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Those fickle morning subways — Brooklynian

Those fickle morning subways

lnelson
lnelson
edited November -1 in Park Slope
I just got a new job (yay!) that will require me to travel during rush hour (boo) to get to Madison Ave/51st by 9:30 AM. While I admire HopStop's peppy optimism, it has been my observation that during morning rush hour, subways tend not to zip along as zippily as HopStop apparently assumes they will. Instead, they dawdle, stop, get caught up in "train traffic ahead" (isn't there someone scheduling the trains, btw? How do they not know when there's going to be train traffic ahead?!)

Anyway, Hopstop told me to take the R to the D at Atlantic. Is the D one of those trains that, during rush hour, predictably goes way slower than reason would seem to dictate, or is it pretty much ok?

Dankeshoen.

Comments

  • booklaw
    booklaw
    I can't answer your question, but I have another suggestion: take the F to Jay St., change for the A to 42nd St., change for the E to 5th Ave and 53rd St.

    If you stay at the front of each train, you get out at Madison and 53rd.

    I often take that route (arriving in midtown a little later than you... I usually get in about 10:15-10:30). It's very quick.
  • nuclear redaction
    nuclear redaction
    I take the 4/5 for part of my commute and find it to be the other way around; they cruise along nicely in the mornings, but on the way home, it's a slow crawl, with frequent stops between stations, the whole way from 59th to Union Square. This despite the fact that no train has passed for several minutes previously, so traffic wouldn't seem to be an issue. I think it's deliberate management of expectations -- make people wait and they'll be that much more grateful when a train does eventually show up (or get where it's going).

    Sorry, this doesn't really help you get to your destination (unless you want to try the Lexington Ave. line on the way in), but I can't resist an opportunity to rip on the MTA.
  • whyfi
    whyfi
    I used to work at Madison and 50th a couple years back. The B/D was always pretty solid. As long as you don't have to slag on the F train, you should be good. Me? From 7th Ave/Flatbush, the B would get get me to door-to-door times of about 35 minutes.
  • wally
    wally

    Subject: that D transfer

    I actually take that R to the D transfer at rush hour specifically for that reason - it's usually zippier than the other options, it's express and usually after grand and then again after 34th st, it seems to empty out for awhile. I can get from PS to rockefeller in 30-35 minutes if the pacific transfer is prompt.

    And (I hate to admit) the trips123 on mta info can give you travel recommendations of equal and sometimes better trips than hopstop!
  • calm head
    calm head
    I have found HopStop to be un reliable. I like to use the trip planner on the mta's own website www.mta.info They are pretty acurate.
  • transplant
    transplant
    Each morning, I take the R/M from Union to Atlantic/Pacific, where I pick up either the D or the N across the platform, whichever comes first. It seems as if they alternate, usually only a minute or so between trains, so I would think you'd have pretty good luck catching a D. Granted, I'm there a little bit earlier than you, usually around 8 or so, but I can't imagine it would be much different a little later.
  • jaha127
    jaha127
    I take the B/D/Q/N every morning from Atlantic to 50th street... It's always been pretty fast... and honestly on the rare occasions that one of these trains are running late (usually bridge back up) I usually just take the 2/3, in your case I'd suggest you take the the 4/5 and at Grand Central and switch to the 6 to 51st...

    congrats!!
  • 1st_streeter
    1st_streeter
    jaha127 wrote: 4/5 and at Grand Central and switch to the 6 to 51st...
    Did this route for a gig on 51st some time ago. Works pretty well. Or you can do the switcheroo at Union Sq.
  • abs276
    abs276
    i lived on the D (and only the D) for a year and was never disappointed. and i could've easily been, since i would be stranded if it ever stopped running. it goes local on late nights/early mornings in brooklyn, iirc.
  • lnelson
    lnelson
    the M to the D was most satisfactory. though crowded, quite acceptable. thanks for all the advice.
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