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Seriously, I don't care if it's a holiday. The MTA should NOT be running trains and buses on a Sunday schedule, or they should at least figure out the heaviest Memorial Day destinations and plan accordingly. Getting in and out of the Rockaways today was an absolute nightmare. The beach was pleasant but the travel ruined it. There was a massive line outside the Beach 116 shuttle train stop, and a line for buses around the block. Cops everywhere, and people were getting salty. Then we spent OVER AN HOUR getting from Beach 116 to Broad Channel. The train stopped 3-4 times for literally 20 minutes at a time with NO announcement. Then of course there was a massive crush to get on one of the few A trains at Broad Channel.
I'm probably overstating my disgust a bit just because it's so fresh and I need to vent, but seriously? That was an epic display of incompetence, and it's not like it was a surprise that lots of people would descend on the Rockaways on Memorial Day. I've only had minor quibbles with the MTA before, but there was really no excuse for how poorly managed everything was.
Thats crazy! I went out there today and had no problems. Then again I headed out at about 1:00 and left the beach at 3:00. Could have been worse earlier/later. But I do feel your pain- still waiting for the train by my house to run normally- its been changed for track repairs for months and months and months.
I'm probably overstating my disgust a bit just because it's so fresh and I need to vent, but seriously? That was an epic display of incompetence, and it's not like it was a surprise that lots of people would descend on the Rockaways on Memorial Day. I've only had minor quibbles with the MTA before, but there was really no excuse for how poorly managed everything was.
Well at least you'll know what to expect next time. I agree the MTA sucks and you should adjust your expectations accordingly. I've come to the point where I expect incompetence and I'm pleasantly surprised when they don't screw things up.
I work for the MTA as a subway motorman. I've been where you've been before I came down here to work. If it makes you feel any better , sorry you had such a crappy day. Playing devils advocate , sometimes delays are inevitable , it's nothing personal. On the flip side , before I came here to work and now that I do work here , I get infuriated if I don't hear announcements. I'm on point with that at work and so are my conductors. But again , from an MTA worker , sorry for your bad day.
If you were on a Manhattan-bound E or F train between 71st Avenue and Roosevelt, that was loads of fun. It seemed in between every stop the train stopped due to trackwork. Of course yesterday was better, my F train sat at 75th Avenue for so long that I gave up and used the unlimited card to get on the Q60, which I should have known better, was not much better, stopping at every stop.
I can definitely sympathize. Seems like the last several times I've tried to use the G train it's been out of service. I was joking around with my friend that it should be renamed the "U" train, as in "useless"
Well, I found out there was a fight on our shuttle train which delayed service. Mike, why is it better to stop the train in the middle of the tracks if there's a fight instead of going to the next station where there are a dozen cops? Is the motorman supposed to intervene? I'm just curious.
I'm probably overstating my disgust a bit just because it's so fresh and I need to vent, but seriously?
I'm curious to know what you mean by "fresh." Because you make it sound like Sunday scheduling on a holiday had never happened before yesterday. It's been the policy for years.
I'm not saying I disagree with you; certain holidays occasion particularly heavy ridership and service ought to be expanded, not reduced. But you have to keep in mind that we're talking about MTA--where the majority of people representing the powers-that-be do not live in New York City, and do not actually leave their offices to ride the trains and buses. In real terms, they have no idea what's actually going on. Periodically, a ridership study will be authorized to determine system use. This might be a good way to do things, but one study will be accepted by MTA as the Bible for determining service, and they'll refer to it for years--even when ridership patterns have long since changed.
(Those of us who work for MTA get to be on the front lines for complaints...as though we might ever be able to do anything about them!)
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