(I wrote this a couple of weeks ago. But because it was on paper, in my infinite wisdom and [cough] organizational skills, I misplaced it for a time.)
This is a first. I’m writing this blog via the old fashioned way, pen and paper. Why, you ask? There are a couple of reasons. A—I am currently stranded on a Shoreline East train, and B—I don’t have my laptop because of the massive Trojan horse that unleashed its fury on my defenseless XP driven, four year old laptop. So here I sit, “patiently” waiting for the powers-that-be to decide when and if we can start moving. I swear this state has some real issues with weather-related crisis. A few drops of rain and a couple claps of thunder strike a major discord within this fine railway establishment. But this blog, alas, is not about the melodramatics of this pathetic state, but the sorry “state” of public transportation in Connecticut. The railway system is grossly archaic and malnourished, the bus system is pretty much non-existent, and most of the highways are in disrepair. We are one of the richest states in the union, but no money can be disseminated into the public transportation system.
My day started out like this. I left my house at 6:15AM in order to make the 6:55AM Shoreline East train from New London to Union Station in New Haven. Why so early? Because Shoreline East only runs two trains; one in the morning and one at night. I say two trains because the line is always fraught with delays and problems, that it might as well be just the two trains. I bought my 6:55AM tickets, and waited ever so patiently in the already sweltering morning heat. 6:55 came and went. So did 7:15, 7:20, 7:25…you get the picture. The huddled masses finally were able to board the train at 7:35AM. Finally underway (forty minutes late) we settled in for a rather jarring, teeth-rattling ride through all of the shoreline towns to Union Station in New Haven. Because I missed the first Metro-North train, I had to book it to the second connection, which I barely made. I no later sat my ass in the seat when we departed. I endured yet another jolting ride from New Haven to Grand Central. My plans for the day were upheaved, because of what ended up being an hour delay, and I didn’t arrive at my destination until 11:00AM.
I finished my business in the city, and took the wrong subway trying to get back to Grand Central (I got my uptowns and downtowns a little mixed up.) I had a quick bite and made a pit stop, and I was back on the Metro-North heading back to New Haven.
You’re thinking, home free, right? WRONG! Just after the Stamford station, we lost A/C and power, and then the train stopped several times. Somehow I made the connection with the Shoreline East train with ten minutes to spare. Lucky me, right? Wrong again. Because of the thunderstorms, we got stranded at the Union Station terminal for two hours. We just started moving, thank the heavens. Thank goodness my babysitter doesn’t charge by the hour! Here we are, going about ten miles an hour, two hours late, wondering how I’m going to get the car out of the parking garage in New London at ten at night.
Just wait…an update…apparently there is only one track open right now, and we’re on the wrong one. We were informed that we have to go west (towards New Haven) to go east (towards New London). Huh? That’s right…those are your hard-earned tax dollars at work. So here it is, 8:31, I left NYC at 4:34, and I’m still en route, with no ETA, and no guarantee that this train is going to get me home. But open your wallets, because here comes the conductor to collect the fare.
In close, I will never take Shoreline East again. I’d rather take my chances on I-95 in my car, drive to New Haven and get on the Metro-North. I’ll get there in a quarter of the time, and still have my sanity.
P.S. We are still going west…now we’re getting behind four east-bound trains waiting in line…oh wait, we’re back at Union Station…WHAT THE F*CK?!?
P.P.S. 8:40PM—still at Union Station---we’ve gone backwards in time. Is this the paradox of the universe?
P.P.P.S. 8:44PM—we’re actually travelling east? Could this be true? Wait…I think that was a woodchuck that just passed us and, yes, he was on foot.
8:57PM Branford
9:08PM Guilford
9:14PM Madison
9:20PM Clinton
9:25PM Westbrook
Uh oh…they came around and counted everyone going to New London…there’s radio banter about not continuing to New London…what the hell?
9:36PM Old Saybrook
10:06PM New London and a scary, dark parking garage…there’s a night teller on duty…at least I won’t have to break through the gate.
Oh good, tractor-trailer versus pickup truck on the highway…someone doesn’t want me getting home tonight.
10:36PM…my driveway, home sweet home. I realize that it took me eight hours just to get to Groton from NYC. I could have flown to Heathrow in London in the same amount of time.
