Truckie

22 hours ago, Lawrence St said:

Is the Beacon Line still under MNRR control or is it the city now?

Still controlled by MNRR.

On 2/7/2020 at 1:55 PM, Via Garibaldi 8 said:

That legislation for private NYC businesses. 

Wasn't aware of that aspect of it.

On 1/11/2020 at 7:31 PM, Italianstallion said:

According to LIRRToday, MTA has put off eliminating cash for LIRR tickets until OMNY is fully rolled out.

 

https://www.thelirrtoday.com/2019/12/lirr-tables-plan-for-onboard-cash-ban.html

Not sure if it will change things but NYC will be banning cashless businesses.   In other words, companies that currently to not accept cash as.payment will be.forced to.

9 hours ago, XcelsiorBoii4888 said:

I 1000% understand what you're saying, it just caught me off guard because like I said, it's never happened before to me. I've been riding the LIRR since 2016 by myself (guaranteed over 500 trips) and not once has my mobile ticket ever been scanned. So it just threw me off guard. 

No disrespect, catching you off guard is a fair statement.   Claiming the act of scanning your ticket was a racially motivated, discriminatory act is another.  Granted, I wasn't there, but are you 100% certain, you were the only one?  If you were the only one in the car it would be an accurate statement.  Did you observe him interact with each and every passenger prior to and after your interaction?  It's a rhetorical question but in my experience, passengers have a tendency of being in their own world.  Regardless if it is an occasional rider, or a daily commuter, they will be looking at their phone, laptop, book or gossiping with a fellow passenger. 

9 hours ago, QM1to6Ave said:

Other than the time it takes to scan every e-ticket, what would be the downsides to having an across-the-board policy of scanning every single ticket? Frankly, couldn't they even put some sort of QR code on paper tickets to be scanned, to save time on punching tickets (and cut down on the amount of carpal tunnel syndrome in conductors!)

The downside is the time!  Picture a full 8 car, local train an there only being two conductors to validate tickets.  There would be missed revenue.  

A QR code on paper tickets would take longer than punching them.  If there was a group of five together with paper tickets, I could collect them all and punch them simultaneously.  This would not be an option if I were required to scan them all.

On 1/29/2020 at 6:33 PM, XcelsiorBoii4888 said:

I don't see how one can farebeat an ETix, especially when the date and time are right there MOVING back and forth. I can understand if one screen records and saves it, but then that wouldn't be the correct date and time. 

Also, about the jobs. I'm all for jobs, but in the heat of the moment, and people observing how he scanned my ticket and just glanced at theres, I was embarrassed at how they were looking at me, the entire train ride I was heated. 

To be quite honest with you, EVERYONES ticket should be scanned, monthly, weekly, or single rides, because you're losing a lot more money if people are cheating month tickets. 

The LIRR should've thought that through, any actions that involve singling certain riders from others is obviously going to lead to some tension and complaints. That's a bad rule IMO and I'm glad every conductor I had never scanned my ticket. 

Treat all the same or none at all. 

I can't speak for LIRR's policies and procedures.  However I can chime in on Metro North's.  Regardless of date and time scrolling across the top, there are indicators that REQUIRE some single ride tickets to be scanned.  There are times I feel like I scan 1 out of every 10, there are times I feel like I scan 9 out of 10, regardless of the number, I will scan when I am required to.  Monthly and weekly tickets are required less often but are still required on occasion.  As far as "race", I couldn't tell you the majority of the time what race, religion, ethnicity, or gender a passenger is because I'm looking at their phone, not their face, skin, or if they are reading the Bible or Koran.  I personally don't see how a given passenger could feel "embarrassed" for having their eticket scanned when the terms and conditions of the ETIX app clearly state: "You must display the Mobile Ticket immediately upon the request of the train conductor who will inspect or validate the Mobile Ticket with may include electronic scanning".  There you have it:  MAY INCLUDE ELECTRONIC SCANNING!  

As far as attempted farebeating with them, sadly it happens more times than you could imagine.  While some aren't intentionally trying to beat the system it happens.  I will have passengers take screenshots, I scan them and they come up invalid.  Some passengers don't realize the QR code through the app is dynamic, as opposed to a static, screenshot QR code.  Other passenger take a screen shot and send it to another passengers phone where it will say it's already been scanned.

I can't account for what other conductors do and don't do.  Metro North is hold their conductors accountable for revenue procedures.  They can track scans real time and will have spotters on trains to observe.  Those that don't do what they are supposed to get reprimanded. 

On 1/10/2020 at 12:17 PM, EphraimB said:

I want to make a database of all the LIRR employees including names, photos, audio recordings, and the days they work.

You might as well go big and get social security numbers, credit scores and blood samples.....  or one better, a different hobby!

11 hours ago, paulrivera said:

 (When’s MNR gonna activate those contactless readers on the TVM’s anyway?)

First I knew that they weren't active.  Then again, what do I know.  It's strictly on a need to know basis and beyond that?  It's anyone's guess.

On 12/27/2019 at 11:59 AM, 40MntVrn said:

2.- There aren't just two commuter rail stations in where people work, so there aren't massive dump-outs like at GC/Penn. A tap-out system at Penn or GC @ peak times would easily add ~10 minutes to a commute.

Tapping in and out at intermediate stations would be even worse.  As it currently stands, passengers walk on and off.  Now envision the tap in/out at White Plains.  What is now takes a few minutes would lengthen significantly.  Passengers would HAVE TO have their electronic device ready to board and detrain.  Otherwise I can envision dwell times increase to 10 minutes at a minimum.

On 12/11/2019 at 12:42 PM, Optheduim said:

While I support a trail off to the side, I am vehemently opposed to destroying rail lines. I am a former business owner in Beacon, NY whose business was a stone throw from the train line.

While bike trail would have benefited my business (and the new owner would benefit now), I also think it is imperative to save unused lines for future use. The tri-state area’s population is growing and we must consider the impact a train line could have.

The Beacon Line starts in Beacon, NY (intersecting with the Hudson Line) and terminates at Southeast,NY (intersecting with the Harlem Line and the Maybrook Line which takes one in Danbury). How cool would it be for someone to hop on at Beacon or Hopewell and take a train to the Danbury Fair Mall.

The resurrection of the Beacon and Maybrook lines could reduce the dependency of I-84 (a highway locals LOATHE)

 While the resurrection of the line could reduce the dependency of I 84, when does it become cost effective?  The infrastructure on the existing line is all but non existent.  Significant improvements would need to be made on the existing rail and a from scratch signal system would need to be installed, complete with multiple crossing apparatus.  

As it stands, there are numerous commuters that live in Danbury that drive to Southeast to commute to NYC because the Harlem Line is more frequent than the Danbury branch.  For someone that lives in Stormville, a train ride to either Southeast or Beacon is far from direct.  Further it would painfully increase a commute to NYC compared to driving to Beacon or Southeast.  

Also keep in mind, where the Beacon Line connects with the Harlem and the Hudson is less than ideal for connecting with already existing trains and ultimately would impact existing service.

I'm really not sure of the hub bub about 9 minutes.  Depending on where in the current lower level track area you are, and crowd conditions, it's could be well over five minutes to get to the street.  This is from the time you step off the train and navigate any stairs, elevator, etc.

On ‎9‎/‎23‎/‎2019 at 7:30 PM, Lawrence St said:

How long is the wait time till before I get called?

I'm not HR, so I have no idea.  Could be a week, month, six months.....  My recommendation is forget about that you applied, when and if you get called, worry about it then.  Every thing happens in railroad time, slow.

On ‎9‎/‎18‎/‎2019 at 3:31 PM, Lawrence St said:

Not sure if this was posted, but the conductor position for MNRR reopened a few weeks ago, I'm guessing the freeze is over?

Not conductor position, assistant conductor.  Assistant conductor is the new entry level position.  Previously everyone went though a minimum of a year training and finished training as a conductor under federal regulations.  Now as an assistant conductor, you will have approximately two months of training, with little to no knowledge of operating rules or physical characteristics, then after a year as an assistant go into a longer promotion class to become a conductor.

A $1 million grant to say its going to take $10's of millions to rebuild an obsolete rail line.  It's just another pipe dream for a clueless politician. 

On ‎8‎/‎5‎/‎2019 at 8:54 PM, Lex said:

The fact that they didn't even consider putting it directly under RBO (flawed as it is) concerns me. I mean, it's part of the same damn agency...

Even though they are part of the same agency, they are different divisions.  MTA is the umbrella company, while MTA busses and Metro North are individual divisions.

No different than Sears Holdings.  Sears Holding owns the Sears and  KMART brands but they operate independent of one another from an operational standpoint.

12 hours ago, brakethrow said:

Engineers approach these stations at reduced speeds?

Currently there are no flag stops on MNR territory.  On the weekends there are 1:09, 3:09, and 4:09 southward trains that stop at Breakneck Ridge.  In between those times, there are two trains that do not stop.  Those trains go MAS (80MPH) through the area and WILL NOT stop.

9 hours ago, Jsunflyguy said:

Depends, some places where a Block Operator/Station Staff was stationed they could signal the crew. But if necessary you'd have to slow down. There are still some 'flag stops' for employees generally the line of sight is good enough that you can just react in the rare instance someone is there.

The MNR employee stops (Mott Haven and High Bridge) are scheduled stops in the employee time table.  

On ‎8‎/‎7‎/‎2019 at 10:42 PM, New Flyer Xcelsior said:

Thank @paulrivera! I might get round-trip tickets from the TVMs in the city, considering the cell service up there might be sketchy.

You only need cell service to purchase the tickets.  Buy a round trip while you are in the city.  Activate one at a time as you use each.  You do not need cell service to activate the tickets.  

As far as detraining at Manitou, on weekends, you detrain between the south two cars (usually).

17 hours ago, bobtehpanda said:

There's also nothing wrong with contracting IMO, because not having this ability assumes that the MTA is the best at running literally everything possible in its domain, which is patently false.

If they were going to contract out to supplement the current workforce is one thing.  If they were going to contract out to replace the current work force is another.

17 hours ago, RR503 said:

Labor productivity at MTA is quite low by international and historical standards.

Labor productivity is a double edge sword.  When it comes to track and signal maintenance, there is a very small daytime window that work is actually permitted so it wont have an issue with train operations.  Work during rush hour is frowned upon by high ranking staff to limit delays, which leaves a rough time frame of 10 am to 4 pm to get track time.  By the time you get time to work on the track (10am) and get set up (get track equipment in place) you only have a few hours before you have to get the track equipment off the rail (by 4).  Let's say it only takes a half hour to get the equipment in place to work and half hour to clear up, that leaves five actual working hours.

16 hours ago, Jsunflyguy said:

Yes, but just think...itll reduce those hyperventilating articles "zOmg this Engineer made over $80k in OT". 

No it won't.

Let's summarize:  Per the report, the elimination of the shoppers specials will eliminate the need to cover those jobs with overtime or relief day coverage.  That looks great at face value.  Less trains running = less staff for those trains.  What this report doesn't take into account is that those extra trains are staffed with regular assignments for the personnel, as regularly assigned jobs get modified for the trains (with few exceptions).  The other thing the report does not take into account is ridership of those trains.  The shopper specials are used to relieve over crowding for regularly scheduled trains.  Overcrowding increases potential missed revenue.  Lets hypothesis that it will cost $750 in staffing to run one of those trains (the actual number is likely less), and the fare per rider is anywhere from $11.25 to $19.25 ($15.25 average).  It will only take 50 missed fares on earlier and later trains to compensate for the cost of manpower.  50 missed fares is very low when a train is over crowded (standing room only).

On ‎3‎/‎27‎/‎2019 at 4:53 PM, paulrivera said:

On the new Metro-North timetables, the AM peak hour is now going to start at 6am (1 hour later). Is Metro-North really going to change up its morning peak hours or is that a typo?

It's legit.

6 minutes ago, CrazyD said:

Oh wow, that may have been the case then. I feel honored to have made it as far as I did then. I did not know they go beyond MNRR's territory either. 

I've known them to go to NY Penn and Hell Gate.  

2 hours ago, CrazyD said:

I have tested for quite a few more, however I did not pass them all. Farthest I made it was close to an interview for carman wreck crew. Either I was too green or I believe an internal candidate got it over me, which is fair and fine. The position said filled after my hands on test the following couple days later and I still needed to pass a weld test which takes another week to do I believe. Based on what gacerra said, it takes awhile to start if you are chosen. He has to wait 5 months. 

To my knowledge, the wreck crew is strictly internal (maybe there are exceptions).  The are considered the best of the best.   On occasion they have responded to incidents beyond Metro North's territory. 

Not to go off topic, but it's interesting that the Breakneck Ridge improvements aren't slated for another year plus.  This was supposed to start January of 2018.

For those that frequent the area, PLEASE, don't walk on, along or across the tracks!  This past weekend we encountered a few people walking along the tracks in the tunnel.  When a train comes along, the outcome usually favors the train.  I can guarantee you, the train will not swerve to avoid you.  IF you're lucky, the train will stop in time, if you're lucky.

10 hours ago, Bay Ridge Express said:

Why do the mosaic displays have to go? 😭 They were such a cool and unique part of Grand Central

As with any ancient technology, availability of parts and costs to maintain.