Commuters Still Expect Penn Station Chaos Despite 'Summer Of Hell's' Smooth Start

We can’t fix Penn Station or update the subway’s signal systems. But we can give voice to your frustration, hold those in charge accountable and find creative ways to make commuting more pleasant. Patch is partnering with WNYC and Gothamist to do just that. Join "We the Commuters" and you’ll receive tips, inspiration and a megaphone for your voice this summer.

NEW YORK CITY, NY – Shocked commuters dreading the "Summer of Hell" were instead met by a commute many said was easier than it had been for months. Now they're wondering if the smooth ride is on track to continue through the eight weeks that major work is carried out at Penn Station, or if service will disintegrate into chaos.

Many seasoned Long Island Rail Road, NJ Transit and Amtrak customers are skeptical.

“I think that something’s going to happen," said Lisa Rodriguez, 48, who took the Long Island Rail Road’s Babylon line from Massapequa on Tuesday morning. "I got lucky, my trains weren’t cancelled yet but there’s no such thing as smooth sailing on the railroad."

All three rail companies have reduced train service to Penn Station by about 20 percent and established a complicated network of alternative routes for affected passengers.

Subash Kannudass, 40, said his NJ Transit trips from the Jersey Avenue station in New Brunswick have gone smoothly so far this week – but he doesn’t expect things to stay that way as repair work continues. The fixes focus on Penn Station’s 40-year-old tracks, faulty switches and other issues.

“Usually [problems] don’t start at the beginning, it’s just as the weeks go by,” said Kannudass, a software engineer. “That’s when you’ll be expecting the worst to happen.”

Ridership levels may have been a factor in train service on Monday and Tuesdsay. LIRR said there was a roughly 8% reduction in passengers to Penn Station on Monday, compared to an average weekday. NJ Transit said ridership figures for the Northeast Corridor and Jersey Coast lines likely wouldn't be available until late next week.

"A lot of people including myself took this week off," wrote a member of a Facebook group for frustrated NJ Transit riders, "The Delayed on NJ Transit Support Group." "I am sure next week will be an influx of returning commuters."

Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a harsh critic of Amtrak’s handling of Penn Station, predicted the work would cause a “summer of hell” for commuters. But train expert Howard Sackel said transportation authorities have upped their game since the start of the repairs.

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“I think that they’re being more vigilant and certainly making an extra effort to make sure everything is running well,” said Sackel, a former Port Authority official who now works at a consulting firm, Paco Technologies, which he said has contracts with LIRR and NJ Transit.

Numerous TV crews and other reporters have camped out at Penn Station since Monday morning, making some commuters wonder if that helps explain the recent strong service.

“Lots of cameras were watching today. Wait till news reporters are bored and gone,” wrote a member of "The Delayed on NJ Transit Support Group."

Sackel cautioned that “any little hiccup” could cause “a tremendous backup” while track repairs are underway.

“Power is a problem. If there’s extreme heat, sometimes you get a sag in a catenary wire,” he said, referring to the power source for Amtrak and NJ Transit trains.

“You never know what’s going to happen,” Sackel added. “It’s mechanical and things break down.”

On Monday night, Cuomo repeated calls for Amtrak to cede control of the hub.

“Let the Port Authority take it over. Let them run it. Let’s bring in a private operator to run it,” he said on NY1.

“Amtrak can own it. But bring in a private operator to do it. Bring in a private contractor to do the construction right now rather than use the Amtrak personnel.”

New York and New Jersey pay Amtrak for use of Penn Station tracks. But it’s not clear who is going to pay for this summer’s repair work.

On Monday night, Cuomo sounded a lot like a commuter at Penn Station, saying he’s skeptical Amtrak will meet its Sept. 1 goal for finishing the work.

“These extraordinary measures every day cost the state phenomenal amounts of money and we’re basing this now on Amtrak saying, ‘Two months, and then don’t worry. Everything will be fixed.’ I’m a worrier,” Cuomo said.

After 25 years of riding the LIRR, Lisa Rodriguez had the same thoughts.

“I think they’re going to run over,” she said. “It’s going to fall apart.”

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Lead image by AP/Kathy Willens