Early this afternoon a contractor working on Woodbury Viaduct between Harriman and Salisbury Mills stations reportedly inadvertently moved one of the piers causing a closing of the viaduct and suspension of train service at least between the two stations. According the the Times Herald of Middletown, NY, the only news media reporting on the incident there was one train coming east to Salisbury Mills and a westbound arriving at Harriman with a bus service being set up NJT's website indicated service was suspended between the two station because of a bridge problem...that was all; MNRR indicated at the same time that bus service was being set up. This evening NJTsays train service suspended between Port Jervis tonight with arrangement shown for PJ departure 68 to Salisbury Mills and bus to Harriman and cancellation of 67 with passengers to a Suffern train extended to Harriman. HOWEVER, MNRR webpage tonight not only explains the problem, but has posted pdf timetable for bus and train operations for tomorrow...taking care of their customers even when service fails, they serve their customers and treat them like customers. NJT just doesn't know about PR, service, or customers....they really have fallen. MNRR is having problems but have a good PR and customer service programs; NJT just has problems.
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After the generally excellent service Metro North gave me when commuting between Manhattan and my office near the NWP station 1971-1996, I am truly unhappy with all the "tzurus" MN is having this period.
I started commuting when it was PC, then Conrail, then MN for most of the period..
This morning NJT's website says the same as it did late yesterday but does provide a "click here" link which takes you to MNRR's service notice. A small step forward in PR and customer service.
Apropos the comments in the original post:
Keep your customers informed about what the problems are and how you're working around them, and they will sympathize with you.
Keep your customers in the dark about the nature of the problem and they'll get VERY vocal with their complaints.
The airlines, too, could learn from Metro North!
Chuck (infrequent flier 200 miles north, south or east of the nearest rail passenger service)
So, Chuck, what about WEST? 1/2-mile to the station?
If you ride a train to any station along the line west of Suffern, it matters big time. If you operate the trains, if you're charged with the service, you better serve the customer with information as to why he's being kicked off the train up to 40 miles and an hour short of his home station or tell him why the train is not running the almost 50 miles to where you've got a ticket for. NJT did a poor job of notifying the paying riders what was happening that trains were not going home and what arrangements (assuring them arrangements) were being made. MNRR was atop the situation but it was up to the operator, the one riders see and interface with, to tell them. And it must be done in the language and vernacular germain to the situation....it's not that "trains are not running to and from...period" but rather "service is disrupted or suspended because this or that happened and we are getting buses for you at such and such station. Sorry for the inconvenience. Then the Period".
Just WHAT is up with Jersey Transit? Seems like the only Jersey Transit set-up that works reliably and gives perfect satisfaction is the starter set made by Lionel!
I LOVE mine, by the way!
daveklepper So, Chuck, what about WEST? 1/2-mile to the station?
More like two state lines. I didn't include east because there's a minor geographical obstacle - the Grand Canyon...
Chuck
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