C train!

The C train is pretty awful and really runs infrequently compared to the E or A trains. I live right by the Lafayette stop but almost always walk to Altantic to catch the Q or the B to work because they're more reliable and express.

If I'm any later than 9:10 at Lafayette (I work 10-6. Poor me, I know) , I'll be waiting twenty minutes for another C and watch at least 4-5 A trains whiz by in the meantime.

Just tonight, I took the C from 23rd street. I missed it as I got to the station and three E trains went through the station before another C did.

What the hell? :evil:

which direction are you going in?

I take the Brooklyn-bound train at Lafayette every morning and get off at Nostrand. yes, it doesn't pass often, but it's actually pretty reliable as to when it does pass (get to station by 8:55 and you should be on a train in a couple of minutes. miss that, and you're going to be 15 minutes late to work.) never a problem with stalling going in that direction.

can't speak for Manhattan-bound, but i can imagine more people going to work in that direction.

Subject: Re: C train!

fultongrr wrote: WHAT is with the C train? I take it many mornings around 8:45, regular commuting time, and there is ALWAYS something wrong. The train either crawls at a snail's pace or it stops on the tracks for minutes at a time. This happens almost every day. What the hell is this about? I've never been on a worse train. What can we do and who can we complain to?!

I take the C every day, and I never have this issue. I leave a few minutes later than you, but it has been running fine. I get to work in the about the same amount of time every day. I cannot remember the last time the train was held or anything out of the ordinary unless there was a train in the station ahead. Where do the issues start? Is there a particular stop where this happens often? How long are you delayed on average?

I often hop the A and switch the C the express stop before my local stop going into the city. That way I can wait for a C or E, better options that way. But I would say 2/5 mornings, I get a C right away and stay on it.

And other trains do the same thing. I accept it as part of public transportation. Not all of it something you can complain about. People hold doors, delaying trains and setting off a domino effect. If only we could teach people to not be selfish and consider others. And of course making the trains, tracks, signals and stations where they never need repairing. In a perfect world...

Having ridden the G daily for close to 3 years, I think it's one of the more predictable trains. It seems to often come at around the same times every day consistently. It's like clockwork on my commute to and from work. Less so in the middle of the night!

It may not run as often as others, but at least it's routine. I think it's part to do with the fact that trains are less likely to be held up in the station to due to riders (since there are a lot less G riders than say 4/5/6 riders) avoiding a lot of commuter delays that other trains experience regularly especially during rush hours.

I've been taking the G every morning now after abandoning the over crowded L train. And save for a few days here and there (usually bad weather days) it is usually pretty spot on when it will come. And on the days where it is late for whatever reason and that train turns out to be packed, there's more than usually another right behind that'll pick up everyone else.


Late at night though, oh man. That's one of the biggest gambles one could take. Though I do tend to have decent luck with it at night. Now that I've jinxed myself...

I saw a 10-car G Train and thought I was dreaming.

I kinda was (it was really an F train with a G train label).

Me too! No half platform dashes (which just seems like an unsafe idea). The G on the F line is amazing.

I have good night with the G. I tend to have a longer wait on average, but I am never there for long periods of time. I too used to ride the L, and I'll take the G any day.

I agree. I rode the L during morning rush hour recently. First time I had done so in a while. It dawned on me that the G might actually be a better rush hour train.

Off hours is a different story.

Interesting, I haven't noticed that. I hop the A a lot too so I might just not ne on it often enough.

chickpea wrote: I agree, the G is way better than the EXTREMELY overcrowded and prone-to-disaster L train. When I lived on the L line at least one morning a week would involve waiting forever or hoofing it to the J train because the L wasn't running. never mind having to watch 2 or 3 trains pass by because you couldn't board one. Worst train ever.

I remember this well. And sitting between stations endlessly, unable to even get off and find an alternative.

The G tends to be more reliable.