April 9th, 2004, 07:40 PM
I have to vent about my frustrations with this railroad. Today on the infamous Ronkonkoma line, the 5:18pm. westbound train from Bethpage to Jamaica was another example of why I hate the LIRR.
The train left Bethpage on time, however, after Hicksville was when the trouble began. The train came to a complete stop a few minutes after leaving Hicksville. Apparently there was a signal switch problem at the Mineola station preventing westbound trains from switching tracks. I assume they were referring to the trains operating on the Oyster Bay Line.
So there we sat while listening to anouncement after announcement about how they had no further information and would keep us abreast of the situation. I was sitting in the second car and a woman sitting about four rows behind me gave one of the conductors a good well deserved tongue lashing. To add insult to injury, the head car was only a few yards from the Carle Place Station which was the woman's point about pulling into that station and giving passengers the option of whether to stay on the train or get off and find other arrangements to get to their destination. The conductor told the woman that there was a train in front of us and behind us and that we would have to be patient. Finally he walked away just shrugging his shoulders.
We finally started moving at a slow pace and arrived at Jamaica at 6:53pm. instead of 5:47pm. or an hour and six minutes late. So a trip that normally takes 29 minutes (Bethpage to Jamaica), took 95 minutes.
I understand that things happen but honestly, switching problems ? The LIRR does track work year round that includes doing work on the various switches along the system. Why do these things keep going bad ? Don't tell me it was due to the weather and don't give me that disclaimer garbage releasing the LIRR from any blame...that may work for a 10 or 15 minute delay but not one of this magnitude.
The big fare hike means more money out of my pocket every month and this is what I get ? This pathetic display of poor service by an organization which cooks its books to keep its riders in the dark about its true finances ? No wonder ridership is low on the LIRR. Lets not forget that the Ronkonkoma/Greenport line is the worst line for on time performance during the AM rush as well as all off peak times. It has been this way for several months now.
Sorry this post is so long but I just had to vent. The LIRR needs to vastly improve their service unless it is more concerned with their deep pockets and profit margins than their customers.
The train left Bethpage on time, however, after Hicksville was when the trouble began. The train came to a complete stop a few minutes after leaving Hicksville. Apparently there was a signal switch problem at the Mineola station preventing westbound trains from switching tracks. I assume they were referring to the trains operating on the Oyster Bay Line.
So there we sat while listening to anouncement after announcement about how they had no further information and would keep us abreast of the situation. I was sitting in the second car and a woman sitting about four rows behind me gave one of the conductors a good well deserved tongue lashing. To add insult to injury, the head car was only a few yards from the Carle Place Station which was the woman's point about pulling into that station and giving passengers the option of whether to stay on the train or get off and find other arrangements to get to their destination. The conductor told the woman that there was a train in front of us and behind us and that we would have to be patient. Finally he walked away just shrugging his shoulders.
We finally started moving at a slow pace and arrived at Jamaica at 6:53pm. instead of 5:47pm. or an hour and six minutes late. So a trip that normally takes 29 minutes (Bethpage to Jamaica), took 95 minutes.
I understand that things happen but honestly, switching problems ? The LIRR does track work year round that includes doing work on the various switches along the system. Why do these things keep going bad ? Don't tell me it was due to the weather and don't give me that disclaimer garbage releasing the LIRR from any blame...that may work for a 10 or 15 minute delay but not one of this magnitude.
The big fare hike means more money out of my pocket every month and this is what I get ? This pathetic display of poor service by an organization which cooks its books to keep its riders in the dark about its true finances ? No wonder ridership is low on the LIRR. Lets not forget that the Ronkonkoma/Greenport line is the worst line for on time performance during the AM rush as well as all off peak times. It has been this way for several months now.
Sorry this post is so long but I just had to vent. The LIRR needs to vastly improve their service unless it is more concerned with their deep pockets and profit margins than their customers.