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RE: (erielack) EXTENDED COMMUTER SERVICE

- --- On Tue, 1/6/09, Montgomery, Edward T <Edward.Montgomery_@_fcps.edu> wrote:
> A lot has changed over the years.  I'm wondering how many PA commuters
> travel to Hackettstown to board trains.  That's closer than Netcong.

Netcong station is less than a mile off I 80; Hackettstown is about five miles of 40 mph road.  Netcong is 16 rail minutes east of Hackettstown.  More trains stop at Netcong than Hackettstown.  Usually the traffic doesn't get bad until Mt Arlington, so that's the best place west of Dover to get the train.

Hackettstown would be good for those coming from the Easton area, since they'd come up NJ 57.

> Commuter rail is an expensive operation.  It would be nice to see of
> some kind of agreement could be made with NS to subsidize the rail
> operation with the establishment of some sort of intermodal or bulk
> transfer facility somewhere between Port Morris and Dover.

I don't think NS is interested in having MORE customers on the Washington Secondary (as this line is known now).  The Morristown & Erie has tried to take it over for years, and they'd probably try to grow it.  The M&E tried to set up a transfer in Kenvil, on the High Bridge Branch, and ran into all sorts of problems with the town.

> The DL&W electric line could cover its operating expenses well into
> the 60s because there was no competition with any limited access
> roadways.  I don't see more than four or five round trips running on
> the cut-off.

That sort of schedule is sure to make it a big loser.  The plans I've seen include three or four peak hour round trips plus some off-peak trips, and some weekend service.

> Reconstruction the line is a tremendous expense in a time when New
> Jersey is running record state deficits.  Politicians will talk about
> this holding out a "carrot in front of the horse" promise and probably
> not immediately moving on it.  The big issue goes back to 1984.  Why did
> New Jersey politicians permit the track to be removed?

They said they did not have the $3 million...

> That was the biggest mistake and it is a tremendous obstacle to
> overcome - rebuilding the line.  Buses, even the Parlor Car type
> buses, are far cheaper to operate.

Agreed.

> I have always wondered how Erie arrived at Port Jervis being the end of
> what I would call "extended commuter service".  That was a long time ago
> when there were far fewer people living between Port Jervis
> and Suffern.

There's almost nothing between Port Jervis and Hancock except scenery.  There are few population centers - they are mostly along NY 17.  There were dairies and a few other businesses, but they are gone.

> In my opinion, anybody who lives in Pennsylvania, and works, say in
> Parsippany is nuts.

I heartily agree.  When I moved to NJ in 1969, I went back to Long Island on weekends, a 60 mile trip each way.  I could not imagine doing it daily then, and certainly not now.

> His employer should be offering flex time to avoid the rush hours.

Many businesses aren't suited to flex time.  The DAILY RECORD has to meet deadlines so it prints in time to be at my house at 6:30 am, for instance.

Some of the Pennsylmaniacs telecommute once or twice a week, sparing them some of the insanity.  My wife's trip to work is only 8 miles, but she does that once a week, meeting schedule permitting.  She says it's a great relief. 

Gary R. Kazin
DL&W Milepost R35.7
Rockaway, New Jersey


      

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