Quiet Cars Come To NJ Transit

MYFOXNY.COM - NJ Transit is experimenting with so called "quiet cars" on some of its trains during the commute.

The 90-day trial program will begin on September 7. It will take place on several express trains from Trenton, Hamilton and Princeton Junction. Those are the most distant stops on the Northeast Corridor line to New York.

The first and last cars will be designated as "Quiet Commute" cars.

"Customers have asked us to offer a Quiet Commute option in an effort to balance the needs of people who want to stay connected while aboard our trains with those who want to relax or work in a quiet atmosphere," said Executive Director James Weinstein.

Weinstein says they will rely on customer feedback to determine whether to make it a permanent amenity.

Passengers will be asked to refrain from using phones and turn off the sound on pagers, games, computers and other electronic devices.

Conversations will still be allowed but would be at a whisper.

Conductors will "gently remind" people not abiding by the guidelines with pre-printed explanation cards that are printed in English and Spanish.

NJ TRANSIT is now the largest transit agency in the nation to offer a Quiet Commute option. The idea of offering a Quiet Commute program has consistently ranked high among NJ Transit customer suggestions.

The Quiet Car concept was born in 1999 when a small group of regular Amtrak commuters asked their conductor if one car of their early morning Philadelphia-Washington train could be designated as "cell phone-free." The conductor agreed and Amtrak quickly expanded the concept. Within months, most weekday Amtrak trains on the Northeast Corridor featured Quiet Cars.