| Author |
Message |
    
Ken Scout
Citizen
Username: Lightningken
Post Number: 136
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, August 3, 2006 - 12:33 pm: | 
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Anyone else disgruntled about the significant cutbacks on NJ Transit for M/SO? See my open letter to our TC in "Mostly Maplewood Govt" |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7947
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, August 3, 2006 - 12:49 pm: |
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I noticed the changes in the new schedule which takes effect 8.13.06. At least two rush hour trains to/from Maplewood (one in the morning and one in the evening) have been removed from the schedule. Slight changes in arrival/departure time have been made to others.
Ken:
I saw your open letter to the TC and I will repeat here what I wrote there. While a letter from the TC criticizing NJT for the reduction in train service would be nice, lots of letters, comment cards, phone calls, e-mails etc. from Maplewood riders would be a lot more effective in getting the new schedule changed to return the lost service.
A few years ago, NJT removed the Maplewood stop from a very popular morning train and the sheer number of complaints from the ridership immediately following the announcement of the change was sufficient to get the stop reinstituted and a new schedule printed in very short order. |
mim
Citizen
Username: Mim
Post Number: 673
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, August 3, 2006 - 1:00 pm: |
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The online schedules are impossible to see. Can someone please mention which trains are missing so we can raise heck with NJT? Thanks. |
ril
Citizen
Username: Ril
Post Number: 591
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, August 3, 2006 - 1:06 pm: |
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They've removed at least one train to South Orange/Maplewood from Hoboken during evening rush as well. The 5:59 express and the 6:09 local have been combined into a 6:01 local. The next train to Maplewood isn't till 6:40! (there is a 6:29 local that stops at South Orange) |
Alleygater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 2397
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, August 3, 2006 - 1:08 pm: |
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Here is the thing I don't get AT ALL. The Maplewood stop is BY FAR AND AWAY the most popular stop. So many people get off at that stop it's unfreaking believable. |
Ken Scout
Citizen
Username: Lightningken
Post Number: 137
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, August 3, 2006 - 1:13 pm: |
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Joan, if you want to start a letter writing/phone call campaign, go for it. In the meantime, please don't detract from my thread and my opinion about how this needs to become an important issue to our TC who is:
1) Responsible for managing issues that impact the town community and QOL
2) Is our designated representation, and is our best laison between the individual town people and State Agencies
Letter writing campaigns and phone complaints are a temporary fix to a problem that seems to be increasing in frequency. For those who wish to take Joans advice, the number is 800-772-2222 Option #4. I've been on hold now for 10 minutes, still waiting to lodge my complaint. Hopefully, everyone in front of me is my fellow M/SO commuter brethren. |
Alleygater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 2398
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, August 3, 2006 - 1:22 pm: |
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I just posted my complaint to here:
https://www.njtransit.com/CSA_SupportForceWeb/cu_form.jsp
I suggest you do the same.
This is what I wrote
----------------------
Myself and VERY MANY other residents who take the Maplewood train are confused that we have lost two rush hour trains to NYC (one coming and going) each day. As is the midtown direct has A FULL HOUR between trains at the most crucial time.
The thing that confuses me to no end is that every day I take this train it is ABUNDANTLY CLEAR that the Maplewood stop is the most busy stop. More people enter the train there and get off the train there than any other stop.
YOU MUST KNOW THIS because of the ticket sales. With ticket prices constantly getting more expensive, how can a reduction of service be justified?
PLEASE REMEDY THIS SITUATION!!! Please not only restore the lost service but please consider strongly, INCREASING service so that trains to NY run MORE than once an hour.
Thank you, |
Zoesky1
Citizen
Username: Zoesky1
Post Number: 1620
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, August 3, 2006 - 1:27 pm: |
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What's the rush hour train going in that has been eliminated? |
Ken Scout
Citizen
Username: Lightningken
Post Number: 138
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, August 3, 2006 - 1:42 pm: |
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OK. Hung up after I crossed the 25 minute threshhold on hold.....Did the Alleygater method:
Thank you for submitting your feedback to us online on 8/3/2006 regarding Maplewood Train Schedule. Your feedback has been received and assigned Case #00132583.
-----Feedback Description-----
Its unfortunate that NJ transit has chosen to neglect the needs of Maplewood Residents, in spite of being one of the busiest commuter towns on the train line.
I sincerely hope consideration is given to re-instating an express train to Hoboken on or about 6:10 - 6:15 AM, which is one of the most crowded trains I had ridden as a commuter.
----------------------------------------
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cmontyburns
Citizen
Username: Cmontyburns
Post Number: 1929
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, August 3, 2006 - 1:45 pm: |
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(Really don't think you're correct that more people get off in Maplewood than in South Orange. The South Orange station -- in addition to serving South Orange -- also serves the West Orange jitneys. Floods of people get on and off during rush hour. I may well be wrong, but regardless, there is a table that has been posted before [by mrosner?] from NJT showing approximate ridership at each station on our train line. They've got the data somewhere.)
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Phenixrising
Citizen
Username: Phenixrising
Post Number: 1828
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, August 3, 2006 - 2:14 pm: |
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cmontyburns
You are correct. The most popular stop is South Orange which serves the West Orange folks (jitney) and some folks (which I've met on the train) from Livingston.
Add to that the newbies from all those new condos in SO who commute to NYC. |
Joe
Citizen
Username: Gonets
Post Number: 1321
Registered: 2-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, August 3, 2006 - 2:17 pm: |
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Does anyone know whether other areas received an increase in service? |
mimi
Citizen
Username: Mimi
Post Number: 279
Registered: 2-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, August 3, 2006 - 2:21 pm: |
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can someone please confirm exactly which trains have been eliminated? are they all hoboken trains? i can't see to find it online. thanks in advance. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7951
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, August 3, 2006 - 5:14 pm: |
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Ken:
I don't see where our approaches are mutually exclusive. Every complaint helps in a situation like this.
Alleygater:
Thanks for the link.
I hope everyone reading this who is concerned about the continued loss of train service between Maplewood and Hoboken will take a moment to lodge a complaint, even if your trains are not impacted now, they may well be in the future. |
Wendy
Supporter
Username: Wendy
Post Number: 2884
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, August 3, 2006 - 5:41 pm: |
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mimi, you'll need a schedule (hard or online) in front of you to identify the trains which are only identified by train number. But this is from the NJ Transit website. August 13th is when the change is going to occur. Not much time. Send those emails in and contact each and every TC member as well.
Beginning on Sunday, August 13, new schedules will take effect on the Morris & Essex Lines. Please see a timetable, effective August 13, 2006, for complete schedules and other details.
Morris & Essex Line Schedule Change Details
On Weekdays:
• Morning eastbound Train 606 (to Hoboken) will add station stops to provide service in place of stations formerly served by Train 300.
• Evening westbound Train 653 will add stops to provide service for stations formerly served by Train 339.
• Evening westbound Train 669 has been discontinued. Customers travelling from Hoboken can use Train 1011 to connect with Train 6667 at Newark Broad Street Station, or can travel on Train 673 (local) from Hoboken to Dover.
Also overlooked is for those who want to go to Hobokan by train on the weekends. Service will now be every other hour to wit:
On Weekends:
• Hourly service will continue to operate between Gladstone and Summit for connection to/from MidTOWN DIRECT trains. However, trains between Summit and Hoboken will operate every other hour on weekends.
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tom
Citizen
Username: Tom
Post Number: 5397
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, August 3, 2006 - 5:59 pm: |
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One of the things that helped fix the situation two years ago was that acting Gov. Cody got involved. It was good to have a local guy in the statehouse. Dave Huemer, at least, has good connections to Corzine's office, and NJT is definitely responsive to requests coming from there. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7952
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, August 3, 2006 - 6:30 pm: |
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Thank you for submitting your feedback to us online on 8/3/2006 regarding Schedule Change. Your feedback has been received and assigned Case #00132639.
-----Feedback Description-----
The recently released schedule for the Morris/Essex line effective August 13, 2006 shows that two rush hour trains between Maplewood Station and Hoboken have been eliminated. This poses a significant problem for the many riders who are presently boarding/leaving these trains at Maplewood Station.
As you know, Maplewood has one of the largest riderships of any station on the Morris/Essex line. Elimination of these trains in addition to posing a hardship for riders of the trains being eliminated will also pose serious overcrowding problems for riders on the trains serving Maplewood immediately before and after the affected trains which will now have to accomodate the displaced passengers.
Hopefully, NJT will reconsider this decision and restore this service.
----------------------------------------
If a reply is required, we will respond to you shortly.
Sincerely,
NJ Transit Customer Service Team
Wendy:
Thanks for pointing out the reduction in weekend service. Those who have not yet written to NJT should definitely include this loss in their e-mails/letters/comment cards/phone calls. |
Morrisa da Silva
Citizen
Username: Mod
Post Number: 506
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Friday, August 4, 2006 - 11:44 am: |
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The weekend service reduction is because of track work and affects everyone, not just Maplewood riders. While perhaps NJT will reconsider their rush hour cutbacks I don't think they can do anything much about the weekend service. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7957
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, August 4, 2006 - 12:31 pm: |
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Morrisa:
There is nothing in the new schedule about the significant reduction in weekend service being temporary due to track work. The exact wording, which appears under the heading of Important Changes, What's new For Riders is as follows:
"On weekends, Gladstone Branch service will operate hourly between Gladstone and Summit and every two to three hours between Summit and Hoboken."
Lack of any Hoboken service between 8:05 PM and 11:05 PM (heading towards Maplewood/South Orange) is really inconvenient, especially when one considers that the same schedule will apply to holiday and snow day service if the schedule remains as is.
Do you happen to know how long this track work is expected to take place and whether the service will be restored once the track work is completed? |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7959
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, August 4, 2006 - 5:11 pm: |
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I stopped by Hoboken Customer Service on the way home this evening. According to the customer servicer representatrive there, lots of people have already complained about the new Morris/Essex schedule. Let's try to keep up those complaints coming. This town depends heavily on our train service. We don't want to see it decrease. |
Wendy
Supporter
Username: Wendy
Post Number: 2892
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, August 4, 2006 - 10:12 pm: |
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I agree Joan. Neither of those trains personally affect my commute. Nevertheless I sent my complaint to the NJ Transit website. Cutting of service regardless whether one is individually affected is unacceptable. This is what I sent:
Dear Wendy,
Thank you for submitting your feedback to us online on 8/4/2006 regarding Train Discontinuations. Your feedback has been received and assigned Case #00132770.
-----Feedback Description-----
Not only am I and other fellow passengers on the Morris/Essex line (I'm from Maplewood) upset about you discontinuing one eastbound train and two west bound trains, I am upset about two additional things.
1) The way you described the service "adjustments" was somewhat disingenuous. Hidden in your paragraphs was the fact there will be no train 300 and no train 339. Instead of saying discontinued you say formerly served by. While those trains may in fact still run, as far as passengers affected, they have been discontinued.
2) Service to Hoboken now running every other hour on the weekends is not an acceptable time gap.
Please consider strongly your passengers when you make these decisions. We almost lost Train # 414 in Maplewood but many lobbied against a wrong decision and that was reversed. Here's hoping you reconsider.
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Ken Scout
Citizen
Username: Lightningken
Post Number: 141
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 8, 2006 - 9:45 am: |
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FYI....new service (or NON-service) begins later this week. Have fun fellow commuters. |
Jane C.
Citizen
Username: Janegc
Post Number: 15
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 8, 2006 - 3:49 pm: |
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I wonder if they will alter the jitney schedule so that they wait for the Hoboken 6:01 train given that the 5:59 (which made the jitney connection) has been cancelled.
Jane C |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7994
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, August 8, 2006 - 8:43 pm: |
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Jane:
Call town hall and ask. Unfortunately, nobody ever seems to notify the town when the train schedule changes significantly enough to impact on connections. It is quite possible that the person in charge of jitney service is unaware of the schedule change. |
Morrisa da Silva
Citizen
Username: Mod
Post Number: 510
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 9, 2006 - 8:25 am: |
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Joan,
I don't know the answers you posed about the track work. I got my info about the weekend service changes being linked to track work from my train afficionado son. I'll have to look into it further. Thanks for pointing it out. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 8002
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 9, 2006 - 12:44 pm: |
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Thanks Morrisa. I look forward to your answer. If the loss in service is temporary, it could affect the need for our towns and individuals take to try and get our weekend service restored. |
Valley_girl
Citizen
Username: Valley_girl
Post Number: 131
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 9, 2006 - 7:13 pm: |
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And another thing!
How come when they run out of Maplewood/South Orange-specific train schedules--like they did MONTHS ago--they don't print any more? |
cmontyburns
Citizen
Username: Cmontyburns
Post Number: 1943
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 9, 2006 - 9:19 pm: |
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You can also view the new schedules online:
http://www.njtransit.com/sf_tr_schedules.shtml
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Wendy
Supporter
Username: Wendy
Post Number: 2929
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 9, 2006 - 9:34 pm: |
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As I suspected the new schedule shows the changes including the once every 2 to 3 hours (as NJT says) trains to Hoboken. There is nothing here or on NJT's website that indicates that these changes are temporary or due to track work. Here is what they say in the beginning of the new schedule:
"Important Changes
what’s new for riders
On weekdays:
Eastbound Train 606 will add stops to provide
service for discontinued Train 300.
Westbound Train 653 will add stops to provide
service for discontinued Train 339.
Westbound Train 669 has been discontinued.
Customers traveling from Hoboken can use
Train 1011 to connect with Train 6667 at
Newark Broad Street, or can travel on Train 673
(local) from Hoboken to Dover.
On weekends, Gladstone Branch service will operate
hourly between Gladstone and Summit and
every 2-3 hours between Summit and Hoboken."
Ridiculous. I hope everyone wrote or contacted NJT even if those particular scheduling changes don't personally affect you. They ultimately will make a change that affects you or someone you know. If nothing else, it lessens the appeal of our towns with service cutbacks like that.
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Alleygater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 2489
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, August 16, 2006 - 11:53 pm: |
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OK, so was I the only one to receive this email from NJT? How should it be interpretted? I suspect that ALL of the different scheduling changes that everyone mentioned above could be just magically fixed and were really just printing errors. Could it?
Quote:We are replying to your feedback of 8/3/2006 regarding subject: Reduced Service on Morris & Essex Line.
Thank you for your patience as I sought information responsive to your concern. Our service planner has advised that service has not been cut for Maplewood. There was a printing error on the Morris & Essex Line schedules effective 8/13/06. The error caused the midtown direct label to be missing from some MidTOWN direct trains. A new printing of the Morris & Essex Line schedule is now available. The correct schedule has the note "Revised August, 2006" on the cover.
NJ TRANSIT apologizes for the confusion. Thank you for contacting NJ Transit.
Sincerely,
NJ Transit Customer Service Team
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Bajou
Citizen
Username: Bajou
Post Number: 1562
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Thursday, August 17, 2006 - 12:28 am: |
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I am glad it was an error. I hope it stays that way. My fellow communters from Maplewood are alot luckier then the South Orange or much worse the Mountain Station ones. We have had trains cut every year even though ridership in Mountain Station has gone up. We have no -0- service to Penn Station and there is rarely a seat on the Hoboken line by the time it stops in Mountain Station. This station does not only serve the South Orange customers on the East side of town but alot of West Orange customers. When there is a service disruption I have watched 7 trains in a row go by and skip the stop altogether to service the bigger stations. I do understand that necessity but it would be nice to see at least one out of three trains stop here and there.
Oh and after checking with NJ Transit Maplewood is not the busiest stop. It actually is number three after Summit and Millburn. |
Ken Scout
Citizen
Username: Lightningken
Post Number: 147
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, August 17, 2006 - 8:11 am: |
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I recieved the same response, but the response was incorrect and I alerted NJTransit about the error made by customer service. I re-await the next response.
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Pippi
Supporter
Username: Pippi
Post Number: 2777
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, August 17, 2006 - 12:42 pm: |
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just received this email in response to my complaint.
Dear Pippi,
We are replying to your feedback of 8/8/2006 regarding subject: Morris/Essex Schedule Changes.
Our service planner has provided the information below. The service cuts are necessary because of budgetary constraints.
We reduced the number of weekend trains that operated from / to the Gladstone Branch to Hoboken to better match ridership. Counts performed by NJ TRANSIT staff indicated that average ridership into and out of Hoboken ranged from 20 to 30 riders per train, with the observed variation resulting from seasonal ridership patterns. We would expect the bi-hourly service to Hoboken to produce 30 to 40 riders per train into and out of Hoboken.
Customers who find that the bi-hourly pattern does not meet their needs may wish to consult the trip planner on our web site, NJTRANSIT.COM in order to explore other weekend travel options to and from Hoboken. In certain timeframes, outbound customers may find additional options include utilizing Main / Bergen trains to Secaucus Junction for transfer to Midtown Direct trains and use of Raritan Valley Line trains to Newark Penn Station with transfers at Newark Penn Station to Bus services.
Trains 300 and 339 each carried less than 200 customers. Train 606 also carried less than 200 customers, based on counts performed by NJ TRANSIT staff. Given budget constraints, we needed to reduce some peak period service where ridership was low. We chose trains 300 and 339 since there were adjacent trains that could be adjusted to replace the stops on trains 300 and 339. We recognize that this impacts current customers of trains 606 and 653. However, we are trying to provide a reasonable service to all of our customers, at an affordable cost.
Thank you for contacting NJ Transit.
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thegoodsgt
Citizen
Username: Thegoodsgt
Post Number: 1051
Registered: 2-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, August 17, 2006 - 2:50 pm: |
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It appears that NJT did a lot of research to support the changes. It's good to see them share the actual numbers with customers. |
ril
Citizen
Username: Ril
Post Number: 605
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, August 17, 2006 - 4:10 pm: |
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I received a phone call from NJT in reponse to my complaint; the caller told me the same "cancelled due to budget"; meanwhile, as a result of the cancellation of the 5:59 express from Hoboken to SO, the local train at 6:01 (which combines an express and local) has been jam-packed. Guess that's more cost-efficient for NJT, but hardly shows concern for customers. Just wait till summer's over and everyone's back from vacation...
Everyone, I beg you: please complain to New Jersey transit, even if you are not a regular rider of these cancelled trains. Maplewood & SO need MORE train service, not less (next time, it could be YOUR train). If enough people complain, perhaps they'll pay attention. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 8070
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, August 17, 2006 - 8:03 pm: |
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There is an error in MTD designation of some trains on the weekday schedule and there is a loss of service of one rush hour train from Maplewood to Hoboken in the AM and from Hoboken to Maplewood in the PM. Thanks Alley for pointing this out to NJT. Hopefully, they will see the loss of service more clearly once they have a corrected schedule to look at.
If NJT is correct about the low ridership to/from Hoboken on weekends, and if we want to encourage NJT to keep the level of weekend Hoboken service to which we have become accustomed, it is necessary for us to use this service more often, thereby increasing rider demand. Otherwise, we may lose even more of the mass transit we have available to us now. |
flugermongers
Citizen
Username: Flugermongers
Post Number: 727
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, August 19, 2006 - 12:59 am: |
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When I bitched about the fair hikes (over 30% since 2001) on MOL, saying that their service never improves, they cut trains, and their promised improvements never happen - I got my head bitten off. |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 8084
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, August 19, 2006 - 8:52 am: |
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Perhaps it's because you refer to them as "fair" hikes rather than "fare" hikes?
Seriously, much as most of us hate to see the cost of any major ongoing expense rise significantly, I think most of us recognize that the cost of running a mass transit system has increased significantly since 2001 -- added fuel and security costs being just two of the factors which come to mind.
However, when we see cuts in service which may be disproportionately affecting our commuter line as opposed to others, and when we consider the proportion of persons from our area who rely on NJT's Morris/Essex line on a daily basis, the issue becomes more threatening to all of us. Thus the outcry. |
Alleygater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 2503
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, August 19, 2006 - 2:23 pm: |
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It's abundantly clear that the North East Corridor line is a huge priority for NJT. That line has over two times the amount of trains running at any one given moment compared with ours. They are the ones gaining better service with our (un)fair hikes. |
flugermongers
Citizen
Username: Flugermongers
Post Number: 728
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, August 19, 2006 - 3:58 pm: |
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Hehe Joan, I was very tired. Hadn't slept in 2 days. I'm usually the one laughing at people's typos.. thanks for pointing it out 
Well, not all people have the money to pay for the rising fares, and the whole point was that it was unjustified. It was one of my major complaints that I knew service wouldn't be up to par, and that the fares were already to high from the jump in 2001. |
flugermongers
Citizen
Username: Flugermongers
Post Number: 729
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, August 19, 2006 - 3:59 pm: |
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Wow, I'm really not typing coherent sentences. Logging off now :-P |
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