NYCT misinformation gets customers lost

On Saturday, I volunteered to help out about 8 customers who were lost - why?  Because these customers were told by NYCT conductors to take the J train which was not running in Manhattan.  You would think conductors would stop for a moment and see these weekend diversions - - they are posted at every station and look like this (whoops, the J was cut out from the pic):

Yup, I made more observations at Fulton Center, this time picking a good weekend where not only the A/C trains were on their usual diversion over the F line due to Sandy related work at the Cranberry St. tubes, but the J was not running between Hewes St and all of Manhattan from 5:45 AM to 8 PM on October 8th.  I made my rounds along the 2/4/5/6 lines at Fulton Center and Brooklyn Bridge (and a quick trip to J at Canal St) from 8 to 10 AM,  Here's what I saw.


7:39 Am:  I rode the SB 1 train on my way towards Fulton Center, car # 2281,  The conductor announced A/C transfer at 168th Street, that was incorrect because the C was not running between 168 and 145th Streets.  She was correct at 96th Street in informing customers that there is no #3 train service.

Now, I arrived at Fulton Center and it was all automated R142 trains on the 2 line.

8:20:  2 train SB  #6545 - - conductor allowed J/Z transfer as well as A/C.

8: 26  2 train NB #7055 - - I asked conductor if A/C was running - - "should be running" - - BUZZZZ, please try again

8:27  2 train NB     #6556 - - male conductor was telling people who needed the A/C to take the J upstairs.  I asked him if the J was running, he said yes.

8:30  2 train SB #6410 - - heard automated announcement "transfer is available to the A/C/J trains - - I asked the conductor if the J was running, she said "J was running"./

8:33  2 train NB #6425   - - failed on automated announcements, and conductor said he was "positive that J is running".

8:38 2 train NB #6656 - - failed announcement.  Of course, I had to stop 3 more customers because they were told by that conductor the J is available at Fulton Center

I went over the Brooklyn Bridge - - the northbound 5 train I was on at 8:51 AM #6355, allowed the J transfer announcement at Brooklyn Bridge.

8:56 AM - - 6 train NB #1741 ready to depart at Brooklyn Bridge, the conductor told one man that the J was running upstairs.

I rode to Canal St where the J platform was "closed"  - - the only reason why that platform is open is because of an street level entrance from Centre St at Canal St, SW corner.  There were no NYCT employees to let people know on the platform that the J is not running (and these people don't read signs on the platform columns).  But I would be remiss if I didn't mention that NYCT is getting their act together in coordinating travel alternatives with other construction projects - - like this sign below at Fulton St.  So it's still up to the customers to read them.

On my way home, I rode on a northbound 4 train (#7789) where the conductor allowed 2 transfer announcement - - no 2 trains running in the Bronx.


On a similar note about misinformation,  on Oct. 17    an incident on the SB E and M lines at 53rd Street and Lexington Ave forced some reroutes - - this was posted at 4:10 PM.

I rode two 6 trains at 5 PM, nearly an hour after the service notice was posted - - so that should be more than enough time for conductors on the 6 line to make adjustments in their announcements.  Conductors on two 6 line trains both announced the E and M transfer at 51st Street car #1811 southbound and #2151 northbound.




On Saturday 10/15 - - the 7 train was not running in Manhattan and there was no PATH service from 33rd Street every weekend through December (except certain holiday weekends) - - only one conductor on the D and F lines passed.  Additionally, why would the R160 subway cars - - the most reliable and efficient cars in the NYC subway system, have the wrong weekend information?   The picture below on a Queens-bound F train shows PATH connections at 14th and 34th Streets as well as the 7 train at 42nd/Bryant Park.

8:15 PM - - SB D #2640 - - announcements were made but omitted the 7 and PATH

8:18 PM - - NB F #9370 - - failed on PATH

8:24 PM - - SB D #2658 - - failed on 7 train - - no PATH announcement

8:33 PM - - NB F #9878 - - failed on 7 and PATH

8:47 PM - - SB D #2698 - - Passed on 7 and PATH, the only conductor to do so.

9:06 PM - - NB D #2762 - - Failed on 7 - - also announced M transfer at 42 and 47-50/


What can I say about riding the subway on weekends?