Newark, NJ (September 9, 2010) – New Jersey Transit has debuted their new ‘Quiet Car’ concept – their latest idea in rail passenger customer amenities. One car on each end of this test train is eerily quiet as no cell phones are in use and the usual banter among commuters is missing. One morning and afternoon rush hour Northeast Corridor Trenton express is outfitted with shrink-wrapped NJ Transit ‘multi-level cars showing a finger-to-lips logo. It is a ninety-day pilot program.
NJ Transit Executive Director James Weinstein said, “Our customers have asked us to offer a Quiet Commute option in an effort to balance the needs of people who want to stay connected while aboard our trains with those who want to relax or work in a quiet atmosphere. We are offering this amenity as a pilot program and will rely on customer feedback to determine whether to make Quiet Commute a permanent NJ TRANSIT amenity.”
The first train departed the Trenton Transit Center at 9:14 am on September 7 as train number 3936 after officials spoke before the event. The 3900-series trains were selected because of the long trip times and would be a good gauge as a testing ground for public acceptance and compliance. NJ Transit is the largest agency to offer this amenity in North America.
According to various media reports, the new feature is already a success as riders can even snooze their way across the Garden State. If a passenger becomes noisy, they are quietly handed a business card-sized message as a reminder that the quiet car is a subdued environment. Those using electronic devices such as video games and computers are asked to disable their speakers or to plug in headphones so the sounds are not heard by other passengers.
NJT officials have offered that the new ‘service’ is in itself a self-policing dynamic amongst passengers. If the passengers don’t get to the noisy rider first, a conductor will hand out a ‘Quiet Commute card’ with the new logo on one side and a plea to abide by the quiet cars rules in both English and Spanish. The cards were first used by SEPTA in their own Quiet Car program. Other transit agencies that currently offer “Quiet Cars” include SEPTA, Virginia Railway Express (VRE), MARC (Maryland), Altamont Commuter Express (California) and the Capital Corridor (California).
The Quiet car concept debuted on Amtrak a year ago and has since become a mainstay on that railroad.
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| Quiet car train number 3969 on September 9 arrives in Newark Penn Station where passengers board the Trenton Express and actually can snooze without the loud chatter that can accompany a train trip. |
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