April 3, 2011 New Rochelle, NY - Metro-North has issued their new Spring timetable. I'll discuss the service changes over a period of time to show the overall scheduling changes.
As you may recall, riders 'lost' some trains due to budget and winter weather influences. For example, on the New Haven line, a 6:38 pm express out of GCT was combined with the 6:45 pm local as part of a service consolidation over the winter into a 6:42 pm departure. In the morning, the 8:29 am express to GCT briefly departed the scene forcing some to stand cheek-to-jowl into Grand Central on the 8:33 am local.
The one-month timetable (March 7 - April 2) shows the 8:31 am express, 6:38 pm express and 6:45 pm local returning to the scene, which made for less standing room usage and a more even distribution of passengers between the two trains.
Beginning today, those 3 trains are there, much to my relief - I hated standing all the way or if some large person is filling the middle seat forcing me to read his newspaper instead of mine. Some of those winter rides made me think I was on the Lexington Avenue subway all the way from NR; it wasn't very comfortable being that close to people with colds.
During March, we also saw the debut of the new M-8 commuer cars (yes, initially with that new car smell). For a period of 3 weeks, those new cars were scheduled on the 8:15 morning rush hour departure. For riders, this was a welcomed relief from the M-2/4/6 'Cosmopolitan' cars that began plying the rails about 30 yearas ago. As those cars saved the railroad back then, the M-8 cars will continue to offer great service. I just wish more bar car service would be introduced by keeping some M-2 trainsets because they make the trip home much more fun.
With the recent improvements on the New Haven line, better days and rides are ahead. Now with more space around me, there's nothing better than the tranquil rush hour ride on Metro-North because that's what I pay $204/month for.
No comments:
Post a Comment