Join the discussion on the following article:
NJ Transit customer satisfaction rises
There is still a story here. All news and PR comes through Gov. Christies’ office and not NJT’s Newark offices. There has been a change in PR personnel with people who don’t know railroading or mass transit…wording of alerts and notices are not coherent, not in transit terms; also there is no follow up to announcements, once they are made, there is no update or retraction. Talking with many riders and some employees there is a sense of frustration and low morale…this seems exacerbated by the frequency of mechanical problems of the train equipment along with tracks and signals. It is apparent that when something goes wrong with the signals and computers, the whole system shuts down because they either don’t know how to do what has to be done or otherwise can’t. Still, a year after Sandy the operating computer and back up computer and back up electric system remain in the MMC location instead of there being a remote operating point for emergencies. NJT used to be a model to look up to. It is hoped with the election over, Christie will make the proper moves to make improvements in operations, address mechanical problems, and work to cure the electrical problems. Some believe the solution is in the removal of some of those who remain in high positions despite the fumbled mess created by poor preparation and later recovery from Sandy. I hope so.
In New Jersey, NJ Transit runs the buses as well as the trains. Every one of them flying the Turnpike is labeled for NJ Transit. They do pretty good. I clocked one of them at 75 in a 55 on the Turnpike a few months ago. Only foreign brand sports cars and container jockeys go faster. But only the bus drivers get away with it.
How did rail rank, as opposed to rank buses?