I once emailed NJT as to why the Montclair train always seemed to have to stop in its tracks to allow other trains, not just Amtrak trains to go by. The Amtrak right-of-way is another topic that I don't want to get into this second, other than stating if we're paying NJT and NJT is paying Amtrak for the right to use the tracks there needs to be some sort of re-agreement on who has the right of way. Anyway, as for when the Montclair train is always giving way to other NJT trains...The NJT email explained that the reason why the Montclair train always has to sit and wait for other trains is that the right of way is determined by which train left earlier. The trains that pass by my train in the morning must have left their initial station earlier than mine and coming from further away they now get the right to make my train idle on the tracks. So if this is truly the case, then why is it that when the Montclair train leaves Penn Station NY before other trains depart Penn, we stgill have to give way to other NJ Transit trains coming in from behind us? These trains fully left out of NY after my train and here we are sitting on the tracks waiting for other trains to pass us by??? Can't we have a service where once the train is in motion it continues on its path until it reaches it's destination? Enough with the stopping and going!

The Stench of NJ Transit

I love how earlier this year the lovely 618 Montclair train out of NY had a problem with one of its bathrooms so much that riders could not sit in that car due to the awful stench of urine. When a rider asked the conductor why this sort of issue wouldn't have been resolved prior to our commute, the conductor in a nonchalant demeanor looked the rider right in the eyes and told them that they should just be happy we're leaving on time.

Same Ole Story (with a twist)

We've all wondered it. A lot of us have even sent emails inquiring about it. Some of us have searched the web. A few some are oblivious, but if you're one of the many wondering why the train loses power for a split second somewhere between Kearny and Secaucus the answer doesn't matter much. What matters is that we've all been on a train that loses power and can't restart it. This seems to also occur a lot in the tunnel between NY and NJ, but that's a different post.

Last week seemed like any other instance where the train loses power and it can't regain it. As before, we sit with no word from the crew for several minutes, then they explain every detail over the PA every 2 minutes with the same status. Why does the crew use the PA to communicate with each other? Don't they have their own communication system? Sorry getting off on a tangent. I would assume they'd just use their own walkie talkies??? Oh well... Anyway back to the train sitting on the tracks with no power. Oh, did I mention that thetrain is filled to capacity because the 545p train out of NY for whatever reason was canceled so all of those passengers were now on the 618p train.

So with all their infinite wisdom and stellar expertise, the crew could not get the train started. So what's the plan? NJ Transit brings the 640p train along side ours, so that all of us 545 and 618 riders cannow pile into the 640 train (of course we didn't all fit) and then we'll continue on our way where each stop requiring 5 or more minutes so that slews of people can shuffle and dance to allow riders for each stop to get off. It was just dandy.

I'm lucky to have been one of the riders to make it onto the 640 train. I'm not even sure how long of a commute the other riders had, who had to wait for an even later train to come and pick them up.

It was also a unique experience in that all of us transferring trains did not do so by platform or some other sophistaced means, we had to descend the train cars we were in, walk among the rocky gravel between the trains and climb into the rescue train. And of course at this juncture of the evening, let's just say it was not sunny out! A real safe and once again smooth ride!

Morrise & Essex vs Montclair-Booton

The # of trains into and out of NYC and Hoboken is uneven! If we look at the # of riders and the # of trains, there's an uneven distribution heavily advantageous to Hoboken! With more commuters going into and out of NY and less to Hoboken, there should be more trains at more oportune times going in and out of NY and not Hoboken!

Walnut Street Commuters

The train and its service are slow enough. The last thing riders going beyond Walnut Street need is any longer of a commute.

The majority of you sit in the back of the train whereby more than the average number of passengers who get off at a stop, attempt to get off the train using less doors. If you spread out and exited all parts of the train, the train would be able to pull away from the stop and allow you to cross over to the other side more quickly. Instead you all try to get out of the last car or last two cars which is much slower as everyone bottlenecks and you end up waiting longer for the train to move onto Watching Avenue.

You're doing yourselves and the riders continuing on a disservice by amassing at the end of the train. Please spread out and use all doors to exit.

Penn Station

Grand Central has a Michael Jordan's Steakhouse. Penn Station has a Houllihan's with cochroaches (I've seen them). GC has the Oyster Bar. Penn Station has sushi take out. GC has high end shops. PS has K-Mart. Grand Central is inviting, full of culture, full of shops and restaurants. It is bustling with commuters and tourists. There's an ambiance to it with an air of familiarity and safety.

It's quite the opposite at Penn Station.

I don't even use the bathroom in the NJ Transit waiting area anymore at Penn station. I don't even use the waiting area since the attack on the woman sitting in there. For those who come in the main entrance on 7th ave know that as you approach the NJ Transit section of Penn Station, you're going to be met by an array of people who I won't describe other than saying they are not commuters.

It's so nice of the Port Authority police to allow these people to mass and stay warm in the winter months, sleeping in various corners throughout the station. I don't feel safe during rush hour let alone later on at night in there. I've worked late a few times and have taken the train home after 9 and Penn Station was crawling with questionable people.

To the NYPD and Port Authority police - please clean up Penn Station. It's almost less inviting than Port Authority these days.

A Decade Later - What I Can't Hear You!

As we near the ten year mark on the attacks of the World Trade Towers and solemnly look back on the events of that day and the days surrounding, I remember taking the vow to "Never Forget".

While I don't believe NJ Transit is attempting to be unpatriotic, I do believe that they have forgotten one of the horrific driving elements to 9-11was the lack of good communication.

Ten years later and there are still a lot of train cars with poor speakers from the Public Address system. Have they "forgotten"?

To other commuters I implore you to please make note of the car number anytime you notice that you can't hear what's being said and e-mail in to this site or directly to NJ Transit. It only stands to hurt us, the riders. In the long run if we ignore the issues that NJ Transit seems to brush aside it iwll end up burning us.

Let' use this sight as a public record for what we know and find with our commute on NJ Transit. Maybe then, NJ Transit will take its commuter riders and their voices seriously!