I wanted to call attention to a comment posted to Train Stopping yesterday. I think this comment raises some interesting points:
As bad as the service is there must be some level of accountability by the riders. People take their time getting on and off the train. It is selfish and inconsiderate for riders to wait until the train stops in order to put on their jacket and grab their bag. Clearly, the service requires drastic improvement, but it is clear the there won't be immediate changes anytime soon. A huge problem on the trains I ride is the excessive amount of time each train spends at a given stop. That is seemingly indicative not only to the service but also the riders slowly moving off the train.I do believe that riders should try to enter and exit the train as quickly as possible. Especially during the evening commutes, when you know that the train is pulling into your station. Everyone wants to get home, so it does help if people do exit the train as efficiently as possible.
In terms of riders helping to improve the system, we should make sure that our fares are collected. Our fares are used to operate the train. When the fares aren't collected (resulting in a "free ride" if you're using a single ticket or multi-ticket system), we are causing the commuter rail's budget deficit to continue.
Also, one other way to make things "run" smoother. As much as we hate to part with our personal space (myself included), please be kind and either pick up your coat/belongings or stand up and let someone enter your set. The quicker we can get people settled, the more efficient the ride will be. I've got to believe that if people are seated faster, perhaps the conductors will be more apt to collect fares/tickets on those stops that are closer to the destination.
Please continue to share your feedback. I just want to make sure we all experience a better commute via the commuter rail.
4 comments:
I do not believe there is a deficit on Framingham-Worcester line. If you read the prospectus issued to bondholders, you will find that the Worcester line is a cash-cow. It throws off more cash than it costs to operate.
I could see the Worcester line being a cash cow in the sense that most people from Worcester through Ashland who ride it probably have passes.
Plus, since the Worcester/Framingham line is the busiest, it goes to show that more riders = more fares for that particular line.
So if the Worcester/Framingham line isn't operating with a deficit, how come it is one of the worst performing lines? It seems like our "cash cow" is subsidizing the rest of the commuter rail system.
Thanks for visiting!
Train Rider
Yet another well thought out blog. I would like to comment on the riders as well. I thought it was an interesting point that people do seem to meander while entering/exiting the train. I would disagree with the first part. There always seems to be a mad dash to board and at stop, it just seems to be the exiting that can lag, with in my case, the exception being the P523 (4:58PM Outbound) where people jump off before the train stops and literally run to their cars. That particular train I have noticed houses some of the rudest people I have ever ridden with! While I completely understand that people get fed up with the lack of service, and have generally had enough of the world by the time the commute home starts, there are some common courtesies we could extend to one another.
1) To the people on the P523 train in particular: Don't be so pushy boarding the train. I board from Back Bay and HATE when people push to get on the train. It doesn't help, doesn't make people board faster or find a seat any quicker. I understand the seats on that train fill up quickly and no one wants to stand for 40+ minutes until a seat opens up somewhere around Southboro, but seriously, let's be civil. If you want to be on sooner, get to the platform sooner. No need for crowding and cutting, it's not grade school. Even when exiting, I have noticed people having trouble getting off because people for the next stop have already started lining up and won't move for people actually exiting because they don't want to lose their spot. Don't jump off the train before it stops. What did you save, 1 minute? 2? Every time I ride that train I truly believe I am going to be hit by a car in the parking lot because people are in such a rush. Again, observe some courtesy and let people out. Alternate letting cars go, don't just put your blinders on and pretend like you're the only person who matters. This is how people almost get run-over, like myself. I don't know why these people seem to think they are more important than everyone else or in a bigger hurry, but it's sad.
2. If you sit in an empty seat, don't sit on the outside. Slide in. This especially includes people boarding at South Station. The train is going to be full. We all know it. Don't sprawl your stuff out and make someone ask to sit. You have no more right to the seat than anyone else, so don't act like you do. Along these lines, if you're in a 3-seater and the middle is open, when someone asks to sit, slide in! Again, full train and saves time for us all. No one wants to sit in the middle, but it's going to happen from time to time. People getting off at the first stop not sliding in is a judgement call. It's not like it's a local train and you're getting off in 2 minutes. You're all going to be there for at least 35 minutes.
3. Give up a seat for women and elderly. I saw a pregnant woman standing one time at the other end of my car. I was trying to flag her down to offer up my seat, but thankfully someone closer did. She still stood for a good 10 minutes before anything happened. Unacceptable.
4. Have your ticket ready. Get it out before you sit down, keep it in a coat pocket or somewhere else easily accessible. Don't make the conductors wait. They're just trying to do their job and deserve at least that much respect. I don't like people getting aggressive with the staff about MBTA problems in general. There are people you can call, people who's job it is to field angry calls, and people allegedly in a position to do something about it who should be hearing this, not the messengers.
In the end, I guess this is just a plea to any riders who read this. PLEASE, just be courteous. There's no need for us to make each other more miserable when the train itself already does a fine job.
Damn, this comment was almost a blog in itself!
Hello. Great blog. Thank you.
I encourage you to visit a blog I started on MyFoxBoston.com, hosted by Fox 25 News. It's under blogs, traffic, MBTA Commuter Rail Service.
Also, watch Fox 25 News at 10 tonight, 1/24/08. There were be a story by Jim Armstrong about the poor MBTA CR service.
Cheers.
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