It continues (NJT)
Yeah. I try to not be a complainer, but these past few months things have just gone over the deep end. I take the 8:05 from SO every morning and it's a late enough train that it's never really been on time, but it would at least usually be within 10 minutes. Recently it's getting to the point where 20 minute delays are the norm.
On top of our commute, we had some friends come out from the city to visit on Sunday. Turned out there were signal problems and maintenance on the Portal Bridge which amounted to a 50 minute delay for them. It's truly insane.
If I had to do the move all over again, I'm not sure I'd choose to move here because of this. My wife and I have been fortunate that we are secure enough at our jobs that the constant issues this year haven't caused any problems yet, but it adds unneeded stress in our careers and there's no sign that there is an end in sight.
Joan has brought this up many times in the past, but it bears repeating that if you are willing to live with a slightly longer regular commute in exchange for many fewer disruptions and headaches, Hoboken and PATH are a better option.
For those of us trying to balance getting a kid to/from daycare and staying gainfully employed the option of making our commute 30 minutes longer and $89/month more expensive isn't too tempting!
jimmurphy said:
Joan has brought this up many times in the past, but it bears repeating that if you are willing to live with a slightly longer regular commute in exchange for many fewer disruptions and headaches, Hoboken and PATH are a better option.
In all fairness, I commuted to lower Manhattan so the time element was the same. Cost through Hoboken was less since I needed subway or PATH in either event to get from the terminal to my office.
I never suggested that going through Hoboken was the best alternative for everyone. That said, if you are looking for a lower stress, more dependable commute that doesn't rely on Amtrak being on-time and trouble free, Hoboken has its advantages.
And again this evening:
NEC, NJCL, RVL and MidTown Direct trains are subject to up to 20 minute delays due to Amtrak overhead wire problems between the yard and Penn Station New York.
Now:
(NJ Transit Alerts) NEC, NJCL, RVL & MidTown trains are subject to up to 40 min delays, and are expected to escalate, due to Amtrak overhead wire proble
even for those of us without kids, an extra half hour each way would add up to well over 200 extra hours of our lives spent on trains and station platforms each year.
qrysdonnell said:
For those of us trying to balance getting a kid to/from daycare and staying gainfully employed the option of making our commute 30 minutes longer and $89/month more expensive isn't too tempting!
jimmurphy said:
Joan has brought this up many times in the past, but it bears repeating that if you are willing to live with a slightly longer regular commute in exchange for many fewer disruptions and headaches, Hoboken and PATH are a better option.
Just throwing it out there...
I don't follow the $89, since the lower fare to Hoboken offsets. As to time, 30 mins seems like too much of a delta each way. I'd estimate 15 to 20 max, and that's before subtracting the normal Penn delays.
Same track every day. Train waiting 20 mins or so before departure. Almost never crowded. Always get a seat. Pleasant, untaxed conductors.
Totally get that it's not an option for many, but more should consider it.
for my commute to the UWS, back in the pre-MTD days, going through Hoboken added roughly a half hour to what it is now.
jimmurphy said:
Just throwing it out there...
I don't follow the $89, since the lower fare to Hoboken offsets. As to time, 30 mins seems like too much of a delta each way. I'd estimate 15 to 20 max, and that's before subtracting the normal Penn delays.
Same track every day. Train waiting 20 mins or so before departure. Almost never crowded. Always get a seat. Pleasant, untaxed conductors.
Totally get that it's not an option for many, but more should consider it.
Penn was a crapfest at 530 pm tonight so I headed to Hoboken and am on the 607. @jimmurphy There are many people standing tonight...when Penn craps out, Hoboken is affected.
9 additional alerts from NJT since I posted this morning, and another difficult commute tonight. And all they have for us is: 'sorry for ANY inconvenience and BTW these conditions will last indefinitely.'
I just heard on the radio that Amtrak is proposing closing multiple tracks at a time at NYP so needed infrastructure repairs can be made. If this plan is implemented, we can expect numerous if not all of our Midtown Direct service to be diverted to Hoboken. At least we have the Hoboken option. Many towns served by NJT do not.
Here in Maplewood and South Orange, we have the little considered option of bus service to Port Authority or Newark Penn Station/PATH. This does add on some travel time and can get very crowded during rush hour. Still it is a good work around for those of us living close to one or more of the available bus lines. Another possibility that used to be more popular than at present is driving to one of the PATH stations and going into the city from there. Depending on the method used, any of these methods can cost less than taking the NJT train with or without factoring in the cost of PATH.
hauscat said:
Penn was a crapfest at 530 pm tonight so I headed to Hoboken and am on the 607. @jimmurphy There are many people standing tonight...when Penn craps out, Hoboken is affected.
Yeah, on the truly awful nights, Hoboken is affected. Might not get a seat, but they keep schedule.
Like I said, if you're in midtown, you're trading some time for greater certainty and less stress. Doesn't make any sense for some. Totally get that. But if you work Downtown or anywhere near any of the Path stations in Manhattan, consider it.
https://mobile.nytimes.com/201...
My guess is that 'Midtown Direct will be going to Hoboken all summer.
Monthly from South Orange to Hoboken is $210. Same as monthly from SO to NYP. I had checked on their website to come up with the costs to make sure there wasn't an offset. (I mean, there's a chance that NJT
Also keep in mind that it's not like PATH goes to the same place either. I work between 11th and 12 avenues, so it's a long enough walk already that I don't really want to start it at 6th ave. (Or add another $121 dollars for a monthly Metrocard.)
It's just not anything I would do voluntarily. If I knew it was going to be 30+ more minutes permanently to get to my job I'd probably look to move.
jimmurphy said:
Just throwing it out there...
I don't follow the $89, since the lower fare to Hoboken offsets. As to time, 30 mins seems like too much of a delta each way. I'd estimate 15 to 20 max, and that's before subtracting the normal Penn delays.
Same track every day. Train waiting 20 mins or so before departure. Almost never crowded. Always get a seat. Pleasant, untaxed conductors.
Totally get that it's not an option for many, but more should consider it.
Have you looked into the 107/108 to Port Authority? Departs from the SO train station with some stops along Irvington Avenue.
My wife had a friend say she took it recently and it took 2 hours to get home. I may give it a whirl if things get worse. But if we're just in 10-20 minute delay territory I'll just tough it out to Penn.
joan_crystal said:
Have you looked into the 107/108 to Port Authority? Departs from the SO train station with some stops along Irvington Avenue.
qrysdonnell said:
Monthly from South Orange to Hoboken is $210. Same as monthly from SO to NYP. I had checked on their website to come up with the costs to make sure there wasn't an offset. (I mean, there's a chance that NJT
Also keep in mind that it's not like PATH goes to the same place either. I work between 11th and 12 avenues, so it's a long enough walk already that I don't really want to start it at 6th ave. (Or add another $121 dollars for a monthly Metrocard.)
It's just not anything I would do voluntarily. If I knew it was going to be 30+ more minutes permanently to get to my job I'd probably look to move.
jimmurphy said:
Just throwing it out there...
I don't follow the $89, since the lower fare to Hoboken offsets. As to time, 30 mins seems like too much of a delta each way. I'd estimate 15 to 20 max, and that's before subtracting the normal Penn delays.
Same track every day. Train waiting 20 mins or so before departure. Almost never crowded. Always get a seat. Pleasant, untaxed conductors.
Totally get that it's not an option for many, but more should consider it.
SO to Hoboken is $170/month It showed the $210 price because of transfers through Secaucus. Look at the printed schedule.
qrysdonnell said:
Monthly from South Orange to Hoboken is $210. Same as monthly from SO to NYP. I had checked on their website to come up with the costs to make sure there wasn't an offset. (I mean, there's a chance that NJT
Also keep in mind that it's not like PATH goes to the same place either. I work between 11th and 12 avenues, so it's a long enough walk already that I don't really want to start it at 6th ave. (Or add another $121 dollars for a monthly Metrocard.)
It's just not anything I would do voluntarily. If I knew it was going to be 30+ more minutes permanently to get to my job I'd probably look to move.
jimmurphy said:
Just throwing it out there...
I don't follow the $89, since the lower fare to Hoboken offsets. As to time, 30 mins seems like too much of a delta each way. I'd estimate 15 to 20 max, and that's before subtracting the normal Penn delays.
Same track every day. Train waiting 20 mins or so before departure. Almost never crowded. Always get a seat. Pleasant, untaxed conductors.
Totally get that it's not an option for many, but more should consider it.
Monthly from SO to Hoboken is 170, not 210.
jimmurphy said:
Same track every day. Train waiting 20 mins or so before departure. Almost never crowded. Always get a seat. Pleasant, untaxed conductors.
When mid-town direct started up, this was what we missed most after switching to Penn Station.
https://www.facebook.com/NJ.co...
Nj issues notes to excuse employees from tardiness resulting from NJT delays? It would be funny if it wasn't maddening for commuters.
Same link:
This is a policy that has been in existence for as long as I can remember. My employer would accept one of these notes as documentation supporting an excused lateness. Took some of the stress off the then occasional delays.
ElizMcCord said:
https://www.facebook.com/NJ.co...
Nj issues notes to excuse employees from tardiness resulting from NJT delays? It would be funny if it wasn't maddening for commuters.
Same link:
http://trib.al/Dq0qjwc
I think people who work shifts, whose on time departures rely on others arriving on time, people who open up offices, banks, are affected a lot. I've done all of those before I moved to a corporate job. Fwiw I don't work in NY just sympathize with others.
sac said:
I have trouble imagining a workplace that would require an excuse note.
I worked in government. Documentation was always required.
A note is nice (and I remember these for years too -- PATH used to have stacks of them for pick-up after bad days), but when trains are consistently late, employers will begin to expect you to figure out how to overcome the circumstances. That will mean leaving much earlier for many shift workers.
NYT reporting that NJT will need to cancel 25% of its rush hour trains during the summer track work.
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Delays during yesterday morning's and evening's commutes, and again today, with a disabled Amtrak train in the tunnel and Midtown Directs diverted to Hoboken. I've received 15 messages from NJT concerning the most recent three commutes. Incredible as it seems, this must be the new daily normal.