On March 1 New Jersey Transit will raise fares for some stations (for example Allendale to Mahwah) on it s Main/Bergen County line and Pascack Valley line as Metro North raises its fares on its Port Jervis and Spring Valley lines.
Metro North's fares are lower than New Jersey Transit's. In the above cases NJT operates trains for MN when its own lines leave New Jersey and go into New York. If NJT applied its own fare policy some NJT fares would be higher than MN fares to more distant points on the same line. To avoid this NJT holds its own fares to a limit based on MN fares on these lines. As MN fares increase NJT fares will also but they will still be lower than NJT fares on its other lines for rides of the same length.
Riders' reactions are reported in The Star-Ledger. You may read them here: http://www.nj.com/bergen/index.ssf/2013/02/bergen_county_commuters_miffed_about_fare_increase_but_most_wont_ditch_train.html#incart_river
Its an agreement with MNRR and NJT has done its best to look its best. But remember, too, that MNRR traffic and money supports the service, the number of trains, the schedules. If MNRR didn't , NJ commuters wouldn't have as good a service, number of trains, schedules that are there now.
RIDEWITHMEHENRY is the name for our almost monthly day of riding trains and transit in either the NYCity or Philadelphia areas including all commuter lines, Amtrak, subways, light rail and trolleys, bus and ferries when warranted. No fees, just let us know you want to join the ride and pay your fares. Ask to be on our email list or find us on FB as RIDEWITHMEHENRY (all caps) to get descriptions of each outing.
Hey Henry,
You're talking to me like I want to make you get off at Suffern and take a stage coach to Paterson to continue your trip to the Hudson River. Do you really thing I want to do that?
John
No. I'm neither saying nor implying that at all. I am just stating that MNRR's support for the service from Port Jervis and Spring Valley allows NJT to provide it at the level it is. MNRR spends a lot of money on providing the schedules west of Suffern and to keep trains running on the Pascack Valley.
henry6MNRR spends a lot of money on providing the schedules west of Suffern and to keep trains running on the Pascack Valley.
Actually its better than that, Henry. When I first started riding NJT back in the late 70's and also for at least part of the 80's there was no Sunday service. Sunday service began because MN insisted on it. There isn't a lot -- about every 2 hours as I recall. But it is a lot better than no service at all.
PS. Henry, when is Senator Schumer going to get us a train from Binghamton? John
I hope to get a few things cleared from my plate here in the next month or so and then tackle the situation. We had a committee and progress on the situation several years ago but a new regime of gender and party came into power in our government and the whole thing went in the hole. Schumer actually was supposed to have contacted Amtrak about a survey but the politics here let it go by the wayside. Got to get hold of his office here as well as a few others and get this thing going again. Actually, NJT and the Feds have to get going in rebuilding the Cut Off and getting the Pocono-Scranton agency the money to get their work done. We can really expect anything until Scranton service in close to a reality.
henry6Actually, NJT and the Feds have to get going in rebuilding the Cut Off and getting the Pocono-Scranton agency the money to get their work done. We can really expect anything until Scranton service in close to a reality.
This is just speculating. But I would not be surprised if NJT postpones work on the Lackawanna Cut Off until it can get its trains repaired. Right now it is still using Metro North trains on some lines. It is short of repair parts because many of them were destroyed in Kearney along with the trains they stored there. And there are not a lot of sources for the repair parts they need. And double decker cars need to have their lower floors replaced. So the repairs will probably keen them busy for a while.
Yes and no. It is a separate contract and program which is years behind and years ahead, so traffic and equipment is not a consideration to worry about for another five or so years....in fact the track which has been laid west from Port Morris is now designated as a storage track and holds salt encrusted cars and locomotives...including MNRR F's! Track is higher than the local roads and cloaked by trees to hide their sin.
I hope you're right about the Lackawanna Cut Off, Henry. In view of the sin they try to hide perhaps NJT management should walk barefoot through the snow to Binghamton and beg forgiveness.
Well, I really don't have too much to complain about with New Jersey Transit. Anytime I'm ready it's waiting for me outside in the "Chugger Barn." Yes sir, everything's swell with my Lionel!
Many of you see my "ridewithmehenry" paragraph at the bottom of my posts...it is a fun thing me and some friends do starting out driving from Binghamton, NY area usually to an NJT railhead. We share the gas, sometimes I get dinner paid for...I drive 2 to 3 hours in each direction and usually lay out the day's trips. We are not exclusive in anyway and encourage those to join us either from our home or to join us enroute. Next Thurs, 2/28, for instance we will drive from Binghamton about 6A to get the 7:46AM out of Port Jervis to Sec. Jct., then to Trenton on the Corridor, ride the River Line light rail diesel cars to Camden, PATCO automated rapid transit cars across the Delaware to the end of the line, grab a Broad St. train one station then a trolley car two stations to 30th. St. to catch a SEPTA MU to Trenton and retrace NJT back to Port Jervis by 7:08P, dinner, and back to Binghamton bout 10:30P. It is a long but leisurely day: no discussion of spouses, family, religion, or politics allowed. With NJT's fares PJ to Trenton and back for us over 62 is only $20 Thursday but will be a horribly higher $21.50 starting the next day. If anyone wants to join us anywhere along the line, please do, but please let me know so we know who you are....contact me right here. I bring this up here because one of the ideas behind Ridweithmehenry is to explore the use of public transit by making connections...the fun of riding trains that are not tourist trains, is another reason, as is seeing remnants of the past while enjoying the technology of today. And I can't say enough about how great the train crews are toward us...as long as we stay out of their way. So this journey will cost each of us about $36 plus gas and meals...adult full fare @ $57.. But we figure we can't bowl or golf for that amount of money, so why not. Let me know if you can join us...love to have you along to see what commuters have to put up with and what railfans can do, too.
Firelock76Well, I really don't have too much to complain about with New Jersey Transit. Anytime I'm ready it's waiting for me outside in the "Chugger Barn." Yes sir, everything's swell with my Lionel!
Can you commute around your Christmas tree?
John WR Firelock76Well, I really don't have too much to complain about with New Jersey Transit. Anytime I'm ready it's waiting for me outside in the "Chugger Barn." Yes sir, everything's swell with my Lionel! Can you commute around your Christmas tree?
NOT with the Lionel New Jersey Transit set! The Christmas tree is reserved for STEAM, and STEAM ONLY! No diesel will EVER soil the loops under the Festung Firelock Christmas tree!
The NJT Lionel set is pretty cool though, lots of fun to run!
Get a model of 614. That'll fix things...
Firelock76NOT with the Lionel New Jersey Transit set! The Christmas tree is reserved for STEAM, and STEAM ONLY! No diesel will EVER soil the loops under the Festung Firelock Christmas tree!
Wayne,
I am APPALLED. ABSOLUTELY APPALLED at your retrograde attitude. Stream is OBSOLETE. Do you hear me, OBSOLETE. Today's Christmas trees demand today's technology. DIESEL.
Overmod Get a model of 614. That'll fix things...
That's crossed my mind, C&O 614 pulling an NJT excursion train. Rode on the real thing back in the 90's don't ya know? Wow, that was fun! 70 mile-per hour behind steam through one stretch on the Meadows!
John you can be appalled all you like, but NO DIESELS under my Christmas Tree! Next you'll be telling me I've got to get one of those new-fangled aluminum trees with the color spotlight "whiz-wheel". I'll slash my wrists before I let one of those things in the house!
Wayne
Firelock76Next you'll be telling me I've got to get one of those new-fangled aluminum trees with the color spotlight "whiz-wheel".
But an aluminum Christmas tree is much better than an evergreen. It's much more symetrical and just like a diesel engine it never needs water and it lasts a lot longer.
Come Christmas I'll sneak in your house and swap out that clanky old fashioned steam engine for a super duper new diesel. You'll thank me for it.
Don't try sneaking in the Festung Firelock John, you'll trip over Lonzo the Killer Basset Hound in the dark and hurt yourself. Then Lonzo'll finish you off by licking you to death!
I'll bring my little dog Cindy along, Wayne. She'll seduce Lonzo. Then a quick switch and you have an American (made in China) aluminum Christmas tree with a diesel engine running around it. The Festung Schmestung is gone.
John WRStream is OBSOLETE. Do you hear me, OBSOLETE.
Well, the Brooks locomotive works was folded into the Alco conglomerate fairly early. And most streamlined steam is certainly obsolete. But what did that have to do with his question... ;-}
Today's Christmas trees demand today's technology. DIESEL.
Funny, I was not aware that anyone currentlly packaged a compression-ignition engine in 1:48 scale or smaller sets. Please advise me where I can purchase one. Preferably with an 'anatomically-correct' 12 or 16-cylinder engine.
I'll be charitable and accept anything at larger scale, say, with the 1/4horse Hatz diesel in it. But again, there is a limit to how big Firelock's tree can be made, or hoisted, to allow larger-scale operation.
There is also the problem of exhaust inside the house, but I leave that to you beause you're evidently more aware of today's technology with respect to model-size diesels (would not be surprised to see weird compounds in the exhaust not found in full-size motors, for example)
AHA! Now there you go Overmod! There ISN'T any 1/48 scale live diesel engine you can put under a Christmas tree. There IS, however, a LIVE STEAM 1/48 scale locomotive! I saw one demonstrated at a "Worlds Greatest Hobby on Tour" show several years ago. Can't afford the bloody thing, however.
Anyway, what's "obsolete" depends on your point of view. My house is full of obsolete stuff, from my flintlocks to my 1917 Victrola. Nice thing about it is when we have a power failure I'VE still got music! Ah, Signor Caruso and Mr. John McCormack. What a combination!
OvermodFunny, I was not aware that anyone currentlly packaged a compression-ignition engine in 1:48 scale or smaller sets.
Overnod,
I shall immediately and forthwith draft a letter to Santa Claus explaining the problem and also advising him of the exhaust issue in order that he may get model diesel electric trains into production and Firelock's Christmas may be complete.
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