They could have assigned four trains. Two would would be passing each other midway, while one loaded at the stadium and the other unloaded at Secaucus. They could have planned on a four minute loading and unloading time, changing ends simultaneouslyh, and run a seven-and-a-half minute headway. With the existing infrastructure. Doubled their capacity without problems. Thinking like a transit operator.
There was no one problem with the Super Bowl service. Start with the anticipated number of passengers being 16,000 that turned out to be 30,000. Timings, equipment, inability to be flexible, lots of different things fed on each other to cause the problems. The loading and unloading times were a major problem...just like they are in regular service. The BiLevel cars cannot load and unload easily or quickly because of the foyers and up and down stair choices slowing things up. Even with high level platforms people jam up once inside the cars; they really don't work in rapid transit service and barely in the commuter service for which they were purchased. Next the timing. Stadium gates opened at 2PM; the first train was scheduled to arrive just after that. Several things should have or could have been done all at once or separately: Stadium gates open earlier, trains start arriving up to an hour before gates open; more scheduled trains on the closest headways railroad rules and plant would allow. And NJT probably should have (and they may have done this any way) is operate on a load and go basis, unload and turn. Then, return service should have been load and go, too. With the way the game was lopsided, I am sure there were enough to load a train or two long before the schedule (again they might have done so anyway) and have more trainsets staged to go....Three in the Stadium station, at least two more between PV interchange and the Stadium interlocking; perhaps others where possible. The point many will point to is that after the to stadium overcrowding, etc, they had lots of time to make adjustments, order more trainsets and crews for the return crowd. And they could have given a choice at the Stadium with every third train skipping Secaucus and going directly to Hoboken and unloading onto PATH or bus or HBLRT services there. Lots of thoughf and expertise did not go into this.
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Henry your analysis is very complete. One thing that has not been discussed is how are the interlockings controlled ? If dispatcher controlled there may have been time out circuits that slowed thru put ? If that is the case a temporary " tower " control at inter locking's with supervisor to immediately change track lie ups ?
Amtrak does have local control at many CPs at the signal bungalows.
The one in three bypass directly to Hoboken would have balanced the 2 platforms at Secaucus + Hoboken with the three platforms at the stadium ?
Amtrak doesn't really play into this except at the Corridor platforms at Secaucus which did not handle any extra train movements except for a couple of Amtrak trains stopping. It is a four track, three platform station. The Sports LIne is two tracks off the double track Pascack Valley Line which is double track off the double track Bergen County LIne which creates a four track Main Line west of Secaucus. All interlockings and switches controlled by the dispatcher.
Not being in the Greater New York area I am not able to hear the local media. However, I suspect prior to the Super Bowl there was a lot of 'information' conveyed that the parking for vehicles of all varieties was going to be very limited. I suspect the local media belabored this information to the point of nausea. The surprise is that those that heard these 'warnings' believed them and opted for public transportation in the form of NJT which wasn't prepared for the volume.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
The parking situation was well known by all in the Metropolitan Area.. But remember, this was neither a Giant nor Jet game, so the locals were already mostly counted out. Those who had the grand privilege of parking at the stadium just failed to do so...a slap in the face of those who really wanted to or maybe needed to. But such is the case of a lot of events...free tickets never used, the chance to use a facility like a parking space, lots of 'free prizes" get taken but never used. At several times over the years I found that people never claimed prizes of event tickets either I wanted to go to or friends or business associates did. If prizes were not picked up by the end of business on the day of the event, me or my friends or business associates were able to. It was the prizes that got mailed and not used that made me mad. But people are not reliable and do things with total disregard for others.
Today (Friday) Metro-North ran its morning commuter trains on a Saturday schedule, expecting many commuters to stay home because of the weather. The Saturday schedule has about 44% of the number of weekday trains, and has few express trains.
The morning commute was a public relations disaster. Trains were packed; local media interviewed many very irate passengers.
By the evening commute, Metro-North had increased the number of trains to about 75% of normal weekday, including expresses, and issued an apology to the public. Evening passengers interviewed by the media were appreciative of both Metro-North's apology and the additional trains.
Compare this to New Jersey Transit and it's Super Bowl performance. NJT is still congratulating itself on its "successful" operation.
It's obvious which agency understands that it's a service organization, and which agency has no clue.
Just my opinion, but looking at the trevails of Jersey Transit from "Sandy" to the Super Bowl, I have to wonder if theres some kind of "disconnect" between the people who actually get their hands dirty running trains, and the "suits" in the main office who tell them what to run and when.
I'm sure there's plenty of hard-core professionals at NJT who know what's what. Do the "suits" just not listen? I suppose someone on the inside will have to sound off on this, anonymously or otherwise.
Firelock76 Just my opinion, but looking at the trevails of Jersey Transit from "Sandy" to the Super Bowl, I have to wonder if theres some kind of "disconnect" between the people who actually get their hands dirty running trains, and the "suits" in the main office who tell them what to run and when. I'm sure there's plenty of hard-core professionals at NJT who know what's what. Do the "suits" just not listen? I suppose someone on the inside will have to sound off on this, anonymously or otherwise.
You are right...there is a lot of disconnect and dissatisfaction there. Part is because management at the top is from the political arena, mid management is a mix of some who know better and some who know who to get the job from, and those on the ground who may know what to do but either aren't given direction or approval to think right or who are so demoralized the don't or lost the gumption to give a hoot.
predicting human behavior is a dart board game. railroad cAN NOT JUST CALL UP A TRAIN AT THE LAST MINUTE BECAUSE A MASS OF SHEEPALL NEED ONE. IN THE OLD DAYS RIDING TO THE GAME WAS PART OF THE TRADITION.. caps lock stuck sorry two my critics.
Makes sense, Henry. There's a lot of that going on nowadays, both in the public and private sectors, from those who'd rather go bankrupt than admit they're wrong to those who won't let reality interfere with their pet theories.
Still, I'd love to here from a "mole" inside NJT.
rbandr predicting human behavior is a dart board game. railroad cAN NOT JUST CALL UP A TRAIN AT THE LAST MINUTE BECAUSE A MASS OF SHEEPALL NEED ONE. IN THE OLD DAYS RIDING TO THE GAME WAS PART OF THE TRADITION.. caps lock stuck sorry two my critics.
When all else fails, or you're not sure, remember the words of Oscar Wilde:
"Nothing succeeds like excess!"
Or what General Eisenhower said:
"Don't send a battalion to take a hill if you've got a regiment available!"
No problem with the caps lock, could happen to anyone.
My comments are based on the compilation of information from many at many levels of people and operations and by riding and observing. Also knowing media and information services as a profession. Put them all together and it is even closer than a "near mole" experience and report. No, No! I don't know everything...but have just extracted my thoughts based on what I do know and have learned..
Sorry, but I've just got to ask: Is anyone in New Jersey looking forward to the Super Bowl coming back?
rbandrpredicting human behavior is a dart board game. railroad cAN NOT JUST CALL UP A TRAIN AT THE LAST MINUTE BECAUSE A MASS OF SHEEPALL NEED ONE. IN THE OLD DAYS RIDING TO THE GAME WAS PART OF THE TRADITION.. caps lock stuck sorry two my critics.
Just so you know: the forum software lets you edit your posts if you or the computer make a mistake.
If you look under the 'post' window, you will see a little mystery-meat icon of a pencil. (On at least some systems if you 'mouse over' this, it will pop up a little info window saying 'Edit this post'). If you click on that icon, it will put your post back into 'editing mode' and you can make whatever changes you like. Heaven knows I thank the Kalmbach software people twenty times a day for having provided this... even if I wish they'd made it a bit more self-evident.
And i wish they did the same for comments on Fred Frailey's column.
Firelock76 Sorry, but I've just got to ask: Is anyone in New Jersey looking forward to the Super Bowl coming back?
Actually there were news media quotes saying exactly that! Attributed to the NFL!
henry6 Firelock76 Sorry, but I've just got to ask: Is anyone in New Jersey looking forward to the Super Bowl coming back? Actually there were news media quotes saying exactly that! Attributed to the NFL!
Really? Amazing! I'm sure the NFL wouldn't lie about something like that, would they?
Firelock76 henry6 Firelock76 Sorry, but I've just got to ask: Is anyone in New Jersey looking forward to the Super Bowl coming back? Actually there were news media quotes saying exactly that! Attributed to the NFL! Really? Amazing! I'm sure the NFL wouldn't lie about something like that, would they?
The NFL only knows one word $$$$$$. Anything else is just noise.
Was he another Christie appointee?
C&NW, CA&E, MILW, CGW and IC fan
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