Lackawanna Coalition

advocating for rail passengers since 1979

Author: John Bobsin

  • No Wheels Means No Trains

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    John Bobsin

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    Why do NJ Transit rail services remain substantially reduced nearly 4 months after Hurricane Sandy?  A shortage of wheels for rail rolling stock is a major factor, according to NJT Executive Director Jim Weinstein, reported by Mike Frassinelli in the Star-Ledger (Feb. 14).  According to operations manager Kevin O’Connor, “There’s only so many people producing…

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  • M-N Fare Increase Hits NJT Stations Too

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    John Bobsin

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    Metro-North Railroad has announced fare increases effective March 1 on all its lines, including the lines in New York State operated by NJ Transit.  However, it turns out, riders from some NJT stations in New Jersey on the Main-Bergen and Pascack Valley Lines will also suffer increases.  Why?  It turns out that when NJT had…

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  • M&E, Montclair Restored after Storm

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    John Bobsin

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     Morris & Essex and Montclair-Boonton lines are scheduled to restore service at noon, Saturday, Feb. 9; service had been suspended at 8 p.m. on Friday during  the snowstorm.  NJT attributed this action to the vulnerability of those lines to tree damage, citing the experience of Superstorm Sandy in October (which has resulted in continuing reduction…

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  • Commish: NJT Head Needs Help

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    John Bobsin

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    According to New Jersey State Transportation Commissioner Jim Simpson, NJ Transit is probably the most complex transportation company in the country; “It’s more complex than United Airlines—it’s United Airlines on steel wheels and rubber tires”, according to reporting by Mike Frassinelli in the Star-Ledger  (Jan. 30).  Therefore, says Simpson, NJT Executive Director Jim Weinstein needs…

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  • Safer Yards for Next Storm?

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    John Bobsin

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    NJ Transit service as of mid-January continues to be limited since Superstorm Sandy on some lines, mainly those relying on electric service to Hoboken.  Why is the service limited?  NJT has not been particularly forthcoming on this point, but many observers point to limited availability of nonelectric rolling stock, perhaps limited by equipment damaged by…

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  • Commuter Tax Benefit Restored

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    John Bobsin

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    According to various media sources, the “cliff deal” tax bill passed by Congress this week increases the tax benefit available to transit commuters to $240 per month, up from $125 per month in 2012.  A higher benefit has always been available for commuter parking, but in 2012 the previous parity between parking and transit was…

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  • Communications Spotty: Report

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    John Bobsin

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    During the recent Hurricane Sandy emergency, New York transit agencies increasingly relied on social media such as Facebook,Twitter, Flickr, and YouTube to keep customers informed.  How well did they succeed?  Some did quite well, others not so well, according to reporting by Ray Rivera in The New York Times  (December 15). The Long Island Rail Road…

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  • Long Recovery for Hoboken PATH

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    John Bobsin

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    Major portions of the region’s transportation structure remain out of service or limited 6 weeks after Hurricane Sandy devastated the infrastructure.  In many cases, the public has received little information about just what has been damaged, how it’s being repaired, or when normal service might improve. One of the hardest-hit installations was the Hoboken station…

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  • Weather Experts Contradict NJT

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    John Bobsin

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    NJ Transit suffered serious damage to its passenger cars and locomotives when Hurricane Sandy flooded storage yards at Kearny in the Jersey Meadows and at Hoboken.  Whether the decision to move equipment to those yards in advance of the storm was a wise one has become a front-page controversy.  NJT Executive Director James Weinstein has…

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  • Did NJT Ignore Flood Warnings?

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    John Bobsin

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    Since Superstorm Sandy struck more than 3 weeks ago, NJ Transit has been working to restore normal service.  NJT was the hardest-hit suburban rail system in the Northeast; other New York-area systems, such as Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North, quickly restored near-normal service, but NJT continued to struggle with reduced schedules and one line…

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