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COMMUTE: Mon Feb 27, 2006; #640 (on time) and #187 (on time)
My commute for Monday February 27, 2006. Morning - I took Amtrak Train #640 (PHL-NYC): - PHL 7:56, +1
- TRE 8:32, +4
- NWK 9:11, +6
- NYC 9:27, +4
Had empty seat next to me though train was essentially full. Used 10 trip ticket. Evening leg - took Amtrak Train #187 (NYC-PHL): - NYC 7:37, +2
- NWK 7:52, 0
- TRE 8:30, +4
- PHL 8:57, +1
Had empty seat next to me, train less than half full. Used AGR ticket.
LIRR and NJ Transit to Help Fund Amtrak?
LIRR and NJ Transit to Help Fund Amtrak?
Tom McGeveran Posted by The Real Estate on February 27, 2006 08:52 AM Such an action wouldn't surprise me. To raise cash Amtrak, via Bush edict, may jack up the prices it charges other train operators to use its tracks and stations. This means LIRR, NJ Transit, SEPTA, MARC, and others in the Northeast corridor states would be hit. This is a legitimate business strategy to for Amtrak pursue to raise money. Plus all of the NEC states are blue so politically what does Bush care if this action hurts the finances of these states. I guess this would help my commute as it would act to stall the rapidly increasing Amtrak ticket prices.
"Light at the end of the tunnel", New Tunnel Under the Hudson to Penn Station?
Light at the end of the tunnelBy Judy Rife Times Herald-Record Chuck Schumer endorsed New Jersey's No. 1 transportation priority the $6 billion project known as Access to the Region's Core (ARC). He also promised to fight for the federal money to make it happen. The ARC calls for a second rail tunnel beneath the Hudson River between New Jersey and New York, and a new station beneath 34th Street. The tunnel and the station would supplement Amtrak's century-old tunnel and cramped Pennsylvania Station. This would be great for my commute. Less congestion is a good thing in Midtown and anything that will help put a toe tag on Penn Station I also support.
COMMUTE: Fri Feb 24, 2006; #175 (on time)
Evening leg - took Amtrak Train #175 (NYC-PHL): - NYC 8:36, +1
- NWK 8:49, -3
- TRE 9:36, +6
- PHL 10:08, -2
Seat next to me taken until Trention, train full. Used 10 trip ticket.
I'm Renting a Room in a House in NJ to Keep Commuting Costs Low
I decided to rent a room in a house in NJ that's easily accessible to NYC via NJT buses. I figure I'd stay there a couple nights a week during the work week instead of commuting. It's sort of like a hotel, separate entrance and private bathroom. The cost to do this is less than commuting back and forth from Philly-NYC. Plus the rate is negotiable, it's literally a room in someone's house, and it's all cash payments. In the NYC area it turns out to be quite common to rent out a room or sublet someone's place, just check out craigslist.com. For me this seems hugely inconvenient, and just somewhat odd frankly, but I wanted to try something to keep my overall commuting costs to a minimum. I'll be sure to post how this goes for me.
COMMUTE: Wed Feb 22, 2006; #130 (on time)
My commute for Wednesday February 22, 2006. Morning - I took Amtrak Train #130 (PHL-NYC): - PHL 8:22, 0
- TRE 8:49, +1
- NWK 9:35, +8
- NYC 9:53, +8
Seat next to me was taken, train was full, used 10 trip ticket.
COMMUTE: Tue Feb 21, 2006; #640 (on time) and #175 (on time)
My commute for Tuesday February 21, 2006. Morning - I took Amtrak Train #640 (PHL-NYC): - PHL 7:55, 0
- TRE 8:25, -3
- NWK 9:02, -3
- NYC 9:15, -8
Had empty seat next to me, train less than half full. Used AGR ticket. Evening leg - took Amtrak Train #175 (NYC-PHL): - NYC 8:35, 0
- NWK 8:50, -2
- TRE 9:34, +4
- PHL 10:01, -9
Had empty seat next to me, train was about half full. Used 10 trip ticket.
Amtrak Completes Second Phase Of Fare Increase
Amtrak Completes Second Phase Of Fare IncreaseThe second of a two-phase fare increase took effect Thursday February 16th for Amtrak's discounted Smart Pass tickets for commuters. Amtrak says the increase affects about two-thousand passengers in the Northeast Corridor, most of whom commute between Pennsylvania and New York. The passes allow for unlimited travel on designated Amtrak trains for a full month. They had been discounted by 70 percent in the fall, but the discount was lowered to 60 percent and now to 50 percent.
COMMUTE: Thu Feb 16, 2006; #170 (on time) and #177 (late)
My commute for Thursday February 16, 2006. Morning leg - I took Amtrak Train #170 (PHL-NYC): - PHL 6:55, 0
- TRE 7:21, +1
- NWK 7:53, +1
- NYC 8:07, -3
Had empty seat next to me. Evening leg - took Amtrak Train #177 (NYC-PHL): - NYC 10:51, +46
- NWK 11:04, +42
- TRE 11:42, +44
- PHL 12:10, +42
Had empty seat next to me.
COMMUTE: Wed Feb 15, 2006; #640 (on time) and #137 (on time)
My commute for Monday February 15, 2006. Morning - I took Amtrak Train #640 (PHL-NYC): - PHL 7:55, 0
- TRE 8:27, -1
- NWK 9:06, +1
- NYC 9:26, +3
Had empty seat next to me though train was essentially full. Evening - I took Amtrak Train #137 (NYC-PHL): - NYC 6:24, +4
- NWK 6:36, -1
- TRE 7:15, +1
- PHL 7:43, -1
Train was full, seat next to me was taken. People were even standing I believe.
COMMUTE: Tue Feb 14, 2006; #180 (late) and #187 (late)
My commute for Tuesday February 14, 2006. Morning leg - took Amtrak Train #180 (PHL-NYC): - PHL ???
- TRE 7:57 (#180 doesn't stop at Trenton???)
- NWK 8:34, +10
- NYC 8:54, +11
Had empty seat next to me. Evening leg - took Amtrak Train #187 (NYC-PHL): - NYC 7:36, +1
- NWK 7:55, +3
- TRE 8:36, +10
- PHL 9:07, +11
Had empty seat next to me.
COMMUTE: January Wrap Up
Review of my Philly-NYC commuting patterns in January, a bit tardy this time: Trains Taken In January- Morning trains taken: 130, 170, 180, 640, 642
- Evening trains taken: 137, 175, 187, 193, 635, 655
Quick January Commute Stats- I took a total of 32 one way trips on Amtrak In January, a new monthly high for me.
- I had a monthly pass for January ($633 - bought this before the fare increase).
On Time Performance and Analysis for January- 7 of the 32 one way trips were late; overall on time performance rate this month of nearly 80%
- Only 2 of the evening trains were late, making this a consistent trend in that morning trains typically run late more often than evening trains.
- Train #642 was late every time I took it, I took it 4 times in January.
- Average travel time in the mornings: Generally the morning trains took just about 1 hour and 25 minutes, some did make it in under 1 hour 15 minutes. Trains may leave 30th Street late but once rolling the total travel time is fairly consistent. There was a train that took 1 hr 45 min; this is consistent where there is a train or two per month that is 30+ minutes late.
- Average travel time in the evenings: Evening trains on average took about 1 hour and 25 minutes.
- Morning trains used to be shorter times on average, this is now evening out. It seems Amtrak is adding more stops on the morning trains as they have for evening trains.
- Travel times in January seemed a couple minutes longer on average than from prior months. I believe this will be a permanent change as Amtrak adds a stop or two to most trains morning and evening. I haven't compared the most recent schedules to past ones to prove this but I believe I am correct.
2006 Philly-to-NYC Commuting Options and Cost Saving Ideas
I'm still not sure on my plan of attack to keep my Phi-NYC commuting costs to a minimum in 2006 and forward. I know I will never buy a monthly pass again. I am currently an Amtrak Guest Rewards member as this does offer excellent cost savings. But being an AGR member you realize cost savings over time as points add up, I can't realize cost savings every month via AGR. The new Amtrak pricing is now in full effect, so that's $1,008 for the monthly pass and I believe ~$450 for a 10 trip ticket good for 45 days. So I need a month-to-month plan now. I know on average I take a little over 20 one way trips between Phi and NYC per month (let's call it 22/mo), so that's my starting point. I plan on doing the following and seeing how things work over the coming months: - Buy 10 trip tickets only
- Supplement legs with AGR tickets where I can
- Pursue other options where I can
Let's talk about option 3, some other options are: I prefer to take Amtrak whenever I can; it's just the most convenient and quickest. But I don't know if I can keep this in my ideal monthly budget of $600 or less. NJ Transit is long, maybe I can do this on the leg home a couple times a month. I've never done the Chinatown bus, I may have to just this once to see how it is, it certainly is cheap. The Frommer's link will help get discounts on Amtrak trains but they are subject to change and the discounts don't go deep enough to make my $600/mo figure. So I have options, and I'm looking for more, I just need to find the most optimal case and hope it's inline with my budget.
NYC Penn Station Replacement, Moynihan Station, Gets Developer, Completion Targeted in 2010
Moynihan Station Gets Developernewyork.construction.com, February 2006 issue by Alex Padalka The Farley Post Office on 8th Ave in Manhattan right across the way from Penn Station on 7th Ave, is to be the new Daniel Patrick Moynihan Station that will expand the capacity of the existing Penn Station. Construction is slated for completion in 2010. The Empire State Development Corp (agency overseeing the project) selected the development team of Vornado Realty Trust and the Related Companies to collaborate on the ~$818 million project. The Farley Post Office already sits atop many existing train platforms as well as corridors connecting the railroads and subway lines. The project will increase access to more than 500,000 daily commuters through new or enlarged connecting corridors, new access routes and street entrances, and additional retail and dining options of course. This is a great project I think, the current Penn Station is just a real hell hole. This is my favorite quote on Penn Station by architectural historian Vincent Scully (comparing the old Penn Station demolised in 1963 to the current one) "One used to enter the city riding high like a god; one now scuttles in like a rat." If you've been to NYC Penn Station, you know what he means. I'll keep the blog updated on the status of this project where I can, including proposed designs.
2007 Amtrak Budget Stories
See my prior posting White House backs off wholesale Amtrak budget cut for some quick background on the budget. Generally Bush is backing down and continuing funding for Amtrak. Which overall is good for my commute as it will at least mean Amtrak will be running between NYC and Philly. The following articles are some editorials on the budget, pros and cons. Amtrak: Here we go again"The Charleston Gazette February 11, 2006 Fed's '07 Budget: Accountability Time at AmtrakFebruary 8 2006 Joseph Vranich (also see his blog at http://replacingamtrak.blogspot.com) Bush's Proposed Amtrak Subsidies Anger Those on Both Left and RightBy BRIAN McGUIRE - Staff Reporter of the Sun ( NYSun.com) February 8, 2006 Off TrackNew York Sun Editorial February 10, 2006
Observer UK: Car worship is killing the once-great US railroad. Is ours in danger, too?
COMMUTE: Wed Feb 1, 2006; #640 (on time) and #187 (late)
My commute for Tuesday February 1, 2006. Morning - I took Amtrak Train #640 (PHL-NYC): - PHL 7:56, +1
- TRE 8:26, -2
- NWK 9:06, +1
- NYC 9:23, 0
Had empty seat next to me, train was less than half full I estimate. Evening - I took Amtrak Train #187 (NYC-PHL): - NYC 7:36, +1
- NWK 7:54, +2
- TRE 8:36, +10
- PHL 9:08, +12
Empty seat next to me on this leg, train was about half full.
White House backs off wholesale Amtrak budget cut
White House backs off wholesale Amtrak budget cutBy John Crawley and Caren Bohan February 1, 2006 Boston Globe Looks like Bush will propose and Amtrak fiscal 2007 budget of $900 million. Also the administration's plan to separate Amtrak from the responsibility of managing the Northeast Corridor appears likely to not be pursued. Both good things for my commute; Amtrak will continue to get funding and there should be plenty of regualr Amtrak trains running between Philadelphia and New York City. The price of tickets is still another matter.
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