New York train

According to statistics, one in three commuters in the United States goes to the composition, proceeding in the direction of New York. There is not only the most extensive public transport network in the country, not only the largest subway system but also commuter trains with the highest passenger traffic in the country, which daily carries about 900 thousand. Passengers.

Today, real estate prices in the suburban towns are not very different from the prices in the city, and it's all thanks to the excellent operating commuter trains. So many people, they make it possible to live in a country house and work at the same time in Manhattan, without experiencing any particular discomfort and without wasting time in traffic jams on the way to work. Commuter trains have changed the format of the life of New Yorkers, have made it possible to expand the virtual boundaries of the city, to resolve the issues of overcrowding, traffic congestion and improve living standards.

Many park the car at the station in the suburbs, traveling by train to New York, and then transplanted to the subway. Commuter train today - this is not an opportunity to state residents to get into the city, and the opportunity for New Yorkers to leave him and stay with the townspeople.

The son begged me for a long time to ride it on something more serious than Subway. He, like any boy, craving for cars and railways. Until now, the train it has not yet reached, but we ride on a commuter. Today we went with him to the station, bought a ticket, take a train to Yonkers, walked around there a little bit and went back. Next is the story of how it all went traveling. This is my first experience in the use of American Railroads, so it was interesting to learn what and how. I will focus only on the part of the use of that interest to the passenger, not a tourist. We begin our journey to Grand Central Station. Only this time, do not have to enjoy the views, and to deal with its design from the point of view of the ordinary passenger. Despite its impressive size it is surprisingly easy to use and simple.

We chose the purpose of the trip in the city of Yonkers New York. It remains to understand how to get there. I had only the name of the station, and what kind of train, we need yet to learn. Information board in the central hall of the station did not say anything. Only the names of the lines and endpoints.

It was necessary to seek additional navigation.

A small digression. In New York commuter is engaged by the same company that manages sabveem and buses. This MTA - Metropolitan Transport Autority (urban transport management). From Grand Central Station, trains go to New York and neighboring Connecticut. This area is a separate railway in the MTA system called Metro-North Railroad, and is the first in the number of road passenger commuter in the country (second - MTA Long Island Rail Road). It includes three main branches: Hudson Line (the road running along the Hudson River to the city of Poughkeepsie), Harlem Line (the road running north to the border of the city Wassaic, to which you want to get a transplant) and New Haven Line (go to Connecticut along Longaylendskogo Strait and has several branches, so she had several end stations). All this suburban road in which travel time is less than three hours. They are designed for people living in the state and commute to work every day in New York. E. It is perfectly normal suburban trains. Map responsibility area Metro-North Railroad - this continent triangle coming from the top. Hudson left to the right - Longaylendsky Strait. From the map, it became clear that we needed a green branch.

Next, it remains to find the train schedule. With this, too, is no problem. In the center of the hall is a kiosk around which exhibited little book with the schedule. They are divided by color and stations. Take the green book with the inscription Yonkers and all that we need, in our pocket. There are taymteybl all along the line, but there is a lot of tables that the majority of passengers are simply not needed. All this sounds free. If you have any questions, the staff at the kiosk happy to answer them.

Next, look at the monitor to the administration of the next train (arrival here, but it looks exactly the same). Here, too, everything is divided by color and do not have to wrestle with. Our train departs from the path 28 of 3 hours and 22 minutes to the station Poughkeepsie.

Now you have to buy tickets. You can do this in three ways. The first - at the train station through the vending machine or at the ticket office. The second - via the Internet. Pay for the card and print out. The prices will be identical to the terminus. Third, the most expensive, is to buy a ticket directly from the conductor on the train. Then it will cost exactly twice as much. This kind of fee for the urgency or forgetfulness.

Ticket office.

The machine is very similar to metroshny, which is not surprising. The company is one. It takes the cash and cards.

One child and one adult ticket to Yonkers and back cost 17 dollars. But this is because the day. On weekdays and during peak hours on the same ticket would cost already $ 30 ($ 20 for adults and $ 10 for children). Go half an hour, with 8 stops. By distance is about 25 km. Adult to Poughkeepsie and back (2 hours in one direction) is $ 45. Monthly ticket to the $ 486.

A ticket - a paper voucher size of a credit card. The entire purchasing process took about one minute.

Another box office.

For complex cases, passengers have a problem with the usual box office cashier inside. As I passed, then it worked three windows.

Now, you can walk along the station waiting for a train. Most of the photos I will leave for later. In the large hall probably 80% tourists and only 20% of the passengers. By the number of visitors to Grand Central today bigger tourist facilities than transport hub.

It is interesting that the station is no separate waiting room. There is one, but it is small and looks about him, no one knows why the people waiting for the train looking for a place to perch oneself.

No one homeless I met at the train station.

In the center of the hall is an employee and who is looking to help.

I found someone.

Youth after libations in honor of St. Patrick's Day.

The newlyweds are photographed. Station - quite a popular spot for wedding photos.

Employee carefully wiping cloth balustrade.

According to the number of people with cameras per square meter, this station apart from the competition.

In order to understand the internal volume.

It's time to go on the train.

It is necessary to enter the doors leading to the platform, and not a trace remains of luxury. All purely utilitarian.

At first I thought it was a stroke of genius - paint a train cab in the line color.

But when I had to sit in a blue train on the green line, I realized that not everyone thought so, as we would like.

The composition, which had to go, called the M7, produced by the Canadian company Bombardier. It comes with 2002. Power from the contact rail. Composition of 8 cars worth 18 million dollars.

Inside.

Before the car seat facing the center of one side, then - in another.

A place for wheelchair users.

On the other hand should the composition of Connecticut.

In front of the car found a cozy place with reclining chairs. The cars come in pairs. Each pair has the controls.

Planting in the chair. Not closely, but do not fall apart especially. No tables no. Feet are placed without problems.

The seats are comfortable, but do not recline the backrest and armrests no. Top - luggage racks.

will not be so comfortable with the fat neighbor. While we were driving, cars were half-empty, but probably in the morning and people standing in the aisles.

Well, let's go!

The work in the tunnel under the Grand Central. There are a lot of tunnels.

The train comes out of the darkness already in Harlem.

First stop - Harlem 125th street. Several people enter the car. Passengers will go on. There are some areas where it is more convenient to travel by commuter train, rather than on the subway.

Information board at the station.

We drive to the South Bronx.

In the car there is a conductor.

Composting tickets and deftly knocks smiley face for his son. And he did it very casually, and saw the child, smiled, gave him a funny souvenir and went on. Conductors are generally very funny.

We pass tower River Park Towers.

Then it's time to get acquainted with the most interesting.

It looks like this. Inside the little garbage, but cleanly.

The train entered the station along the Hudson River and began the beautiful views from the window. Places left passengers occupy the first place. The train goes fast but quiet. No knock no wheels. It sounds like a very quiet trolley. Inside does not vibrate and rattle. It is a pleasure to ride.