Monday, June 22, 2009

Early Broadcast Digital Transition

The broadcast stations switched over to their digital feed on June 12th and the week before the TV Monitors in Penn Station that provide train and track information mysteriously malfunctioned. Could there be a correlation? Is it a conspiracy? I think not!

...Just another example of how things related to the commute with NJ transit go wrong. It's Murphy's Law - Anything that can - does! I really loved how NJT announced (as they often do) that passengers should not stand under the big board in the Amtrak section of Penn Station. Well, it was the only place where the track assignements were functioning. Where else do you expect people to find out where their train's track assignment is posted?

Also, this monitor issue that I'm describing should not be confused with the other issue of their assignments of when a train is On Time, Boarding, Delayed, etc. Completely another topic but how can a train be on time if the track isn't posted within 10 minutes of it due to depart?

New slogan

"We Apologize for the Inconvenience and Thank You for your Patience"

I've even been on trains where you can tell that even the conductors are embarrassed by the routine issues that plague NJ Transit and never seen to be resolved. They take on a cavalier and humorous tone as they continuously ask for the riders to have patience and thank them for their cooperation.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Jump for Joy

NJ Transit announced that there won't be a 2009 far hike. Perhaps they saw through all of their poor service, shoddy timeliness, and unchanging and uncooperative scheduling and realized that they have as a good of chance of making their customer base happy as a one legged man's chances of winning an ass kicking contest, if they raised costs. I'm sure that us riders will have to pay for this stay of execution! Can't wait for another 10-15% increase in the near future as if that's indicative of what anyone is getting from their employers in terms of merit or cost of living increases.