Thirteen Trains to Home
Today it took me thirteen trains to get home. Well, fourteen to be specific, but thirteen important ones. After a lunch fit for the gods at Roll-n-Roaster (half price lunch on Mondays. Half-Price.) and buying a couple overly large book boards and associated papers next door at New York Central (conveniently located in the center of absolutely nowhere), I decided to head home. From Union Square I grabbed a 4 train, which took me quickly and efficiently to Fulton-Broadway-Nassau, where I could transfer to my C train. Not an A train, mind you, but a C. The A and the C run on the same tracks there. But I can only take the C. Not the A. The A goes express in Brooklyn, you see. The C goes local. I need the local C. Not the A. The A has nothing for me. The C does. And only the C.
So I lug my oversized book boards onto the platform and wait. Waiting for the C usually does take a while, there are many more of the A trains, but one does get lucky every now and then. I stand on the platform and wait.
I'm going to demonstrate what happens next through images, in order to give you all a better idea of my afternoon. Images © Michael V. Pompili, posted on NYCSubway and used without a lick of permission.
Announcer: "There is a Brooklyn-bound train approaching Broadway-Nassau Streets."
Announcer: "The next A train would like to inform you that it hates your face."
Wait, wait, yes, it's...
HOORAY! Quick, everyone climb in and think about how much you hate the MTA. Doo dee doo... riding under the East River... la-dee-da... Oh hey, it's Hoyt-Schermerhorn Street, only two stops from home...
Announcer: "Attention passengers, due to its lateness, this C train will be running express. For local stops, please wait here for the next Euclid-Avenue bound C train."
Well, shit. Quick everyone, let's all get off of this train and bitch on the platforms. Well, at least the next C train must be right around the be-
Wait... yes...
Announcer: "Attention passengers, due to its lateness, this C train will be running express. For local stops, please wait here for the next Euclid-Avenue bound C train."
Quick everyone, let's all feel dead inside together.
Quick everyone, let's all go home and post on our blogs about how much we hate the MTA! Yeah!
Posted by Jason at October 10, 2005 05:59 PM to New York City
Comments
That fucking sucks. That's so MTA it's scary. Today my MTA experience was with the F (no, really). After a good wander through central park in early fall (yum) I ducked in to the 57th st stop. Announcer, "due to cops beating a black man to death at 34th street, all queens bound trains will go on 8th avenue, fuck you." And what should appear not 12 seconds later? A queens bound train. Announcer: "due to police brutality and gross overcrouding at 34th street, niggah square, ain't no trains goin either way but for 8th Ave line. Fuck you." What should appear? A queens bound F train.
No one's leaving so I give it 7 more minutes. No more trains, two more announcements and I go catch an R. NRW= No, Really, Why?
Posted by: roos | October 10, 2005 08:31 PM