ryanov wrote:And I ride the train after 8:00p often; my fare is collected just about every time.
jamesinclair wrote:Its not like they collect fares after 8pm on regular days anyway
I am actually with James here. There are multiple conductors who do not collect certain local fares at all times. The typical example that rubs me the wrong way are crews of Montclair trains from NYP after 7pm not collecting the fares of the people who board from Newark Broad going west towards MSU. As a pass holder I never get a free ride and I do not want one, but given that NJT is always cash strapped I do not understand why a small number of customers get a free ride west. I understand that having to place all seat checks after leaving NYP only to collect them after Broad Street in order to get about 30 fares for people boarding there is annoying, but that is one of the things the crew gets paid for. Those trains are never packed -- everyone gets a seat so not being able to walk the train is not a good excuse (it might be during the rush hour when certain trains could be standing room only going west).
I have a suspicion that the same occurs on the NEC, the Coast Line and the Morris&Essex going west of Newark or Newark Broad.
As for the strike, keep fingers crossed that our governor does not do well in NH because regardless of what your political orientation is, one thing is clear -- nobody will make any decisions without him, so while he is still campaigning the dispute will not get resolved.