Submitted by Maleficent-Baby-1926 t3_114khna in jerseycity
Curious others’ feelings on the speed, quality and reliability of Hudson Bergen Light rail. Given how important it is to connect to DT and MH, feels a bit sub par at times.
Comments
mushroomsandroses t1_j8ysrvw wrote
This is it. As someone who doesn't drive, the HBLR is huge for me. Service on the weekends is tremendously frustrating, though--the platforms at Newport especially get packed.
Vertigo963 t1_j8x06cy wrote
There are lots of problems with the light rail - more so than with the PATH. Nevertheless, it runs regularly enough to be used for commuting. As others have hinted, the number of disruptions in weekend service is distressingly high.
NJ_Bus_Nut t1_j8x63zj wrote
Weekdays are great. You may have to wait a while during non-peak hours, but no problems.
Weekends is a different story. God forbid there's construction, and you gotta take a shuttle bus.
a_bigsalad t1_j8xp2oc wrote
When it works, it’s incredible. When it doesn’t, it’s hell - the lack of clear communication on delays (no, you stopping on the :08 10 stops ahead of mine is not helpful). Either way thankful for it as a one car household, especially when we used to live in Port Imperial and had to take it to get anywhere good
Recurringferry t1_j8wqqs6 wrote
It tends to arrive a minute or two early, so make sure to get there with plenty of time to spare.
Economy-Cupcake808 t1_j8wqiru wrote
It’s pretty good, schedules are infrequent late at night especially if you are going to west side or Hoboken. It’s pretty fast though and it’s all on dedicated row so it doesn’t get caught in traffic. Buses can be faster sometimes tho because the route is very circuitous especially downtown.
DeepFriedAsses t1_j8wtjhz wrote
It's not bad. Arrive at least 5 mins before departure
ReeseCommaBill t1_j8x0spb wrote
Also, not for nothing, the ticketing process is becoming more and more like the honor system.
I live in Newport and take my son to speech therapy next to the Jersey Avenue station twice a week. There have never been ticket collectors at either station in the year-plus we've been taking this ride. I always have an e-ticket ready to go in the NJT app on my phone, but it just sits there.
I do see the ticket agents at Hoboken waiting for people getting off to connect to the PATH, but that's about it.
TheYesManCan t1_j8x5exn wrote
Just a heads up in case you don’t already know, but the digital tickets have a delay (a couple minutes I think) between activation and it becoming valid
Nuplex t1_j8xbbyw wrote
Also there is no need to activate the ticket!
I buy tickets but don't activate them so if im in a rush or forget I have one. The one time I was stopped to be checked they just asked me to activate it. I did and I was on my way.
It makes sense because the timer is sometimes longer than even some trips on the rail.
DirectorBeneficial48 t1_j8xf3nx wrote
> becoming more and more like the honor system.
always has been
mikevago t1_j8xeugr wrote
It's great and reliable at rush hour and at no other times.
christinems4280 t1_j8x4jsv wrote
On weekdays I find it to be very reliable and consistent. I’ve never had a problem.
Weekends is kind of a crapshoot, but I ultimately eventually get where I need to.
vocabularylessons t1_j8xii5i wrote
Good on the weekdays. Actually arrives up to two minutes early (vs the schedule you see on the NJT app). <10 min headways during rush. 8.5/10 solid option for commuting. Weekend service can be absolute ass, 3/10. Buy just one ticket and activate it only if they’re checking, they don’t check 95% of the time. I used to feel guilty about fare evasion but now believe that the light rail should be free to riders and paid for through municipal payments to NJT.
MediumRareBacon_ t1_j8yuz86 wrote
Weekdays are great. Weekends are mid
RegisColon t1_j8zhck7 wrote
I take it about 3 times a week, and have almost always found it to be reliable.
Supablue24 t1_j907odm wrote
Do they still have the “express” shuttle that hits all the stops except for the two in the hood before bayonne?
SuperMusicMan12321 t1_j8wpo7y wrote
Sub par is pretty spot on. Schedule isn't reliable, and the trains aren't frequent enough.
CWNBTL t1_j93lrz0 wrote
week = good, weekend = shit.
Nuplex t1_j8wraxf wrote
Weekday: Good
Weekend: Unreliable due to lack of frequency and frequent daytime construction interruptions
Verdict: It's a miracle it was even built and that compared to the rest of the country is fairly frequent and above average in terms of service.
Edit: The fact at peak it runs at sub-10 minute intervals and only stops running from ~1:30am - 5:00am is crazy for the US and even some other countries. It is actually pretty decent service. During the week.
The biggest issue is the state thinks way too commuter oriented when there is actually a lot of demand on the weekends for the light rail. It needs to be more frequent and they need to stop the weird daytime construction that anywhere else would be done at night.