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Message |
    
mantram
Citizen
Username: Mantram
Post Number: 5
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, November 20, 2003 - 8:46 pm: | 
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This might be an opportunity to shave some time and money off the daily commute. I'm thinking of taking the train from maplewood to Newark or Hoboken, and then transferring to the WTC PATH train. But does it make sense to spend time getting from Broad St. to Newark Penn? Or take the train to Hoboken with all it's interminable stops along the way?
Are you downtown bound folks planning to change your commutes? |
lseltzer
Citizen
Username: Lseltzer
Post Number: 1918
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, November 20, 2003 - 9:19 pm: |
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There are no official stops on the train between Hoboken and Newark, and I can't imagine that it makes sense to transfer between stations in Newark. It must be faster to stay on till Hoboken.
By the way, wow, it's going to open again! I'm taking it just for the hell of it. |
Pippi
Citizen
Username: Pippi
Post Number: 15
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, November 20, 2003 - 11:19 pm: |
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Mantram - there really aren't that many stops from M-SO to Hoboken, I make the commute daily. There is, in fact, an express train that leaves SO approx. 8:15 and makes two stops before Hoboken. It's a half-hour ride. |
bobk
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 3892
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, November 21, 2003 - 4:53 am: |
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As a veteran downtown commuter I have been giving this a fair amount of thought. I work just outside of South Street Seaport so the current ferry service to Pier 11 is great for me. After the first of the year the rumor is that service to Pier 11 will be cut back (four small Otter boats running on a ten minute schedule) and the fare increased, so that may no longer be an option for many of us.
It is about a ten or fifteen minute walk from Water Street to the PATH station at the WTC sight. I did this for years.
My guess is that quite a few people will opt to take Midtown Direct and then the subway downtown to Fulton or Wall Street as the fastest way to get to and from work. I think Midtown Direct will become much more crowded again.
Maplewood and South Orange have a fair number of NJT expresses that only stop at Newakr and some make an employee only stop at the maintenance facility in the swamp. Hoboken service is still slow because the work on the Bergen tunnels isn't complete. |
bobk
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 3894
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, November 21, 2003 - 8:04 am: |
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This morning NYwaterway handed out a brochure announcing service changes as of next Monday. They will be using "high speed" ferries running on an eight minute headway during rush hour. Trip time will be reduced to ten minutes from the 15 to 20 minutes using the current chartered fishing and tour boats.
They are offering promotional fares, including a three month pass for January through March for the cost of two months.
No fare increase was announced, but I suspect one will be announced in February or March given the promotions they are offering, or at least that is what my marketing instincts tell me.
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JGTierney
Citizen
Username: Jtg7448
Post Number: 84
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Friday, November 21, 2003 - 8:27 am: |
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I'm new to town....
What was train service like to Hoboken prior to 9/11?
Somehow I was thinking/ hoping that there used to be express trains to Hoboken and that they might be reinstated?
Am I crazy?
It seems ridiculous that the service to Midtown is better than the service downtown. Why? |
bobk
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 3895
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, November 21, 2003 - 8:53 am: |
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Express is a matter of definition. 
There are quite a few rush hour trains that only stop at South Orange and Newark - Broad Street, with some of the earlier trains making a stop at the MMC in the Meadowlands.
The tunnels that are being rebuilt leading into Hoboken have slowed the trains considerably and made travel times less certain.
While sometimes exasperating, the local service during the non-rush hours only takes three or four minutes longer than the "express" service, mainly because this is run with the faster accelerating pure electric equiptment and because the culture on the Hoboken line is that people line up to get off the train before it reaches their station, unlike MTD where people don't even think about gathering their briefcase and putting on their coat until the train stops.
Pretty much on the Hoboken line there is a train every thirty minutes throughout the day.
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ashear
Citizen
Username: Ashear
Post Number: 802
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, November 21, 2003 - 9:10 am: |
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It certainly makes no sense to go from Newark Broad to Newark Penn for the PATH. I work a little over a block from where the new path station is. I've been going to Penn and taking the subway with occasional ferry rides but I expect to be on the Hoboken train a lot more. According to my calculations some NY Penn trains (like the non stop 7:08 in and 5:47 out) may still be faster but not much and probably not enough. I would think this will really cut down the trafic on the Hoboken to WFC ferry, which they just added service to (every 8 unstead of every 10 mins). Also, the Seacacus station is supposed to go into full operation on December 15. I don't know what effect that will have on NYC bound trains. If they ever finish the tunnel rehab there may also be some Hoboken trains added. |
Earlster
Citizen
Username: Earlster
Post Number: 70
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Friday, November 21, 2003 - 11:51 am: |
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I wouldn't make the swith in Newark, not only is the bus service from Broad St. to Penn a lame duck, but also the PATH out of Newark is usually crowded as hell and not any faster then the trains into Hoboken. |
bmpsab
Citizen
Username: Bmpsab
Post Number: 59
Registered: 3-2001
| | Posted on Friday, November 21, 2003 - 4:00 pm: |
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If you have a car and the inclination, you can always drive down 280 to Harrison (which is one short stop after Newark and has some large parking lots) and take the PATH from there. The benefits are no train schedule to comply with and the comfort of your own car. The negatives are paying for parking (which can be a wash against the train fare) and traffic. My old commute, pre 9/11, was the Harrison/PATH route. I have actually gotten somewhat used to the Hoboken train/WFC ferry (especially because I get a lot of work done during the commute) and I am not sure that I will switch back. |
mantram
Citizen
Username: Mantram
Post Number: 6
Registered: 8-2003
| | Posted on Friday, November 21, 2003 - 4:31 pm: |
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Thank you all for this wealth of information You have all convinced me to stick to my midtown direct-subway commute, and I do not think it is all that bad. I'm glad the PATH is operational again though, and it will be a good fallback when I oversleep and miss my train, which is more often than I'd like to admit. |
Joan
Citizen
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 2200
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, November 22, 2003 - 2:47 pm: |
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Does anyone know where the new entrance to the lower Manhattan PATH station will be? |
lah
Citizen
Username: Lah
Post Number: 152
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, November 22, 2003 - 3:05 pm: |
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I'm told that the new station is at Church and Fulton (basically where the old Borders was). |
Joan
Citizen
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 2204
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, November 22, 2003 - 5:14 pm: |
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Thanks. I may give it a try when my monthly ticket and 30 day metrocard expire at the end of this month. |
bobk
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 3907
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, November 22, 2003 - 7:49 pm: |
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The actual platforms are located where they were before 911. The same is true of the bank of escalators leading up to what use to be the shopping level.
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Joan
Citizen
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 2207
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, November 23, 2003 - 11:06 am: |
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Mantram:
The Hoboken/PATH route may be a better bet depending on your schedule and how far you work place is located from the new PATH Station. One thing to bear in mind are the plans for the opening of the Secaucus Transfer Station once the downtown PATH is in operation again. If the weekend schedule is any indicator, this will add an average of ten minutes onto the midtown direct trip which can more than offset the time lost at the tunnel into Hoboken and the possible stop at the maintenance yard. |
wnb
Citizen
Username: Wnb
Post Number: 64
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Monday, November 24, 2003 - 12:25 pm: |
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They were handing out pamphlets at the ferry this morning, and they do not seem to be reducing ferry service to pier 11. In fact they seem to "get it" that we are some of the most likely people to continue using the ferry instead of PATH as long as they can keep costs somewhat in line.
For December, since I will not be commuting for a full month, my best option is to buy a PATH 20-trip ticket. In January, I will take advantage of NY Waterway's "2 for 3" deal wherein you buy a 3-month pass for the price of two months ($184). This is only about $40 more expensive in total than 3 months of PATH service and much more convenient for us pier 11 folks.
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wnb
Citizen
Username: Wnb
Post Number: 65
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Monday, November 24, 2003 - 12:33 pm: |
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JGTierney,
I've actually sent an inquiry to NJ Transit about express service from South Orange station during the morning rush (the afternoon schedule from HOB -> SO has very good mix of local/express trains roughly 1/2 hour apart, but the morning rush is almost entirely local).
I was told that the morning service is busier, and therefore there isn't track capacity to run an express to HOB with "so little ridership remaining on the Hoboken trains."
I'm sure the answer would be the same if you're asking about Maplewood instead.
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bobk
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 3919
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, November 24, 2003 - 12:51 pm: |
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Expect a large fare increase from NYWaterway in the spring after they capture riders with the new high speed service. |
Joan
Citizen
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 2243
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 3, 2003 - 8:19 pm: |
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I started using the PATH service between Hoboken and Lower Manhattan this past Monday. Thus far it has been a very comfortable and convenient ride. The total travel time is about the same as the Midtown Direct/subway route and the ambiance is very much better.
However, a concern for some may be that The Pit is fully visible when the train pulls into and out of the World Trade Center Station. The sight could be traumatic for those who were in lower Manhattan on 9/11. |
JGTierney
Citizen
Username: Jtg7448
Post Number: 96
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, December 4, 2003 - 9:01 am: |
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Joan,
We've been taking the PATH now too. I love
that I can always get a seat! It's a more humane experience to a degree.
I will admit that it is difficult to look at the pit. We discussed the other morning that this particular commute will be a mouse's eye view to the future construction. We lived that day, and will live each one as the changes occur -up close and personal.
I'm left to wonder whether it will be cathartic or not? |
bobk
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 3981
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, December 4, 2003 - 9:29 am: |
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To use Yogi’s term it is “déjà vu all over again”. I was in Two WTC when the building was hit and prior to that watched the truly horrific events unfold in One WTC after it was struck. It is very strange to go into the site on the PATH. The tracks are located exactly where they were before 9/11, the stairs up to the concourse are where they were before, the escalators up to what use to be the shopping mall area are located exactly where they were and the exit to Church Street is where it was before as well. It looks like the platform at the station is original and, most striking, is that the ugly, uncomfortable benches on the platform either survived the attack or have been replicated exactly. It is very strange and brings back memories. I actually feel like I am in some time warp and it is 2075 and the WTC is being cleared for new construction.
I am not suffering flashbacks or anything like that, but it is very strange.
OK, I admit, I am kinda strange to start with. J
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JGTierney
Citizen
Username: Jtg7448
Post Number: 97
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, December 4, 2003 - 9:36 am: |
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Well - you may be strange (?), I can't say
I was waiting for my husband Tuesday evening - down by the turnstiles...watching the scene before me. Harried commuters - shopping bags (tis the season) - and thought to myself that ALL of these people before me survived that day.
All of them experienced it in their own way. I in mine.
I think your Yogi quote it perfect - some sort of strange Groundhog Day experience - oddly the same, oddly different. |
ashear
Citizen
Username: Ashear
Post Number: 816
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, December 4, 2003 - 10:44 am: |
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I've only taken it in once so far but one thing I noticed was that when the train emerged from the tunnel all conversation on the train stopped. I kind of liked that. |
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