This link was forwarded by NJ Transit in an e-mail that did not offer a reply option. I am sick to my stomach.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Read it and Weep
This link was forwarded by NJ Transit in an e-mail that did not offer a reply option. I am sick to my stomach.
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Would you mind if I jumped on the band wagon here and ranted just a bit myself? You see I read your blog because it makes me feel that I am not alone. Usually I read it and feel satisfied that you have expressed my sentiments much better than I ever could but – today – oh today – I feel the need to have a go at it.
ReplyDeleteA few weeks ago, I went to the Public Hearing because in every train and in every car, posters and fliers were available encouraging me to do so. My voice was important and they wanted to hear from me. So off I went determined to speak intelligently and coherently about the facts, not my feelings so as not to confuse what I had to say with emotion rather than merit. My robust yet well thought out argument against an increase in train fare fell on deaf but well dressed ears – the suits awarded me 3 minutes – kept conspicuously by a Seiko clock bigger than the signage announcing “THE NEXT STOP IS” in a train car, (which is never right have you noticed) and blinking red as it count down the seconds to 0:00.
My main argument – my train fare was increasing by 47% - obviously they couldn’t balance the budget because they firmly believed it was only going up 25%, and maybe they should find another accountant who could do simple math. Maybe they weren’t as bad off as they thought………but I digress – today.
Today – the day after the “25%” fare increases were announced I received a message at 4:56pm from NJT telling me the signal was out in NYC and trains were delayed 45 minutes, then another at 5:06pm telling me to take the PATH, then another at 5:13pm saying train service had been suspended, then another at 5:37pm service restored yet no trains came to pick me up in Newark, then another at 7:09pm saying restored into NYC, but out of NYC still 60 minute delays. Now I don’t want to say that 5:37 to 7:09 is too long a time at the height of rush hour on a Thursday to wait for an update or anything – but really, really – no communication for an hour and a half? I sat at Newark, and watched 8 trains pull in going to Jersey Ave. and Trenton,not that many people can possibly live there, not a NJCL blue line on the board – did they get lost? - was there such a mad dash to get out of NYC that they got jammed at the mouth of the tunnel? – did whoever types those messages get tired or did they go through a shift change – couldn’t the guy on the way out say “Dude-don’t forget to send the email out”?
I finally caught the 6:45 out of Newark at 7:40 – at least they were right about the time delay – and the Conductor came for my ticket. I gave him the inbound half of my off-peak round trip ticket – but alas he wouldn’t take it because I am obviously going outbound – now my question is – what damn difference does it make? I am riding an off-peak train, the fare is the same amount, I paid for it, I go up to Newark, I go down to Long Branch – why does it matter which way the ticket reads? I have tried to figure it out, but nothing makes sense – but then why would it, I am too dense to realize that when a fare goes from $15.00 to $22.00, that is a 25% increase – right?