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amandacat
Citizen
Username: Amandacat
Post Number: 1128
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, May 7, 2006 - 9:02 pm: | 
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Getting ready to start a new commute tomorrow, and am trying to figure out if I should go through Hoboken or Penn Station (new job is ~ 15 blocks from Penn & 1 block from PATH). Specifically, if I buy a monthly ticket to Hoboken & decide to take a Penn train now and again, what will the conductor charge me for the difference? I seem to remember the "change fee" was raised recently . . . |
tabby
Citizen
Username: Tabby
Post Number: 279
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, May 7, 2006 - 9:57 pm: |
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Congratulations on the new job! What is the exact address? There may be a subway that could take you those 15 blocks from Penn.
Tabby |
Eats Shoots & Leaves
Citizen
Username: Mfpark
Post Number: 3316
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, May 7, 2006 - 10:16 pm: |
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Yes, there is a surcharge for using a Hoboken ticket into Penn--I think it is around or less than $2.00. Not all conductors collect it, but they do it more frequently now than they used to do.
Why not walk from Penn to your office? I used to walk to 23rd and Madison (and back) and it was a nice walk, good exercise, not too far even on very hot or very cold days. |
bmpsab
Citizen
Username: Bmpsab
Post Number: 218
Registered: 3-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 8, 2006 - 8:55 am: |
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I can tell you that I infinitely prefer commuting through Hoboken as opposed to NYP. Hoboken is much less crowded, and in the evening you can get on the train as soon as you get into the station. Also, the Hoboken trains seem to have much fewer delays than the NYP trains (which suffer from sharing the Amtrak tunnels and lines). With NYP, on the other hand, they don't announce a boarding track until 5 minutes (or less) before the departure time, and then there is a mad dash rush of all the people trying to board the train at the same time - blech. Just my two cents.
And, yes there is a $2.00 surcharge for the "change in terminal fee" if you have a Hoboken ticket and you want to go to NYP (no such fee to go to/from Hoboken on a NYP ticket). This totally bites, because the $2.00 fee is more than the difference in cost between a NYP ticket and a Hoboken ticket. Not all the conductors collect it, and that somewhat makes up for what is otherwise a really unfair penalty. |
Sherri De Rose
Citizen
Username: Honeydo
Post Number: 174
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Monday, May 8, 2006 - 8:57 am: |
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I used to work in the garment district before MidTown express. If you go to Hoboken the train is always there in the station when you arrive. You always know what track it is on. At Penn Station you must wait like cattle with everyone else looking at the posting board, then make a mad dash down narrow steps with hundreds of others.
I think the Path/Hoboken is much more civilized. |
Joel Janney
Citizen
Username: Joel_janney
Post Number: 49
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Monday, May 8, 2006 - 9:22 am: |
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Can anyone explain the "mad dash"? There's a few trains that end up being standing room only for a small minority of passengers, usually those who aren't there for the initial call. But even at 8 or later, the intensity to get down those steps ahead of everyone else is undiminished. It's especially strange when you're there early, and one of the first few dozen in line to go down the stairs, and folks are just as frantic, as if there's a "first 30" discount or something.
Usually, the tracks are posted 8-10 minutes before departure. There is one train (the 6:16) that has more on time issues than the rest. Regardless, if you're at the station on time, you'll get on the train. You should try both for a week. |
Pippi
Supporter
Username: Pippi
Post Number: 2166
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Monday, May 8, 2006 - 9:44 am: |
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I can also commute through Penn or Hoboken. I prefer to commute through Hoboken in the morning, as it is much more civilized. I always get a seat on the train and I don't have to deal with the craziness of Penn.
In the evening I often go home through Penn, just because I know I'm guaranteed to make my train and not wait 30 minutes (although as Sherri mentions, you can wait on the train and that's a bonus). Due to the increase in the change fee last year, I was forced to buy the Penn ticket, even though I use it only 35-40% of the time.
I think it's nice to have commuting options.... |
Bob K
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 11438
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 8, 2006 - 9:52 am: |
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Joel, I think the mad rush at Penn is partially the herd mentality and partially people trying to get a "good" seat.
I think Amandacat will probably find Hoboken, and PATH, quicker and probably less nerveracking. It takes a fair amount of time to walk 15 blocks. If there is a subway alternative at Penn I think the PATH is probably less crowded and more or less the same amount of time.
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Smarty Jones
Citizen
Username: Birdstone
Post Number: 603
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Monday, May 8, 2006 - 10:17 am: |
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If you can walk it from Penn Station, I think it's a no-brainer to do mid-town direct to Penn, and avoid PATH. The commute to 'boken is great, except having the transfer to the horrid PATH eliminates the beuty of the Hoboken advantage. |
Alleygater
Citizen
Username: Alleygater
Post Number: 1895
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Monday, May 8, 2006 - 11:09 am: |
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I agree with Smarty. Everytime, I miss the Midtown Direct going home from Penn Station by 1 minute -- I think to myself -- I'll just take the Path to Hoboken and catch the next train there.
EVERY TIME I HAVE EVER DONE THIS, I have regretted it, and got home to Maplewood on a train that arrived to town LATER than if I would have just waited the extra half hour in NY for the next train.
The PATH is a wild card, and it is very slow from 33rd street to Hoboken, and I don't reccomend it. Also what some people are forgetting is that the PATH trains are obnoxious during rush hour, and VERY often you will find yourself standing for the entire trip. Slower is never better, IMO. |
srg227
Citizen
Username: Srg227
Post Number: 43
Registered: 6-2004
| | Posted on Monday, May 8, 2006 - 2:57 pm: |
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this is a mixed bag. The Hoboken train station is much more civilized - train is almost always on the same track, they let you board 20-25 minutes before it leaves, so you avoid that whole running-of-the-bulls phenomenon in Penn Station.
however...the Path train can be crowded, to the point that you not only don't get a seat, but you might be sharing your personal space with someone who didn't shower that morning (especially acute in the summer). So I guess it comes down to which of those two evils you like better.
also, NJ TRansit charges $2.00 per trip if you have a Hoboken pass and you take the Penn Station train (and vice-versa). |
Joan
Supporter
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 7404
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 8, 2006 - 7:06 pm: |
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I can make it to my office in approximately the same time traveling either NYP + subway or Hoboken + PATH. Hoboken + PATH wins hands down. Travel cost per month is a lot less. Rail equipment is much more reliable on the Hoboken line. Hoboken trains are much more apt to be on time or early in arriving at their destination. It is much easier for two people traveling together to be able to find seats together on a Hoboken train. There are fewer break dancers and drummers performing on PATH than on the subway. It is generally easier to get a seat on PATH than on the subway. Plus, the Hoboken schedule works better for me.
One deciding factor should be which schedule Hoboken or NYP works better for your work schedule.
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