Newark Light Rail

Many people think that Newark is a ghetto, crime-​infested city. However, I recently began an unpaid internship at a legal aid organization in downtown Newark. After walking around the area, I realized that there are actually nice parts of Newark. With that said, I decided that I wanted to check out Branch Brook Park. I’d heard that it’s the New Jersey version of Central Park. Today, I headed to the park. I fucking regret it.
I got on the train at Newark Penn Station. The inside of the train was relatively clean and the riders behaved themselves. However, I noticed that several of the underground stops were desolate and dimly lit. Someone could get raped or robbed in those stations. The ride was pretty fast– it only took about 20 minutes to get to Branch Brook Park.
I got off at the station and walked to the park. I wanted to see the cherry blossoms but I came a few weeks too soon. I was very disappointed. I headed back to the station and waited for the train back to Newark Penn. And then that’s when things went from bad to worse. I was about to lean on a pole when I noticed that it said ‚“Danger: High Voltage”. I quickly got away. I was scared shit. Keep in mind that I was on the platform, not the tracks. Why would NJ Transit have something so dangerous on the platform? I was inches away from being fried to death. Wouldn’t it make sense to have a fence to protect people from something that’s potentially fatal?
A simple train ride to a park nearly turned into a ride to the cemetery.

The Light Rail is safe and works fine. Is very rare if it has some kind of delay. You should better stamp your ticket or you will be fined. There are random fare inspections. I found this video that I think explains better this train:

There are two types of local public transportation systems in Newark (aka brick city). You got the Newark Subway and Newark Light Rail. They are not the same. The prior reviewers comingle and confuse the two.
The Newark Subway is primarily an underground mode of transport to and from Penn Station, Newark, and the Branch Brook park area near Bloomfield. Among the stops on this line are the two main universities located here: Rutgers-​Newark and NJIT. Thusly, many students fill up these underground buses.
The Newark Light Rail connects Penn Station to Broad Street Station (the other NJTransit Rail Line). This line is primarily surface light rail and can be used to get to NJPAC and Rutgers Business School. Working-​people tend to take this line.
Also, just because there are no ticket collectors that does not mean it is a free ride. If you are caught without a validated ticket, you will be written-​up a summons from the NJTransit popo (yes, there is a separate police force for NJTransit). It is a heavy fine (don’t ask me how I know this).

Ahhh the Light Rail. The Light Rail is like a bad friend – there for you half the time and totally absent when you need it most.
I usually take the Light Rail on my way to Manhattan since a station is conveniently located near my apartment complex. Rather than paying attention to train schedules, I just show up at the station and take the next train… 10−15minute waits on the weekend can get a little annoying, but the ride still saves me from a 25minute power walk to Penn Station. However, coming back is another story… the Light Rail doesn’t run all night which means you’ll have to catch the last one leaving Penn Station (around 12am?), ride the first one in the morning (around 4−5am?), or simply take a cab home from Penn Station (around $ 15bucks? to drive a mile – are you f’real mistah cab driver?).
A couple weeks ago, I flew to Chicago from EWR. I studied the train schedules for once and decided that it would be cheaper and convenient enough to use public transportation. Arriving on time for my 6:30am flight required riding the first light rail train of the morning so that I could transfer onto one of three NJ Transit trains that would be traveling towards EWR. Well, I ended up waking up super early – not even sure I slept that night – for my 4:30am light rail train. I SHOWED UP AT 4:25am, BUT THE TRAIN NEVER GOT THERE (ahhhhhhh y u no show up?). There weren’t any signs suggesting delays or changes in service, so I have no idea why it never showed. & guess what? This meant I missed those 3 NJ Transit trains which meant I’d have to wait a little longer for the next train – but more importantly I’d be missing my flight. So… I stood there at the Light Rail station by myself for 45minutes at the ass-crack-o’-dawn while freezing my balls off until the second train – well first because the first never actually got there – arrived.
If you have all the time in the world, the Light Rail is a cheap and efficient way to help get you to the city or even the airport, but if you’re running on a tight time table, lemme tell you. Light Rail will not be your friend.

Ok fellas who don’t know this is one of the ways of public transportation in Jersey apart from Path trains, NJ Transit and buses.
HBLR-​The Hudson-​Bergen Light Rail is a service that connects the Hudson County communities of Bayonne, Jersey City, Hoboken, Weehawken, Union City, and North Bergen with 23 stops along 3 services.
One can buy the ticket at the train station and has to authorise it, YES I said authorise, that means get punch on the ticket. The line works under a proof-​of-​payment system, requiring all riders to have a validated ticket (validated prior to boarding the train), transfer, or a valid pass. The service is pretty good during peak rush hours but ot doesn’t run all night unlike path.

I have no idea what the hell a light rail is. I was so confused when I google mapped my itinerary into Jersey and I was first instructed to ride into Newark Penn Station and then take this light rail. What the???
And it only gets better. I mean, what kind of fare system do they have? So, the thing is, you are supposed to buy a ticket to board the light rail, but after riding for a day, it seemed like no one was collecting the ticket. Ah, the honor system code. Like really? That business model would never work in NYC.
Why don’t they just put in a some ticket turnstiles. I swear, these people that live across the water have some serious deficiencies in business revenue planning. Well, it is no wonder people constantly belittle the state…
OK, whatever. It only works to the citizen’s advantage. But, the thing is, if you get caught without a ticket (it seems like every so often there is a ticket collector), the fine is $ 75. Wanna take that chance? Go right ahead and be my guest.
The ride is nice on the light rail and it reminds me of the Boston T. Wow, I miss Beantown. The cars are clean and plenty of seats and never crowded like the NYC Subway. But somehow, I miss the hubbub of the city. I guess NYC has rubbed off on me. If there ain’t some crazy preacher or a Mariachi band blasting in the subway, I honestly don’t feel at home.

whats up with the Kiosk .are they using the first computer system to run these things by the time you actually get your ticket the light rail is already leaving .and none of the clocks work that let you know when they rail is actually «DEPARTING» and then you miss it and it moves like Molasses
Come on you thought about it ! You thought what if i just run, jump on the light. You start to rationalize it. You have done your part in life right. I’m sure there is an old ticket in your bag. If the inspectors come you can talk you way out of it like you did when you were a kid.
Only reason your able to think of all this is because it take so EFFIN long for that god damn kiosk to print out a ticket…
but the cool thing is i always thought the «underground fair» was cool 70cents cool from Newark Penn station to the underground spots military park and such
Now seeing that the underground parts of the light rail does look like some dystopian future no wonder it was perfect back drop for the new Batman
Be cool to see Batman on Broad and Market… then walking down to get some boot leg dvd and some Air force Ones