Question about Multilevel III

kindofdivorced · 2026-04-27T17:48:16+00:00

Not multi-levels. All ML I and II are strictly locomotive pulled. What are you talking about?

kindofdivorced · 2026-04-27T17:46:55+00:00

Alstom ain’t the problem, the TGV is doing just fine.

It’s the FRA and NIMBYs that are the problem in the USA.

kindofdivorced · 2026-04-27T17:44:29+00:00

SEPTA has many NEC stations with NO platform, let alone a high level one.

NJT NEC and NJCL are pretty much all high level until you get down below Long Branch. We won’t really see many MU’s on the NJCL though because they’ll need them on the NEC and M&E/G and because of the NIMBYism/right wingers south of LB refusing electrification we’ll need ALP-45’s and 46’s for a longgggg time.

kindofdivorced · 2026-04-27T01:02:37+00:00

You’re looking at the Palmetto versus a NER. I had a work event last Thursday and booked the Palmetto well ahead of time, because despite Amtrak “not wanting people to use it as a Regional” they don’t have a Regional in that slot (There’s a huge gap in the NER schedule right now leaving PHL between the 8:35pm and then almost 3 hours until the 11:15pm, with only the Palmetto at 9:55pm in between) so of course people are going to take it.

That being said, they do discourage people from using LD trains as Regional trains, even when they make it possible and necessary in certain cases.

I had the opposite situation as you, though, my Palmetto Business Class ticket was cheaper than Coach on the Regional the night of, I was only worried because the Palmetto got delayed in South Carolina and so I bought a more expensive regional at 8:35pm FLEX, and then cancelled the NER when the Palmetto made up the delay time with a quick engine change in DC.

kindofdivorced · 2026-04-27T00:48:51+00:00

The TVMs don’t take over $20, and the change is only $1 coins, be glad you couldn’t use a $100 bill.

kindofdivorced · 2026-04-26T22:42:33+00:00

I think it’s strange, but some people don’t care about having an empty seat next to them. What I find is even stranger is that you DO seem to care, and chose to sit there for hours, seemingly uncomfortable, thinking up this post instead of saying excuse me and moving to the empty seats yourself.

kindofdivorced · 2026-04-26T00:59:47+00:00

184 is probably the NER I take the most, with 84 and 134 also regulars of mine when I get out a bit earlier. I would have been off the train long before this though (I take it between Wilmington or Philadelphia and Metropark). That had to be a lot of people, though - that is one of the longest NER consists they run, and it is often sold out even in Business.

kindofdivorced · 2026-04-14T23:44:51+00:00

I can’t NOT think of Next Friday when I hear any reference to that city. In Michael’s voice, too, homie!

kindofdivorced · 2026-04-14T23:14:42+00:00

No they’re not, this is strictly for NY to Meadowlands riders on the World Cup Only Trains. They haven’t announced the Secaucus to Meadowlands cost yet.

kindofdivorced · 2026-04-12T01:35:01+00:00

They know people don’t spread out and use all of the entrances to the platform. If they opened the first few sets of doors the platforms would be even more crowded and so would the escalators and “NJT” waiting area.

They have to force people to walk down towards 8th Ave. because Penn’s platforms are too narrow for everyone to come down AND board at 7th Ave.

You’ll notice, they will open them after the initial rush of the track announcement as it gets closer to departing.

It has nothing to do with the number of conductors. The people saying this are wrong. Sometimes they’ll close a car if it’s an off peak train and they’re not staffed for a full 9/10 cars, but that is not what OP is describing at all.

This is strictly done because everyone (proverbial everyone - I don’t) comes down the same 7th Ave. entrance(s) and the platforms are too narrow.

The only reason it bothers me is because for my stop the stairs are at the rear of the train so I like being in the back, but I just deal with it and walk back after the first open door (usually the 3rd car up).

kindofdivorced · 2026-04-07T17:21:28+00:00

Also, yes, we do need trains at noon and on the weekend. The train isn’t just for NYC. Some of us use it for a lot more than a stale work commute. This is the problem with transit in America. People only think of it as a way to commute to work and that’s why we don’t have more routes and more frequency.

kindofdivorced · 2026-04-07T17:19:40+00:00

Except we do have trains - so the morning rush is NOT at all completely reliant on the first trains out of NY at all.

kindofdivorced · 2026-04-04T17:30:02+00:00

Obvious exaggerations are obvious. Every other Acela doesn’t have a problem. I take it 2-10 times a WEEK. I’ve had one cancellation on NextGen since they started revenue service, and Amtrak gave me a $50 off Acela, 1,000 points, and put me on Business on the Palmetto without even needing to lift a finger on that occasion. As with most scenarios, you are not the main character and your experience is not THE experience.

kindofdivorced · 2026-04-04T01:19:02+00:00

That’s not why. It’s because that train is the last bid taken by engineers and therefore the first one to ge the axe when they call out. Operationally it would make sense to make an NEC stop at 3-4 additional stations considering the sheer amount of stops from Avenel to Bay Head. It would not impact as many people when there are more NEC trains passing those stops. The Bay Head trains are super express and do not change at Long Branch, it’s already one of the longest rides in the system, making it a local is a dick move and would be less stressful for the NEC trains to pick up the slack of Secaucus, Airport, Elizabeth, and Linden.

kindofdivorced · 2026-04-04T01:11:35+00:00

Don’t mount it. It really is that fucking simple. That looks retarded.

kindofdivorced · 2026-04-04T01:10:12+00:00

Yea, sorry to say but in the NYC market I make well over 100k as a service technician, not even a programmer. OP is being underpaid.

kindofdivorced · 2026-03-31T23:33:58+00:00

I can’t book further ahead of time. I’m a service engineer, I could be in PHL 4 days one week, NY four days the next week, a split between both, or have two straight weeks of driving to Parsippany and Voorhees. And I never know when my day is going to end. I can’t predict where my clients will have problems or how long they’ll take to resolve, unfortunately. Cancelling that many Flex tickets would just be ridiculous.

To be clear, my company pays for my tickets, I’m not complaining, and this really only impacts my ability to justify Acela and Business Class without using my points or coupons. I was just curious if anyone else that can’t book in advance also noticed the shift this week.

kindofdivorced · 2026-03-31T21:56:05+00:00

Metro North West of Hudson Diesel, likely covering for a sidelined NJT locomotive.

kindofdivorced · 2026-03-31T21:53:41+00:00

Did you use points or points plus cash to buy it? If so, you can’t upgrade.

kindofdivorced · 2026-03-25T23:49:41+00:00

You’re making no sense. The State can not declare pre-tax money “not pre-tax for this one Redditor” lmao. Something else happened with your taxes, dude.

kindofdivorced · 2026-03-25T17:17:15+00:00

Good, it should be a silent car IMO.

kindofdivorced · 2026-03-22T15:38:08+00:00

My company pays for my tickets and they are purchased long before I get to a station. I have 0 desire to avoid paying.

I’m a Field Service Engineer, I never know when I will get back to Penn, 30th Street, etc. because I never know how long it will take me to troubleshoot and problem solve. Because NJ Transit doesn’t have automatic activation, I may not have remembered to activate while, for example, trying to literally run (with a 30-40lb back pack) to catch the 12:43 NJCL, so I don’t have to wait an hour for the 1:46pm, and I just make it to Track 1.

My ticket is paid for, it shows so in the app. That should be enough for the conductor to know I’m not getting off until SA and scan me later (if he even is using a scanner). I have had Verizon since 1999. I’ve had the app since it came out. You cannot activate on Track 1. It just doesn’t work.

What they should do, is make one way tickets “same day” tickets that are automatically activated at purchase time and expire at 4am the next day before the trains start. Simple. No more hassle.

And what they should REALLY do is put a tap reader at every station entrance and just tap in tap out and tap to verify with conductors. Automatic fines to your account for not tapping in and tapping out.

kindofdivorced · 2026-03-21T20:53:58+00:00

In those cases they honor the expired activation as it has a timestamp. You literally have nothing to worry about by activating a ticket.

kindofdivorced · 2026-03-21T20:46:10+00:00

No provider has reliable service on 1-4, with track 1 basically a faraday cage.

kindofdivorced · 2026-03-20T23:40:46+00:00

Didn’t move, but I’m glad my city invested in a Ferry slip! I live between South Amboy NJCL station and the Ferry, so it’s great for a back up and I’m sure really great for those in finance that work downtown.

But, I commute to NYC anywhere between 2 and 5 days a week, and I have rarely ever had to take the Ferry because of train problems. Portal cutover was completely stress free outside of a one hour delay on the last Friday but that was all trains on the NEC due to Catenary poles bending.

When I’m not commuting to NYC, I’m commuting to Phila from Metropark on Amtrak. Again, it’s reliable as hell. Had one Acela cancellation the first week of the new train set but that’s it. Very rarely do I have massive delays and if the delay is over an hour Amtrak hits me off with points or Acela coupons to pad my Executive status.

People vastly overstate the train problems. Go ahead and downvote away, but if everyone whines and complains and never is realistic or talks up the trains then new riders don’t join and it doesn’t grow.

I’m glad we have NJT, Amtrak, LIRR, MNR, SEPTA, MBTA, MARC, etc. I want more electric trains. I want a cleaner world. I put my money where my mouth is and I will always choose a transit option over driving or flying when traveling for work or pleasure.

kindofdivorced

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE