Chances Summer Service is cut again on the NJCL this summer?

Bring back the Bergen Shore Express!

SecaucusJunction wrote:Bring back the Bergen Shore Express!

I was not around when that one ran, but that will never happen now that Secaucus Junction exists allowing NJT to run one train from NYP and get the Bergen County riders to switch to it at Secaucus. Was the train all that well patronized when it ran?

From what I remember, on sunny weekends, they’d use 10+ cars worth and possible second sections. On rainy weekends, not so much.

Right now, from Bergen County to shore points is 3+ hours, 2 transfers, your arm and leg, and a prayer than none of the trains are cancelled. No one is gonna do that. You’re better off braving the parkway.

What is currently happening is worse than ever before, IMO: every weekend, some trains are cancelled, generally ~30 minutes before the departure. Only occasionally more. So, you can go down there, but you have no idea what time you'll definitely be able to come back.

It's completely brutal so far this year. However, people are adapting. Most people I know will take the direct train down on Friday and then instead of leaving Sunday, take an early direct train Monday. The day trippers I've talked to are looking forward to the hourly shuttles starting next weekend, but most know a good bar near their station if a train gets cancelled. If there's one line where you'd want you're summer weekend train to be cancelled, it's the NJCL.
Being 100% real though, I really think this Fall through next Summer will be a pivotal period to see if NJT can turn a corner. More engineers graduating, most equipment PTC installed, no more excuses.

I've usually already gone to the good bar by that point and am looking at a looong trip back home. Adding an hour to it is unwelcome.

How on earth are there crew shortages? This isn't new, it's been going on for a few years now. With the layoffs on the class 1's resulting from PSR, there should be surplus crews in the country. Are they just not offering competitive packages or relocations?

Tadman wrote: ↑Wed Sep 25, 2019 8:18 am How on earth are there crew shortages? This isn't new, it's been going on for a few years now. With the layoffs on the class 1's resulting from PSR, there should be surplus crews in the country. Are they just not offering competitive packages or relocations?

Could be the cost of living in the New York metro area--a financial shock for anyone moving there from some parts of the country at their own expense in order to start at the bottom of the roster. And qualifying on the NJT route network is no small matter--I think they either recommend or require that crews be qualified everywhere to provide flexibility in assignments.

Went down the shore a number of times this summer and multiple times had surprise 60-90 minutes added to my trip because of cancelled trains. One time, the Long Branch to NY train was cancelled, so I arrived in Long Branch with basically nothing to do for 90 minutes.

It was a very unpleasant summer.