This is the worst month for commuters in the history of NJ Transit. Last night, an Amtrak Metroliner from New York to Washington—the train that immediately precedes my usual ride—took down some power lines, causing at least two-hour delays. Since at the time NJ Transit had no idea when the trains would be running again after this incident, Denise was nice enough to drive to Newark to pick me up.
Let’s take a quick recapitulation of NJ Transit’s recent woes:
- July 8: Amtrak train hits and kills man on tracks. Trains delayed for more than two hours.
- July 14: NJ Transit train derails between Newark and New York causing minor injuries and extensive delays.
- July 15: Power outage caused delay of more than an hour.
- July 21: Power outage due to thunderstorms.
- July 28: NJ pulls 91 cars out of service for failing inspection. Fewer cars are available and more commuters than usual are stuck traveling without seats and forced to stand.
- July 29: And finally, yesterday, an Amtrak train brings down power lines causing extensive delays.
I think that captures everything, at least on the Northeast Corridor line. NJ Transit is offering 15% refunds (as Stacey mentioned) for people who purchased a monthly pass, but I don’t think that really makes up for it.
On a completely unrelated note, if you scroll down to the bottom of the sidebar, you will see some statistics: the fifteen top comment-posters on this site. Movable Type didn’t make this feature easy, I had to work it out with a SQL query to the database. I also had to do some editing of comments to help the system recognize that “Darren” and “Darren R. Sussman” are the same person, whereas “Becca” and “Becca” are not always the same person. Take a look and see if you made the list!
It’s just that I have a lot to say……
Okay, I just have too much free time on my hands. :/
I am yet another who has found himself trapped in the hellish existence that has been NJT July commuting… And all I have to say is, 15% does not come even close to compensating me for all the emotional pain and anguish of sitting on these trains for 3-4 hours at a time — or worse, bearing the misfortune of having to cram into the PATH trains from Newark with hundreds of other commuters and THEN having to switch trains in Jersey City.
It’s been a bad month.
Oooh! Comment wars! Just like in the HBoP days!
How much does a monthly pass cost? The ever-so-helpful NJ Transit site does not contain this vital information. I’m curious.So, if the fare were a (laughable) 10 dollars, I would only get back $1.50? And if the fare was anywhere from $100 to $200, I would only be getting back $15 to $30? $30 for two to three missed days of work in hours (assuming you’re not salaried)! That’s worse than jury duty! Where do I sign up!I’m glad that SMU pays for my Dallas transit pass.Oh, and apparently I need to comment more often… less than 23? How unfortunate.
ugh. your rail pass amount depends where you’re going. mine is a whopping $188, so $28.20 is coming my way. and before yesterday i was ok with that. now. after getting home at 1:30am last night. not so much. i’m said. but at least that will pay for my parking today. 🙂
Someone should organize a commuter strike. If the workers can strike and screw up the commuters, why can’t the commuters strike and screw up NJTransit?
A 15 percent refund seems based on the blatantly incorrect assumption that the trains are working correctly 85 percent of the time.
I’m hating the train, too. Took me over five hours to get home that night because I was on the train just after the Metroliner. I missed an appointment, and what’s more, when after three hours of sitting in a sweltering train, the “rescue train” unceremoniously dumped about 2,000 people at Metropark. They then announced that buses would be coming to take us all home.
45 minutes later, ONE bus had arrived, and it was only going to Edison and Metuchen. One bus for all those people! Two other gals and I banded together and paid some random guy’s wife to drive us home with them. Luckily, they weren’t axe murderers.
Whopping $188 monthly pass?
I must be a Silver Level sponsor of NJ Transit, at least! They get $285 a month from me. Unfortunately, I did weekly passes for July since I took some vacation, so I won’t see a dime.