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).

NJ Transit is a FUCKING disgrace. Period. A little harsh? Let me lay out the facts of tonight’s commute, shall I? You be the judge.

First off, let me just run a simple test. You’ll see why I need to do this in a few moments. I’m sending a test e-mail from my yahoo.com account to my transithell.com just to see how long it takes. Under 1 minute. OK. Benchmark set.

Here’s where it all started tonight:

Due to Amtrak signal problem, trains departing and arriving NYPS are subject to 10 - 15 minute delays.

Sent: 04:32 PM (Received at 4:41 PM)

I’m still at work at this point. Doesn’t at all seem that bad. Signal troubles these days are as common as Lindsay Lohan arrests. I got to Penn Station at 6:08 or so, just in time for my 6:13 train. As I walk down from the 7^th Avenue entrance, I see the first board with the timetable and 5 trains on standby. This will be another fun night I think to myself. As I walk by the newer NJ Transit concourse, it looks like this picture (courtesy of RVL_Girl). See, here’s the funny thing. This was taken on Tuesday. See, I wasn’t kidding how common delays are. I mean seriously. Imagine there was an emergency?

So I continue on my way down to the old NJ Transit waiting area and go down the stairs. It’s just wall to wall people. No idea if there is air on in the place because it feels and smells like a 3^rd world country.

Due to a disabled train in the tunnel, trains arriving into New York Penn Station are subject to 15 - 20 minute delays.

Sent: 06:04 PM (Received at 6:18 PM)

Ok, so was the first communication wrong in saying signal problems? Did the signal problems cause the disabled train? All I know is that disabled trains in tunnels is BAD news for us commuters. 2 tunnels. 1 out of service. You do the math. So here I am and there goes the 6:13 train. Cancelled.

Next up, the 6:34.

Update: Due to single tracking in the tunnel, trains arriving and departing NYPS are subject to 20 - 30 minute delays.

Sent: 06:22 PM (Received at 7:22 PM) - Are you seeing a pattern here?

No word on the cancelled train. There were others too. All I know is we are up to 30 minutes and seriously, my shirt was stuck to my back at this point.

Update: Due to single tracking in the tunnel, trains arriving and departing NYPS are subject to 30 - 40 minute delays.

Sent: 06:41 PM (Received at 7:38) – See these are useless because I’m not even getting these when they are needed.

Northeast Corridor #3973 (6:13pm from NYPS) Operating 25 minutes late near Secaucus.

Sent: 06:51 PM (Received at 7:38)

Huh?? The 6:13 train is 25 minutes late (getting out my calculator) puts us at 6:38. This was sent at 6:51. Either way, YOU ALREADY CANCELLED THE TRAIN like 40 minutes ago. Now I’m looking around for the candid cameras. Someone must be putting me on.

Northeast Corridor #3731 (6:32pm from NYPS) Operating 40 minutes late near Secaucus.

Sent: 06:53 PM (Received at 7:38)

Now I don’t even know what’s going on. All I know is I now have a decision in all of this fiasco. I can take the 6:32 or the 6:34. The 6:34 is the express train that would get me in sooner than the 6:34 (Yes, NJ Transit makes everything really complicated). Since the 6:13 was cancelled and the announcements in the station were only saying 10-15 minute delays, I figured that the 6:34 would be crowded but was still my best horse. The 6:32 is called (honestly, I have NO idea what time it is. I was about to have a heat stroke). I let the crowd rush to that train and I wait for the 6:34.

Northeast Corridor #3975 (6:34pm from NYPS) Cancelled, passengers to #3875 (6:47pm).

Sent: 07:17 PM (Received at 7:41)

Ripper, you asshole.

Update: Due to single tracking in the tunnel, trains arriving and departing NYPS are subject to 10 - 15 minute delays.

Sent: 07:22 PM (Received at 8:31)

It continues.

Northeast Corridor #3877 (7:13pm from NYPS) Operating 20 minutes late.

Sent: 07:49 PM (Received at 9:04)

I think I’m only subscribed to the NEC train messages. I can’t imagine what the other ones said. I’m sure they were just as comical because there was a bunch of trains cancelled. I had finally gotten on the 6:47 train that left at like 7:15 or something.

So, after all that, let’s recap what we’ve learned (outside of Amtrak being at fault for everything under the sun at NJ Transit):

1) NJ Transit communicates worse than if someone was trying to tell me the truth in Russian (for the record, I can’t speak Russian).

2) NJ Transit alerts are pretty damn useless because you don’t get them for like an hour after they send them which is like 20 minutes after the actual problem which is like 30 minutes after they cancel a train. (Yeah, I can’t even follow that either. Don’t bother going back. You’ll only hurt yourself).

3) After all this, yet again, nobody collected tickets on my train (I was on the 6:47, which left at like 7:15.

4) Someone who left work less than 2 hours before me got home before me. Big deal you say? Sure, he left before me. He lives in New Hampshire.

5) I have NO confidence that the employees of NJ Transit could handle an emergency.

Seriously. This was half the commute today. Thousands of people were yet again delayed for long periods of time tonight. Keep blaming Amtrak for signals and infrastructure. Why can’t you send e-mails? Why can’t you make announcements? Why can’t you get things right? Please? Just once. I’m begging someone to fix this.

Confusing title isn’t it? Yeah, welcome to the world of riding NJ Transit.

Let me explain.

I had just missed the 7:55am NEC train by a pubic hair. Actually, I got to the Jersey Avenue 2nd class citizen lot at about 7:52. Since my rule is I never run for a train, I just sat in my car for a bit listening to my Sirius until the next train, which was 8:14. About 8:05 is when I left my car and walked over to the train which sits on the alternate tracks at Jersey Avenue. I will say that a huge perk of going from Jersey Avenue in the morning is that trains originate there so they normally get there early and you can board prior to the train leaving. Anyway, I get on the train and start my morning routine.

8:14… 8:20… 8:22…

We aren’t moving. Then at 8:24 the conductor tells us the train is having mechanical problems and there’s another train immediately across the parking lot on the main line for us to take. Ok, so the train is busted. I get it. They sent in the reserves to rescue us. Yay NJ Transit.

So I walk over to the main line, walk to the front and then start my morning shuffle again. As if it’s not bad enough doing it the once? This time though, I checked the NJ Transit Website:

Jan 09, 2007 08:29:49 AM
NJ TRANSIT buses, trains and light rail lines are operating on or close to schedule.

There we go. Accurate as always. I’m on a train that is 15 minutes late but everything is on or close to schedule.

So then we hit 8:36 and the train fires up and pulls away. The conductor then tells everyone that they are on the 8:36 to NY Penn. I then look at NJ Transit’s website and find this:

Jan 09, 2007 08:34:31 AM
NEC #3716 the 8:14am departure from Jersey Avenue is cancelled. Passengers may use train #3718 the 8:36am from near Jersey Avenue

So it took them 20 minutes to post an alert about a train that was cancelled and the alternate is in 2 minutes. What’s the point even to do that? Does that help anyone? Also, read that alert again. We may use the train near Jersey Avenue?!?! Near? Do they expect people to just wander around the road and eventually they will be near a train to board?

So now I’m on a train that is on-time according to everything in the NJ Transit world of schedules but I’m still 20 minutes late to life.

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?

trains delayed at least 15mins. shocker.

Dec 14, 2006 04:34:53 PM

TRANSIT trains traveling in both directions between New York and Trenton and New York and Long Branch are subject to 30 to 60 minute delays. NJ TRANSIT is cross honoring with PATH between New York and Newark.

Can anyone (Yellowbird? Ticketwhore?) let us know what the real deal is with all the delays the past few days? Friday night…the 7:03pm was cancelled…Monday morning I got to Jersey Ave. at 6:30am and the 6:20am train was still sitting there, It left at 6:45. The 6:32am got into the station at Penn finally at 7:55am.

Last night at PENN was another nightmare to the point that I was afraid for my safety. I got there at 6pm and the 6:13 was cancelled. There were no trains on the Northeast corridor that left for 45 mins. The huddled masses were packed all over Penn Station. I went to the westbound end just because I was afraid that if they announced the 6:32 train on track 12 I would get crushed trying to get down the stairs on the seventh avenue end. I literally couldn’t get near the door when they finally announced the 6:32 or (preferably)the 6:34 so I got onto the 6:47 (never my first choice).

Switching problems was the stated cause but being a conspiracy theorist, could it be a labor slowdown close to the holidays or maybe due to the new double decker cars?

What gives? Should we expect this again tonight? I am planning to leave by 5 today just to avoid this.

THanks!

My first day back to work after being away last week and I’m greeted with confusing NJ Transit announcements. I got to Penn Station at about 6:05 to get the 6:13…cancelled…announcements were ‘trains are subject to 5-10 minute delays.’ I get on the 6:34 which left at 7:05. I’m now crawling down the NEC. Just checked the NJT website and they are now saying 60 minute delays.

Welcome home me.

So, new schedule went into effect on Monday.

3 days, 3 days late.

says alot about their scheduling ability…

Tow straight days now the portal bridge was opened during the morning rush, delaying all the trains behind it for hours afterward. Who’s the rocket scientist at Amtrak that continues to let this happen?

Oct 03, 2006 08:05:18 AM

Due to Amtrak power problems, NEC and NJCL service is suspended. Passengers should seek alternate means of transportation.