Silence! MTA Extends Quiet Car Concept to Hudson, Harlem Lines
Break out the headphones, the quiet car concept is expanding.
Starting Oct. 17, Metro-North Railroad is extending the "quiet car" concept to the Hudson and Harlem lines.
The change affects approximately 31 trains that operate between Grand Central and Poughkeepsie, Beacon, and Wassaic, according to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which runs the railroad.
The news was greeted with enthusiasm by a commuter group. "Our council has pushed for this initiative in the past," said David Buchwald, chairman of the Metro North Railroad Commuter Council. "We believe that giving riders a choice in their commuting environment will make for a more pleasant traveling experience.”
Quiet cars will be available on select peak trains and will have a "Q" in the timetable.
- During the AM Peak, the LAST CAR of these trains will be designated a quiet car.
- During the PM Peak, the FIRST CAR of these trains will be designated a quiet car. (Reverse–peak trains are not included in this pilot program.)
If you seek out a quiet car (or find yourself on one) here is what the MTA wants you to know:
- Do not use cell phones.
- Disable sound features on computers and other electronic devices.
- Conduct conversations in a subdued voice.
- Use headphones at a volume that cannot be heard by fellow passengers.
- This does not affect regular announcements, which will continue to be heard.
The agency also announced that conductors will use specially designed “Shhhhhh” cards "that explain the rules of etiquette in English and Spanish" on the cars, which are being branded as the place for a “Quiet CALMmute."
Metro-North will measure how successful the program is for possible expansion.
"We enthusiastically commend Metro-North for introducing quiet cars to the Harlem and Hudson lines," said David Buchwald, chairman of the Metro North Railroad Commuter Council. "Our Council has pushed for this initiative in the past. We believe that giving riders a choice in their commuting environment will make for a more pleasant traveling experience.”
Editor's Note: This article has been updated to include the comment from the Metro North Railroad Commuter Council.
BG7
12:14 pm on Tuesday, October 11, 2011
This is upside down. There should be one car designated the "rude car" in which those who think its appropriate to play music loud enough to disturb others and have aimless long cell phone chats instead of any minimal conversations should be sitting. Fortunately, most people on the New Haven line are polite enough to adopt these social rules already.
Marvin Mathew
1:11 pm on Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Quiet cars are a great idea. Providing options is expanding service. Better business-Better NY
Heron
2:11 pm on Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Good.
Josh Semendoff
7:51 pm on Tuesday, October 11, 2011
This will definitely give commuters a more conducive environment to grab a few extra zzz's on their way to and from the office!
Janie Rosman
6:13 am on Wednesday, October 12, 2011
gone are the days when the only sounds were announcements, the whirring train wheels, some whispering if that, and newspaper pages turned. and the occasional snoring.
wedbo cdert
8:02 am on Wednesday, October 12, 2011
It should definitely be more than 1 Q car. What about if the Q car is not one if the cars that is available for you to exit when you reach your stop. At Mt. Kisco for instance, you have to be in the first 3 cars to exit.
Jennifer
9:06 am on Wednesday, October 12, 2011
The rude car should be the last one. That way when it got unbearable they could unhook it from the rest of the train:)
Fleetwood Mod
9:06 am on Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Agree that there should be one "loud" car and all others quiet, but non-smoking only started with one car and see what happened. Patience.
Nina
9:21 am on Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Thank goodness, this sounds great!
Heron
7:58 pm on Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Since they are going to have quiet cars, I have a suggestion. In addition to the Rude Cars for noisy cell-phone talkers, they should have Pig Cars for people who pile their things up on two (or more) seats during the crowded rush hour,and then look annoyed if you ask them if you can sit in one of the seats. I DON'T GET people that do that! They seem to seriously think that people should stand, while they take more than one seat. I also don't understand why the railroad doesn't say more about this.
Miguel
11:47 am on Friday, October 14, 2011
Excellent comment. I'm looking forward to getting away from the people who can't wait for the train to get out of the tunnel so they can start a never-ending loud conversation on their phones without regard to the fact that everyone else is trying to relax.
Kuoho Chang
9:55 pm on Wednesday, October 12, 2011
This is excellent idea.
NAO
11:14 pm on Wednesday, October 12, 2011
I would really like trains that work. It is great to have quiet cars, but I think that working train cars and working door lights are a higher priority.
doris
3:17 am on Thursday, October 13, 2011
I don't know about these quiet trains. I almost got hit by an electric car the other day. I like to hear a train approaching.
Miguel
11:41 am on Friday, October 14, 2011
This has nothing to do with quiet trains; it's about quiet CARS. These are designated cars in the train where people are expected to remain quiet and relax. What a beautiful concept!
Mary
7:28 pm on Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Some people are To dame extra when it comes too this qiute car thing .it would be helpful if the quite cars could be labeled during rush hour so that the people that get on in middle between (pough-NYC ),the quite car , would ,know, this new rules that some people think its stone ....MARY