blogs.foxbusiness.com/2009/03/03/ask-those-on-new-jersey-transit-train-6606-if-we-need-rail-improvements/
Ask Those on New Jersey Transit Train #6606 If We Need Rail Improvements
By Brian Sullivan
Share: ShareThis
Those are cell phone pictures of my jammed, three-hour commute into work today. You can see the time I parked my car (6:39am) and that at 9:15am me and 1,000 other people were still crammed inside a broken down train. Transit in the New York area is nearing critical mass and something needs to be done.
There has been much debate about the $787 billion dollar stimulus plan and where the money is going. While there is certainly much pork and entitlement programs in the plan, the money being spent on the rail and mass transit improvements is money that is not only needed but needed urgently.
As a daily rider of the New Jersey Transit train system into New York City, believe me when I tell you it is an exercise in frustration. Not only are the trains extremely crowded (I rarely get a seat and generally stand for my hour-long commute) but it is frequently late and riddled with problems. Sadly, the other option - driving - is even worse and with gas, tolls and parking it is also much more expensive.
While we commuters are generally used to some problems, today takes the cake.
The short story is this: I got on my usual train - the 6:43am - and arrived into New York’s Penn Station around 9:30am. We broke down in the tunnel under the Hudson River for more than an hour, and combined with other delays my total commuting time was more than three hours one-way today.
Here is “apology” letter from New Jersey Transit:
NJ TRANSIT apologizes for the significant delay and inconvenience many of you experienced this morning.
At approximately 6 a.m., Morris & Essex Lines Midtown Direct train 6606 became disabled near Morristown Station due to a mechanical problem. Although the train was able to regain power, it continued to experience mechanical difficulties and was canceled at Newark Broad Street Station as a precaution. Train 6606’s passengers were transferred to following train 6610.
At approximately 7:10 a.m., train 6610 became mechanically disabled at Kearny Junction, where the Morris & Essex Lines connect to the Northeast Corridor. Train 6610 was able to regain power and continue to Secaucus Junction, where it was also canceled as a precautionary measure, with passengers transferred to trains 3550 and 3918. Resulting congestion caused delays of 15-20 minutes to Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast Line and Midtown Direct trains.
Unfortunately, at approximately 8 a.m., Northeast Corridor train 3918 became disabled in the South Tube due to a mechanical problem. An Amtrak rescue locomotive was dispatched to tow the train back into the station, and the train was cleared from the tunnel at approximately 9:10 a.m.
However, until the disabled train could be moved, all NJ TRANSIT and Amtrak trains in both directions were forced to share the single-track North Tube for service in and out of New York Penn Station. This caused significant delays to all trains ranging from 30-60 minutes throughout the morning peak period. In addition, some Midtown Direct trains were rerouted to and from Hoboken Terminal, where customers could use their rail tickets and passes at no additional charge to continue their trip via PATH.
Regrettably, some customers who were on the first disabled train, train 6606, were also on the other two trains that became disabled and incurred an even greater delay, arriving in New York more than two hours after train 6606 was scheduled to arrive.
At approximately 9:10 a.m., the South Tube was returned to service and normal operations resumed using both tunnels. Residual delays affected service through the mid-morning hours.
—
As bad as my commute was this morning (about 3 hours one-way) there were a few other poor souls whose commute made mine look like gravy - the folks on train 6606.
Follow what happened to them. Their first train, 6606, broke down around 6am. After limping into Newark, they were transferred to train 6610, which then also broke down. They then got on my train, 3918, which broke down in the tunnel under the Hudson. They were on THREE TRAINS THAT BROKE DOWN IN ONE COMMUTE! All in, many of those people likely had a nearly 5 hour commute into Manhattan this morning (if they got on a 5:45am train they were probably also awake before 5am).
I know there is not much national sympathy for all the “rich Wall Streeters.” I can assure you most of the people on these trains every day are good, hard working folks going to all kinds of jobs from all income levels. Just as most of America relies on their cars, we rely on our trains. Driving in this area is simply not much of an option.
More than 200,000,000 people each year ride on the Northeast Corridor train line between Washington and New York. That includes those of us who use it as a daily commute.
I know I am biased given that I suffer through this commute daily, but I would like to remind Congress that most of those 200 million people are ones we should want to help - hard working folks dragging themselves out of bed before sunrise to get to work. We also tend to pay high taxes, by the way, and the more days there are like today the more people there will be looking to move, further causing economic problems for the New York area.
Consider rail improvements an investment … something we can’t say about much of the other parts of the “stimulus.”
And if I may offer a suggestion: why don’t we look to privatize these trains? I have a feeling that no matter how much taxpayer money goes into this system, having the same people running it will likely just end up with the same result. Money can help (we need a 2nd tunnel into New York City) but management and government inefficiencies will likely persist because as the NJ Transit letter shows, all they want to do is offer an apology. At least an airline would give you a credit.
March 13th, 2009 at 8:31 pm
Since you have all the answers why dont you take over the railroad